A global pandemic, the birth of her baby girl and a low in her mental health journey saw Carly Hicks begin her journey with her new creative business - The Awakened Hearts, a collection of blends designed to support one back to emotional and mental wellbeing. Get to know Carly below, and meet her in person this Sunday, 6 December at The Village Markets - Burleigh.
What prompted you to start your own business and when did you launch?
After birthing my daughter this year in the midst of a pandemic my mental wellbeing hit an all time low and I knew I needed to come back to a gentle approach when it came to unpacking the post-natal depletion I had experienced. I had worked with flower essences for many years to unpack past trauma and I knew how powerful their healing was, but what started out as a simple way to heal myself began a deep purpose and passion that awakened within and I knew now was the right time to start my business and support others back to emotional and mental wellbeing within.
What is your creative background?
I have always been creative and creativity runs deep within. Before I began The Awakened Hearts I had a previous health and wellness blog called Holistic Life sharing healthy recipes and my healing journey. I ran gluten and dairy free workshops on the gold coast and I even created my own kids cookbook dedicated to food intolerances. I’ve also had my recipes in cookbooks, websites and now my passion is infusing my creativity into my blends for the awakened hearts and my podcast called Awakened. Expanded. Aligned which guides others back to themselves and living in alignment with their authentic true selves.
Do you work on the business full-time?
As I’m a full-time new mum I juggle between motherhood and starting up my own business so all my spare time is currently dedicated to growing and expanding the Awakened Hearts business
What is the biggest challenge in having your own business?
Switching off and juggling time, especially now being a mother and running after a 7-month-old, but I try and make my self-care my priority so I prioritize myself and my daughter first and then the business comes after that. Recovering from adrenal exhaustion I know the importance of self-care and slowing down.
Tell us about the brand, what does it stand for and what sort of products do you sell?
The Awakened Hearts is a collection of blends designed to support the individual back to emotional and mental wellbeing. Handcrafted with Australian Bush Flowers and Crystal infusions each blend has been created with the deepest intention that it awakens you back to your authentic true self and feeling grounded, calm and aligned within.
What would be your #1 pick for your Christmas gift from your brand z
I would say the I AM LOVEABLE BLEND because it is the ultimate gift of self-love you can give yourself and knowing you are worthy within. It awakens the heart back to the love within, and when we feel worthy we can achieve anything.
Whats your most loved essence in your range, could you tell us a bit more about it?
The I AM STRENGTH BLEND is very special to me because I created that blend when I was in the midst of postnatal depression and this blend gave me the courage and confidence to not feel overwhelmed with this new transition in life and to adapt easily to motherhood, which thanks to the blends I am now thriving in.
Do you implement any sustainable practices within your business?
We are an environmentally friendly company that aims to reduce waste and their carbon emissions, wherever possible. We believe in renewability and sustainability. We use 100% biodegradable mailing bags, we regularly donate to a variety of charities supporting the environment and animals alike.
What are you inspired by?
Nature and spending time out in nature is where my inspiration is sparked. I love spending my days with my daughter in the valley at Currumbin and our local flora is a big part of our blends so seeing our Australian bush flowers in bloom really ignites ideas for different blends.
Why did you choose TVM as a platform for your business?
The Village Markets aligns perfectly with The Awakened Hearts core values and just felt it was such a perfect fit to launch the blends to the public. I’ve personally been a long-time attendee of TVM myself so I felt the blends was an asset to your market and your community.
Thanks for sharing Carly, we can't wait to meet you this Sunday!
Tayla x
