Member Article

Awesome Natalie meets Dragon's Den star Theo

ENTREPENEUR Natalie Dawson has met tycoon Theo Paphitis after being chosen as a winner in the Dragon’s Den star’s hugely popular Small Business Sunday competition.

Natalie, owner of handmade cosmetics business Awesome Botanical, met Theo at his Small Business Sunday (#SBS) event at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre late last month (February).

“It was an inspiring day, with some great speakers including Theo and his fellow Dragon’s Den star Touker Suleyman. There were some good break-out sessions as well as the opportunity to network with other #SBS winners,” said Natalie.

“There were more than 1,000 people there and winners could have one-to-one advice and support sessions with the event sponsors,” she added.

Small Business Sunday, shortened to the hashtag #SBS on Twitter, was created by Theo in October 2010. Each week, small businesses tweet Theo @TheoPaphitis and describe their businesses in one tweet, including the hashtag #SBS. Theo reviews and chooses his favourite six who are then re-tweeted.

Natalie launched Awesome Botanical in May 2020 after making bath bombs as a hobby that helped ease her anxiety and giving herself something to do after being furloughed from her role in her dad’s shopfitting business.

“My family persuaded me that my hobby would make a good business, so I launched Awesome Botanical, specialising in holistic skincare, bath bombs and whipped soaps,” she added.

Business was steady, but her social media presence increased dramatically when Theo chose Natalie as a #SBS winner last September. He tweeted about Awesome Botanical to his 500,000 Twitter followers and Natalie watched as her social media presence dramatically increased and orders flooded in.

“Winning #SBS was immense and I’m so grateful to Theo for his support. It’s lovely to think that someone so successful is only too willing to help small businesses. It made a big difference to us,” said Natalie.

Theo said: “My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club; like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings. The website will also give a valuable profile to the winners chosen and I wish Awesome Botanical every success.”

It was after the #SBS win that Natalie, who has a diploma in organic skincare, decided to move the business out of her home and into a workshop at Hypoint on Saltmeadows Road in Gateshead.

Natalie has a pop-up shop coming up soon at the MetroCentre.

Awesome Botanical will be among four independent, women-led businesses creating a pop-up shop in the Sook Spaces Shop in the MetroCentre’s Upper Red Mall on Friday, March 18 to Sunday, March 20.

“I’m really excited about the pop-up shop and joining similar, ethical businesses run by women. I look forward to introducing as many people as possible to Awesome Botanical,” said Natalie.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hoults Yard .