Nathalie Hall / Salute Skincare

Leap of faith saved my skin. Source Sonia Brown/Let's talk Business - New Nation 11.08.2008

AS CONSUMERS demand more healthy and ethical natural hair and skin care products, the sector is becoming an increasingly popular option for business start-ups.

Natalie Hall is one such entrepre­neur who is making her venture a success. You cannot miss Natalie Hall when she walks into a room. This formidable woman means business! One look at her and it all makes sense. This is skin to die for!

The surprising thing about her business is that it was not something she had set her heart on doing.

She was going through a difficult time personally with a broken relationship, children to raise on her own, and a house to move out of.

It was in the midst of these trials that she decided she needed a holiday to sort herself out.

During her holfday, Natalie kept getting compliments about the condition of her skin and people just kept asking for advice.

Her mother suggested that Natalie produce her home made products on a commercial basis to raise some much needed income until she decided what she wanted to do with her life.

'That is how Salute Skincare was born' explains Natalie. 'I knew my mother was right so I had to create a range that was high quality, professional and affordable’.

Natalie partnered with a US laboratory. 'They that came up with the ingredients and helped with the manufacturing side of things to ensure that we adhered to the strict regulatory standards and my mother proyided the much needed finance.’

'It is very important that you become financially independent as a woman and mother' she continued. 'It's about giving yourself permission to dream and then doing the work to makes it happen. It also helps that my mother is my biggest cheerleader’.

'There are always opportunities to set up a business based on something you do everyday' she concludes.

'I am now living a fulfilled life that not only supports my famify but gives back to society without damaging it. This is a family affair. My youngest daughter now wants me to launch a coconut range for children. Taking the leap of faith is definitely worth it:

For further information visit, www.saluteskincare.co.uk

Xina Broderick / Nature's Parlour

Come into my parlour - Source Sonai Brown/New Nation 11.08.2008

Stranded in Spain with no husband, Xina Broderick needed to make money fast!

Selling Mary Kay products was not going to cut it so, tapping into her entre­preneurial reserves, she realised her villa was the perfect setting to provide pam­pering sessions to local women. Herbal treatments, healthy meals, yoga by the pool - total bliss!

But she knew she had to come back to the UK to sort out her life, finances and growing young son. With a love of all things natural, Xina decided that she wanted natural products for her 'locs' but found it very difficult to find products or information in the UK. Her research bought her to the attention of a consult­ant in the US who wrote articles on natu­ral hair care and more importantly, sold organic products.

Xina quickly realised there was a gap in the UK market for these products. As fate would have it, she was unable to sell her friends products but, through her extensive research, she was able to buy products in bulk and sell them on to friends and family. As demand grew for these products she realised that she had.

found her business niche and formally set up Nature's Parlour, the only website in the world which sells natural and organic personal care products for all races.

'Self employment' offers me the flexibil­ity to combine motherhood and entrepre­neurship' says Xina. 'I raised every single penny for the business then set up the web site, distribution channels and mar­keting campaign’.

It's obvious that everything in her life has led her to this moment. Xina says she always had her fingers in the entre­preneurial pie whilst studying for her business degree.

Whether it was her ironing service or CV service, she now knows that Nature's Padour has provided her with something that she is passionate about.

'I feel a great sense of achievement when people tell me that they like the look of Nature's Parlour and they love the products we sell. It means that my hard work really has paid off and it’s no longer just something that's personal to me but it's also a business that others enjoy too’.

'I do work long hours but I am setting myself up for the future. My son and new husband are very understanding and sup­portive', concludes Xina. 'I want to move into manufacturing my own range of products in the near future’.

For further information visit www.naturesparlour.co.uk

PRIORITY AFRICA - Misconceptions and Challenges

PRIORITY AFRICA - Misconceptions and Challenges - The best video clips are here

The SAT-3/WASC cable

The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable

By Abiodun Jagun (APC)
Glasgow, May 2008

Submarine cables serving Africa in 2007 (APC)

This study examining the impact the SAT-3 fibre optic submarine cable has had on telecommunications in four African countries has found that the potential of the cable has not been properly exploited. Instead, ownership of the cable by telecoms incumbents in the countries researched has reinforced their market positions.

The study analyses the effect ownership of the South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable (SAT-3/WASC) has had on the communications markets in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana and Senegal. It focuses on the ‘Africa section’ of the submarine cable –running along the west coast of Africa down to southern Africa– with a specific emphasis on access and cost.

It recommends fresh measures to liberalise the telecommunications markets in the four countries, with the specific aim of opening up access to SAT-3 to more operators, so that its real potential can be realised in Africa.

The study consists of a briefing and four country case studies:

• The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable – a briefing by Abiodun Jagun

• The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable – Angola case study by Russell Southwood

• The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable – Senegal case study by Ben Akoh

• The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable – Cameroon case study by Peter Lange

• The Case for “Open Access” Communications Infrastructure in Africa: The SAT-3/WASC cable – Ghana case study by Eric Osiakwan

APC study
African submarine cable SAT-3 sustains monopolies

PRIORITY AFRICA - Information Communications Technology

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Rwanda Paul Kigali (Pt. 2) - Entrepreneur President