Mums start business at home

Two Peninsula stay-at-home mums have started a business making and selling cleaning products and beauty products.

Korina Ivatt and her friend of 17 years Darnell Riviere, who have formed the company "Joliv", said they were looking for a way to earn money while being able to be with their children

"We hand-make creams with no synthetic preservatives or additives," Ms Ivatt said.

"I began making my own natural products a few years ago after discovering that nearly everything on the market has hidden synthetic preservatives.

"Products including things marketed as natural often have parabens, ammonium detergents, chemical solvents, synthetic thickeners and emulsifiers, to name a few."

Another motivation was that Korina's daughter, Olivia, now almost five, suffers from eczema.

"I hated using steroid creams on her to clear it up, so making my own products was a very personal challenge on her behalf," Ms Ivatt said.

"Once I started on the truly all-natural path, I couldn't stop.

"I started making cleaning products and converting family and friends.

"That is how I came to be in business with my friend, Darnell Riviere."

Korina said that she and Darnell had three small children between them and neither of them wanted to go back to working 70-plus hours a week in their previous careers.

"We thought why couldn't we do this for other people who also want natural products for themselves and their families," Ms Ivatt said.

"People are sick of buying products that claim to be all natural but are in fact hiding synthetic preservatives and other nasty ingredients that are harming us or our children."

Korina and Darnell named their company Joliv and are building its reputation as a place where handmade freshly-prepared natural products are available with nothing artificial added.

"We are extremely proud of what we are creating and honoured to be featured recently on the Planet Page of Better Homes and Gardens" Ms Ivatt said.

"Unlike a lot of our competitors, we do not buy ready-made bases and just add essential oils.

"We make all our products from scratch using all natural ingredients.

"And what makes them unique is that as our products can be tailor-made, they are suitable for people with allergies or intolerances.

"We can leave out a product or find a suitable replacement if someone can't have it due to possible reactions."

For further information, visit the website www.joliv.com.au

Press release, 28 Jul 2007 Korina Ivatt, Joliv