‘Knowing we’ve helped other women means the world to us’
Suzie Boudier, 51, and Myriam Djellouli, 51, are the founders of health and beauty business Minerva Wellness. Both from Bromley, Kent, Suzie is a single mum to Saskia, 20, and Sofia, 19, while Myriam lives with husband
Dan and their sons Axl, 13, and Florian, 10.
THE IDEA
In April 2018, brand manager Suzie hired Myriam, a local stylist, make-up artist and national trainer for Guerlain, to do her make-up for an event. As they got chatting, the two women discovered they were both suffering perimenopause symptoms, such as extreme fatigue, anxiety, brain fog and insomnia. They became friends and, fascinated by the power of plants to heal, decided to be their own health detectives to try to find a solution.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
Myriam says We spent two years looking at scientific research and investigating natural ingredients. We experimented with probiotics as well as plant botanicals, minerals, vitamins and plant-based oestrogens. The year before launching, we tried and tested various vitamins, plants and probiotics for ourselves and eliminated what didn’t work.
Suzie says We worked with an Oxfordbased company of nutritionists and scientists, who helped us produce a supplement that could alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause.
Our first batch was ready by 2022. It includes B vitamins to support the nervous system, the ancient Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri for brain fog and cognitive function, zinc to alleviate hormonal headaches, and vitamin C for skin and bone strength. It also contains stress-busting passion flower, sage leaf and soy isoflavones for hot flushes and night sweats, vitamin D for bone health, magnesium to improve tiredness, fatigue and sleep, plus trace minerals for better insulin regulation and probiotics for good gut health.
BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT
Myriam says We tested our supplement on 80 women, and were thrilled when the majority reported their symptoms had reduced or disappeared.
By March 2022, we were ready to launch Minerva Wellness. We hired a designer and ran social media campaigns, advertised in magazines, and attended trade shows, on top of our regular jobs.
A year later, Minerva Reset was voted Best All-in-one Probiotic Menopause Supplement and Best Vegan Health & Wellness Brand at the UK Enterprise Awards run by SME News magazine. The Independent listed our supplements as one of the top 10 wellbeing products to try.
LEARNING CURVE
Suzie says Despite around 13 million women in the UK going through the menopause at any given time, we struggled to get male investors interested in helping us. Luckily, we have now found female investors to support us in reaching new markets and launching new products.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Myriam says We’re selling from our website and Amazon UK, and a UK distributor is getting us into pharmacies. This year, we plan to expand into the
US, and we have a collagen product launching in June.
Suzie says We have received numerous emails from women saying how much of a difference our supplements have made. Knowing that we’ve not only helped ourselves but other women means the world to us. >>
BUSINESS BREAKDOWN
✢ Start-up costs: £40,000; half from savings and half from a Government Start-up Loan. All further investment from sales. ✢ Projected turnover 2024: Approx £180,000 minerva-wellness.com