For the latest in our series of editorials focusing on Irish Women in Business, we’re talking to Colleen Harte, founder of the Lucy Annabella range of organic cosmetics. In 2011, after travelling the world, Colleen decided it was time for her to actively combine all aspects of her life's loves and pursue her passion to formulate and blend beautifully organic ingredients and share them. Here, Colleen talks to Her.ie about fond memories and special pet names, the strive for going back to nature, early starts and self belief. _______________________________________________ What is your background – where did you grow up, was there a family business, where and what did you study? I grew up on Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone. My family own a restaurant there so I grew up in the hustle and bustle of a very busy environment. I studied Aromatherapy inProvence with the wonderful Rhiannon Lewis who is also the founder of Botanica, an international Aromatherapy conference being held in Trinity college this September. I also studied beauty and other massage and therapy disciplines across England and Europe. At what age did you first suspect you would eventually go into business for yourself? I grew up working in my family’s business so you could say it was normal for me to have my own business. I set up my own complimentary therapist clinic which I practiced for 10years. When I created Lucy Annabella Organics I made the decision to leave my treatment rooms behind and concentrate on my love ‘Luxury Organics Cosmetics and Candles’. Did you pursue other careers before launching your business? I had a few interesting jobs in catering, retail, a bank, in a luxury spa, I even tried being a nanny but my main career was in complimentary therapy before I began the Lucy adventure. How did the idea for Lucy Annabella come about? I was inspired to create Lucy Annabella Organics when I realised that ‘being organic’ is as much about what we put on our body as what we put into it. I am a Complementary Therapist and Clinical Aromatherapist and with that I have been an organic health enthusiast for along time and I live by the ethos that ‘Our health is paramount to our happiness’.  So in 2011 after travelling all over the world Ireland, London, Thailand, Australia, Provence, France and beyond searching for knowledge and the finestingredients and organically dedicated farmers, I felt the time had come to actively combine all aspects of my life’s loves and pursue my passion, to formulate and blend beautifully organic ingredients and most importantly, share them. As for the organic element of Lucy Annabella, it was the primary principle and the core reason I created our products and the company. What was the process from the initial idea to launching on the market, and how long did it take? I researched the Lucy concept from early 2010, registered the company in May 2011 then set to work on formulating and developing the range and the brand and marketing strategy whilst acquiring pharmaceutical approval and accreditation form the soil association before our September 2012 launch. Where did the name come from? Lucy Annabella was my grandfather’s fond pet name for me.  ‘Lucy Annabella’ has a great sentimental attachment and it sits close to my heart therefore it was the perfect name for my company when I took the leap to share my little pots of magic with the world. What challenges have you faced thus far? Sourcing the best possible ingredient for each product. Finding passionate farmers who care as much as we do is critical to the development of wonderful organic products. It was a detailed and through search but well worth the effort as I know work with some brilliant oil distillers and suppliers. Also building my dream team is a challenge but I now have a driven creative and fun team who support me and Lucy Annabella passionately. Do you think there are certain challenges that are unique to women who set up their own businesses? I believe women should not face any challenges differently to men in business for life. If we believe we are equal we will be treated like so. Men and women bring valuable individual qualities to the table and working leads to the best results. What do you consider your greatest achievement to date? Becoming a Soil Associated certified organic health and beauty manufacturer. Having an organic product range is very important to me but having our sourcing and manufacturing approved by the Soil Association was the icing on the cake for which I will always be very proud. Becoming listing with some of the best luxury retailers like Harvey Nichols and Avoca as well as our Swizz and Austria partners is a huge achievement. What is a typical working day for you? I rise early, a typical day for me starts at 6am, I check my emails and have a shower. I always eat breakfast before I leave the house I make porridge using Flahavan’s Irish Organic Porridge I always make fresh juice in the morning to give me an energy boost. I get into the office around 7am and reply to all my emails and update my ICal for all my goals and activates for that day and then it begins. Everyday can be different I can be working on strategy one day, researching our competitors, formulating new lines and products and on other days I can be travelling.  The days I am not based in the countryside offices I am in the air or on the road meeting partners, buyers, retailers or the fantastic sales women who passionately promote organic love to our customers. Some weeks are spent in London and beyond meeting with potential buyers and PR contacts, at trade fairs and meeting with our accreditors. No matter where I am on what day I am always working towards building awareness of the importance of responsible beauty and organic ingredients. Finally I like to make it to the sofa by 9pm to finish the day with my very patient husband. What advice would you give to other Irish women who wish to get into business for themselves? Believe in your business idea, your ability and the people you surround yourself with. When the goings gets tough which it will, work harder and believe in yourself. These beliefs are essential to being an aspiring entrepreneur. What are your plans and ambitions for the future? For Lucy Annabella Organics I hope to be shipping Lucy boxes to passionate organic girls all over the world. I want our ‘Lucy lovers’ to have a vast array of choice ranging from treatment oils to lip balms, bath treats, aromatic candles to organic sleep aids.  For the world of organic beauty I want to see organic skincare having a strong powerful hold inthe beauty industry and I want our young girls, our future beauty buyers to begin their love affair with beauty cosmetics with an organic ethos.  More so I want us to reach for organic essential oil and herbal remedies to tackle our everyday concerns before we have to reach for medication. We have plans to bring out Aromatic Range, Home Range and Mum and Baby Range, as you can imagine Lucy Annabella Organics future plans are very exciting. For more on Lucy Annabella, visit the official website here.