Mukti Lloyd was one job seeker who took advantage of the NEIS opportunity, and she is now the owner manager of a very successful organic skincare business. Mukti Botanicals was established with the assistance of BSG’s NEIS program in 2000, and in just six years, the company has grown into a very successful business with penetration into the local and national markets as well as exporting throughout southeast Asia, the UK and New Zealand.

“As a single mother on Centrelink benefits, I could not afford to buy expensive skincare products. I was also frustrated at how commercial products were marketed as pure and natural,” Mukti said. “Initially I began dabbling in herbal alchemy on the kitchen stove top followed by prolific bouts of research, to a degree in cosmetic chemistry,” she said.

What sets Mukti Botanicals apart from mainstream commercial products is having recently gained certified organic status for the range.

“This means the ingredients are safe enough to eat and have nutritional and therapeutic benefits. They are as close to their natural and pristine state as possible and have not been highly processed and manipulated,” Mukti said.

As a NEIS business, Mukti benefited from the comprehensive business training provided by Business Success Group, along with the mentoring support which enabled her to focus on building the business to what it is today. Mukti Botanicals products are available through the online store http://www.mukti.biz

Glynn Rigden from Southern Downs Veterinary Service commenced his business in 2004, and has gone from strength to strength in the regional town of Stanthorpe. His business started as a mobile service, with a very brightly painted van which helped raise the business profile in Stanthorpe. Glynn highly recommends NEIS as an option for those looking to ‘kick off’ their new business, particularly to gain access to the small business management training.
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At 40 years of age, Bevan Kearsley was involved in a motorcycle accident. He was left a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair and then was made redundant from his job. Initially, and reluctantly, Bevan applied for a disability pension but was refused on the grounds he was a qualified carpenter. NEIS was the answer for Bevan. He started a specialty store for doors and locks, so people would have a store with an exceptional display of doors and locks to choose from, which was previously unavailable in Toowoomba. The Door ’n’ Lock Centre Pty Ltd started in 1995 with only two employees and a one tonne utility to complete deliveries. In 1998, the utility was traded for a four tonne truck. Today the business has grown to a total of eleven employees, two trucks, three utilities and a forklift. Their door display has grown from ten to 70 doors and stock value has grown to over a quarter of a million dollars with a turnover of over two million dollars last financial year. In 2004, The Door ‘n’ Lock Centre won the Hall of Fame category of the National NEIS Association Business Awards (known as the ABBis) which recognised the best NEIS business of the past 10 years.

Robert and Elissa Kaarsberg commenced their NEIS business at St George in 2002. Here are the answers they gave to some commonly asked questions about starting a NEIS business:

How would you describe the success of your business in its first few years?
It was very hard to begin with, but we never gave up, and we have found business has become better and better. What has been the best part about starting your own small business? We work as much or as little as we want, and we only answer to ourselves, unlike a normal ‘9-5 job’.

What has been the hardest part about starting your own small business?
Getting the finance needed, and letting people know that you’re in business.

What part of the small business training program did you find the most beneficial?
Every bit! It gave us the understanding of how businesses run. If we didn’t do the training, we probably wouldn’t still be in business today.

What was the most valuable aspect of the NEIS program for you and your business?
It is gave us more understanding on how to run a business.

What advice would you give to new business owners?
Never give up, let people know you’re out there, and talk to your clients. We have found that people really like to talk. Always thank your client. We always mention the business name when ringing someone, or if someone rings us. Word of mouth works really well for us.