Name of your website?Artel Natural Living
Your name?
Angela McCarthy
Your Location (city, etc)
Dunmow, Essex
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Artel Natural Living is packed full of fabulous products by well known and up and coming brands that are healthier, natural, and more environmentally friendly. But we have also included some items that we think are absolutely fabulous and just couldn’t resist having in our online store. We are aware that there is a huge shift in the direction of natural products but we also realise it isn’t for everybody so we have tried to create the right balance.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
As a child my daughter experienced skin irration from jewelery, but it wasn't until she was at university studying and working part time as a chamber maid to supplement her student loan that she developed a skin irritation on her hands as a result of coming into contact with the harsh cleaning chemicals that she was using. Her hands began resembling those of an elderly lady such was the severity of the irritiation. Instead of using prescribed steroid medication to control the flare-ups, she began searching the internet for alternative products to relieve the problem. Eventually she found relief from using natural and organic skincare products, however, during her searches she, at that time,(2003) found it frustrating that she could not find a single source of products for people with allergies and skin irritation. So we started our own business selling natural products.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
2003 Artel Allergy Products Aimed at people with allergies
How did you decide on a name for your website?
We already had a company with the name Artel so decided to keep all the companies uniform in name
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Now, not a lot, apart from offering good service and the fact we have been around for some years. We are always looking to source products that are a bit different and we are also finding that although there is a lot of interest in natural products not everybody is so we are trying to find a good balance
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
Keep it going as long as people buy from us.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Definatly, we have offices and a warehouse.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Advertising, costs a lot with very little return.
What has been your biggest challenge?
We started with our own brand of skincare products. Very natural, lovely products, but too much competition for an unknown brand.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
linking ect, usual seo work
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
much harder than I expected
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
6 years, and as long as possible
What is your website address?
Artel Natural Living
