How one lip balm sparked mum's $20m business empire
Just a few years ago, mum of four Irene Falcone was working a nine-to-five corporate job.
"I was walking up these flights of stairs to my office, and I got to the top of the stairs and I sat down and went, I don't feel very well, what is going on with me, what am I putting in and on my body?" she told A Current Affair.
"I got home from work and I went through my house, and I started looking on the back of all these products.
Mum of four Irene Falcone dropped out of the nine-to-five grind. A Current Affair
"I was putting 300 or 400 chemicals on my body every single day."
And so was born Nourished Life - a one-stop online shop for chemical-free, organic products.
Ms Falcone offers products for skin care, makeup, sunscreen, fake tan, hair care, baby clothing, socks and jocks.
And it all began with just $100 - and a lip balm.
She now runs a multi-million-dollar business A Current Affair
"I found this vegan lip balm in this tiny little fishing town in America. I bought 100 lip balms for 99 cents," Ms Falcone said.
"I sold those lip balms within a couple of hours and make my first thousand dollars, then I bought more lip balms, and then I bought more flavours, and that's how it all started for me."
With summer looming, Ms Falcone said her most popular product currently was her Life Basic SPF 30 sunscreen.
And she said while the "organic" label was perceived to carry a price bump, that was not always the case.
Olivia Newton-John is one of the big names whose products stock the online shelves. A Current Affair
Her growth has drawn the attention of global megastars like supermodels Miranda Kerr and Elle Macpherson, and actor and singer Olivia Newton-John, all of whom have chosen to sell products through Ms Falcone's site.
Digital marketing company Tick Yes managing director Peter Applebaum said Ms Falcone had brought a human dimension to her business.
"The more we find out about clean products, labelling, toxins and all the sorts of things we're putting into our body on a daily basis, the more growth there will be, not only in her business, but other businesses like hers," he said.
But he urged consumers to do their research when shopping.
"They need to do their due diligence, they need to do their homework, because not every product is as it claims to be."
For her part, Ms Falcone urged others mums to also try turning their dreams into reality.
"If you've got a brand idea, and you're passionate, just start a Facebook page, and you can get a blog and a website now for $150 a month," she said.
"Put your passion down in there and you can turn anything into a business."
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