Work Life Balance with Equi Co-Founders

by Alexandra Williams,

We can all relate to struggling to juggle work, life and family - and our friends at Equi are no different! With a rollercoaster year including a house renovation, a wedding, a 3 year old and a new business launch - we find out a bit more about how they managed it, and their top tips. 

Between you guys you have a young family, a wedding coming up (including hen do's to plan!), a newly launched product range and business to run... can you sum up how that feels in 3 words?!
 
Busy, (a little bit) dizzy, but grateful!
 
Tell us a bit more about what is going on in life (outside of work!) for you both.
 
Rosie - Equi is full throttle at the moment, we’ve taken on an amazing selection of new rattlers recently, are launching into a very prestigious London stockist in Jan and a big international retailer chain in early 2019…so it’s all steam ahead and we’re loving it.  The new range has been so well received and we’re so happy to be receiving such happy reviews from our customers.
On a personal note, it’s been equally as busy.  I’ve just moved into my house after a long building project, which completely overran and was pretty stressful, as all building work is!  My daughter has just turned 3 and after recently starting at a local nursery, is starting to harbour a better social life than me which is another full time job! 
 
Alice – I juggle my role at Equi with my busy clinic in Chelsea, which keeps my professional life fun, interesting and super rewarding. 2018 has also been a really exciting year for me personally as I got married in November, so a lot of my energy has been taken by planning that. I love to travel as much as possible to new places and just got back from my honeymoon in Africa where I was totally off grid for 1 week in the wilderness (sorry Rosie!)
 
Work life balance is something everyone talks about, but we never seem to be able to put our finger on what that really is. What does it mean to you guys?
 
When you’re running your own company, work and life kind of become the same thing, which is fun at times but can also be draining if you aren’t careful. 
 
Even though we sell nutritional supplements we employ a lot of technology to streamline the day-to-day functionality of the business - which means everything can be controlled by an app… so switching off is only possibly when you turn your phone off; how often does that happen?! 
 
Lucky for us, when you’re working with your best friend work feels less arduous and you can also plan your day the way you want to. We both make sure we eat well, exercise regularly and of course take our supplements, which keep us going.  We have both been guilty of not switching off enough in the past so we make a conscious effort to take time away, whether that be socialising with friends or making time for an evening Epsom salt bath with magazines… Equi does stand for balance after-all! 
 
 
Running a business as friends must have a different level of emotional connection there, how do you support each other - and do you find yourselves having to keep an eye out for the other over do-ing it? 
 
Working together has only strengthened what was already a very close connection - 15 years of friendship will do that to you.  We’ve always been very much on the same page when it comes to what we want for Equi, how we see the industry and work ethic, so our partnership just Is smooth sailing. Our backgrounds establish our roles in the business naturally which also means our roles are clearly defined, removing any issues that we could imagine other partnerships might have.  
 
When it comes to needing personal support, we know each other so well and know what the other needs to make them tick. Luckily we generally seem to need support at different times and one will pick up the slack when the other needs time away. Because the trust in each other is there and the support is unconditional, it’s never really something we have to think twice about. 
 
For young Mums, entrepreneurs juggling two jobs or just generally busy people - what are your top tips for keeping on track when you feel like your to-do list is never-ending.
 
Prioritise effectively - Ask yourself whether each task is really what you need to be doing – we can get so bogged down with the minutia that we sometimes forget the bigger picture. 
 
Learn how to say no! We just can’t do it all, and we certainly can’t do it all well, so you need to accept that your probably going to need to sacrifice something – just remember it won’t be forever.  
 
You’ve heard it before but keep a list by your bed so that if something comes to you in the night you can note it down and not forget it! 
 
Make sure you have your to do list to hand at all times – we love Evernote or Minimal List and we can share them so we are both on track. 
 
Stop working post 8pm and take time to wind down for bed - easier said than done but a better sleep is always guaranteed and we all function after a good night’s rest.

 


 
Do you ever switch off? If you do, how do you manage it and do you have strategies to help you do this?
 
It would be dishonest to say we don’t struggle with this, but the gym is a huge part of our mental wellbeing.  A good pilates, barre or spin class takes you off your phone for an hour which means you can only focus on you.  We start most days exercising in some way – a walk to blow out the cobwebs or a few stretches at home… even when we were living together at university we’d make time for this!
 
Equi supplements are designed with the busy modern woman in mind - tell us a bit about your clients and how Equi has changed their lives.
 
We have such a wide customer base, from exhausted stay-at-home mums to male CEO’s, all of whom rely on our products to keep them topped up with the best nutrients to help them feel amazing.  
 
We’ve had women who’ve suffered with skin issues for decades, some resorting to MRI scans to figure out why nothing was fixing it, who have finally got beautiful skin and we also have women who have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and finally feel themselves again… 
 
Our new weight loss product Lean Formula have been enjoyed by new Mum’s who’ve struggled to lose their baby weight, or tone up for a beach holiday or wedding. 
 
Our Pregnancy Formula, which fertility experts have heralded as one of the best in the world has helped lots of pregnant women overwhelmed with the nutritional information out there looking for the best product for their growing bump. We were thrilled to have our first Equi baby last week - a lady who’d taken Pregnancy Formula throughout gave birth to a very healthy 9lb beautiful girl and has enjoyed how great Equi has made her feel during her pregnancy. 
 
We love the new branding and packaging look - what was the inspiration behind it and where can we get it?
 
Thank you!  We just won an award for it, which made all the hard work worthwhile. 
 
The new branding is a complete 180 from where we were.  We initially wanted the brand to have a very different look and fashion vibe, and though everyone loved what we’d created we realised that given the complexities of our products the overall feel was a little confusing.  It was difficult to completely move away from what we’d spent so long on, but we knew the products needed to have a clean and clinical look if people were to trust all of the incredible ingredients.  We’re bringing auyervedic herbs, medicinal mushrooms and superfoods to the market, which are new to many people - and unless you’d invested in an expensive nutritional therapist, wouldn’t have access to.  Therefore, the branding needed to have a simpler, clinical vibe so the formulations could do the talking.  We also extended our range and improved the flavours-  and it’s been so well received we couldn’t be happier!

 

 
What are your favourite Equi formulas?
 
Rosie – for me it’s Beauty Formula.  This is where it all started, when I was suffering with acne and Alice helped sort it out with a range of 8 supplements which were unavailable on the mainstream market.  We decided to compile all of these ingredients into one product – and make it even better.  Beauty keeps me energised, but most importantly keeps my skin clear, bright and gives me a glow….which is some doing when my daughter stops me sleeping and we’re working as hard as we do!  That said, Pregnancy is coming in at a close second.  After struggling to find a product when I was pregnant as I didn’t have confidence on the mass market options.  We were struggling to ship pregnancy supplements in from the US, then adding to them with extra ingredients….so saw a real need for a top-quality, comprehensive supplement at such a crucial time in a woman’s life. Pregnancy Formula is already receiving rave reviews with industry experts and we’re so excited about how many woman and babies it will help.
 
Alice – I also love Equi Beauty Formula but my favourite is Original – I have always found ashwagandha gives noticeable improvements to the way I feel on a day to day basis – it keeps me energised, calm, focused and sleeping well, which is essential so I don’t run around like a headless chicken when I’m really busy. I also love that it combines with a top draw multi, with all the best forms of vitamins and minerals available that are really well absorbed. In my clinic I am finding that my pregnancy clients are really loving our Pregnancy Formula – many of them who previously took other less quality products for their first pregnancy say they have noticed feeling better second time around, and have even noticed better skin with it.


Raw Vegan Donut Recipe

by Alexandra Williams, , link

If you're feeling uninspired by the usual chocolate choice around at this time of year, why not try your hand at our raw, vegan chocolate donuts for a grown-up advent treat.

These look stunning, taste amazing and are a little indulgent - a great treat alternative. You will need a silicone donut mould for the perfect shape.

 



Ingredients

Raw Donut:
1/2 cup pitted medjool dates - soaked for 2 hours
1/2 cup ground almonds
2tbsp raw cacao powder
1tbsp coconut oil
1tbsp (to taste) maple syrup

Glaze:
3tbsp coconut oil
4tbsp maple syrup
9tbsp raw cacao powder
vanilla extract

Toppings:
These can be really flexible - use what you can find in your cupboards! Some of our favourites...
Desiccated Coconut
Coconut Chips
Edible Flowers
Raw Cacao Nibs
Chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Add all the donut ingredients to a Magimix (or food processor) until well mixed.
2. Remove the mixture from the food processor and divide it into 4
3. Press into the mould cavities and shape
4. Pop in the freezer and leave to set (approx 90 mins).
5. To make the glaze, sift the cacao and mix all the ingredients well in a bowl.
6. Remove the donuts from the freezer, and dunk into the glaze. Set onto greaseproof paper and top with your toppings.
7. Return to the freezer for about 20 minutes until completely set.
8. Keep in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy them.


Balancing Flavour and Nutrition with Noble

by Alexandra Williams, , link

At Radiance, we work hard to ensure our ingredients are the best possible; nutritious, organic, clean and safe. But we also have a passion for producing delicious juices that are enjoyed by our customers. 

Just like us, our friends at Noble understand the importance of balancing flavour and nutrition, and have given us some insight into how they do just that. 

 

 

With so many ingredients out there - how did you start when you approached creating the Noble products?
 
Our mission has always been to produce natural products with maximum nutritional value. We begun by using expertise in functional nutrition and potent formulation to create nutrient-rich blends with targeted health benefits to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. 

At the same time, we wanted to provide our customers with an easy way to access and include these amazing organic ingredients in their diet every day. Some people don’t have time to blend a smoothie every morning, and with Noble, one spoonful of our blend stirred into hot mylk or hot water can provide a daily nutritional punch.

But on top of it all, the product needed to be delicious – we wanted our customers to enjoy the taste, not just the nutritional value. Using natural plant-based ingredients, our aim is that each blend is perfectly balanced to be as nourishing as it is delicious. This balance between the nutritional benefits and the taste is at the heart of Noble. Far too often drinks are either delicious or good for you but not both - we hope Noble proves that there is no need for compromise.  
 
Whilst our blends can be a beneficial addition to a smoothie, unlike many other powdered drinks available, there is no need to improve the taste by adding in other ingredients.  We wanted to create a superfood mix that was utterly delicious and you could have all on its own. Taking inspiration from traditional hot chocolates and new favourites such as matcha and turmeric latte we created our five Noble blends.  
  
What is your opinion on superfoods?
 
Superfoods are vital to our everyday digestive health. They are nutritionally dense, and being such a strong source of vitamins, minerals and fibre, they are a great boost to health – benefitting all areas of the body and mind. However, superfoods can be challenging or expensive to obtain particularly in an organic form - the Noble blends allow easy access with our delicious hot drinks. 
 
There are some really unusual ingredients in your blends – how did you get 
them to marry, and what were the important characteristics? 
 
A lot of research, testing and tasting has gone into the production of our blends, to ensure that the flavours really sing.  It is also vital to the blends that we use organic ingredients whenever possible and that our blends are free from dairy, additives, preservatives, refined sugar and fillers. 

For us, it is important that the five flavours have their own character and identity, as well as targeting key health benefits.
 
Our Himalayan Salted Cacao is an indulgent and nourishing chocolate blend with the finest raw cacao, beetroot, maca and naturally sweet cinnamon and coconut sugar. 
 
The Golden blend is spiced blend of turmeric and root ginger with cardamom, nutmeg, sweet cinnamon and liquorice.  To this we have added generous amounts of pea and hemp protein – a great source of all nine essential amino acids and omega fatty acids.  
 
Roasted blends contains slow roasted chicory and dandelion root to provide a smooth rich aromatic flavour and a fantastic alternative to coffee.  We also blended in antioxidant rich beetroot, vitamin C packed baobab and adaptogenic Siberian ginseng. 
 
Wild Green is our answer to a matcha blend – refreshing, invigorating and subtly sweet.  Using the very best Japanese matcha, avocado, moringa, nettle and mint – these nutrient dense supergreens are believed to promote alkalinity and support detoxification. 
 
Upbeet blend is a sweet brightener with complements of maca, kale, baobab and acai berry added to the beetroot.  To this naturally high protein blend we also added pea and rice protein to make it the ideal blend for both pre and post workout.  
 
 
Tell us about the nutritional benefits of the different Noble drinks – are their certain ones you’d suggest for people with specific ailments?
 

All of our blends are high in protein and fibre and packed full of vitamins, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, amino acids and energizing super nutrients to provide the drinker with an abundance of nutritional benefits. However, we do offer different remedies for certain ailments. 
 
Golden blend comprises warming turmeric and ginger which act as natural anti-inflammatories, supporting the immune and digestive system. This nutritionally potent blend is rich in antioxidants and will help keep you feeling fuller for longer. 
 
Roasted blend is high in inulin and rich in prebiotic fibre which can help balance blood sugar levels, assist optimal digestion and support liver detoxification. Added to this is a potent amount of adaptogenic Siberian ginseng which promotes wellbeing by stimulating resistance to stress, helping to restore a sense of calm. 
 
On the other hand, the Himalayan Salted Cacao blend is packed with antioxidants to support healthy glowing skin, rich with adaptogens from the Siberian ginseng, and formulated to boost energy levels and enhance your mood.
 
How do you balance flavour and nutrition?
 
The balance between the nutritional benefits and the taste and depth of flavour is really at the heart of Noble. However, it is vital that each blend tastes delicious and there are so many amazing organic superfoods to choose from that we refuse to compromise the taste. We find that when you introduce the beautiful natural organic ingredients contained in our blends, the nutrition comes with it as an accompaniment.   
 
What type of suppliers do you like to work with? How important are those relationships?
 
Noble is committed to sourcing only environmentally conscious packaging and organic ingredients wherever possible. We strive to ensure that our suppliers have the same commitment to purity and sustainability that we have. All our blends are certified by the Soil Association and the Vegan Society. This has always been a key part of the Noble ethos and our mission to provide healthy, delicious and sustainable products continues.



Established London 2009
100% Organic Cold-Pressed
Delivered across the UK