How a holiday inspired the launch of a business

Advice given to Patricia Monney in Ghana, that helped her daughter to walk properly, inspired her to start a new business

NATURAL: Aviela’s products use the highest grade shea butter to treat a range of dry skin conditions

Most people wouldn’t ex-

pect a holiday to inspire them to start a new business. But that’s what happened to Patricia Monney after she travelled to Ghana with her family to visit some relatives.

At the time, she was worried that her twoyear-old daughter had not starting walking yet. Her relatives also shared their concerns.

“My GP in the UK said she was ok, but when in Ghana, I decided to check it out” she recalls.

Monney visited a local doctor who then referred her to a bone specialist.

“The bone specialist looked at her ankle and asked me if I knew about shea butter” she says. “I was surprised and told him ‘Of course I do, I come from the region in Ghana where it is produced’.

“He then told me to massage her ankle in shea butter for two weeks before deciding if my daughter needed surgery or not.”

Monney was sceptical about the advice, thinking it was a waste of time, but she agreed to follow it.

However, just a few days later, she was amazed at what happened.

“All of a sudden, we just saw this little girl stand up and start walking. Nobody could believe it. Two weeks later I returned to see that specialist. I asked him how was shea butter able to help my daughter to walk. He said it looked like her ankle was very stiff so when she tried to walk she could feel a lot of pain. Because shea butter has a lot of vitamin A, minerals, and other anti-inflammatory properties it helped to soften the carti - lage in the ankle.”

Monney decided to do some research into the health properties of shea butter.

In Ghana, it is known for its use in cooking. Typically the women of the household will gather up the shea nuts and turn them into butter in their kitchens.

However she soon discovered that the highest grade, unrefined shea butter contains several valuable minerals, proteins and essential fatty acids that not only helped her daughter but could also treat dry skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

It was then that Monney, an NHS IT specialist, decided to launch a business that would bring the health benefits of shea

BRAINWAVE: Patricia Monney (left) was inspired to launch her skincare company Aviela butter to others despite having no business background. Her company, Aviela Skincare, offers natural skincare products such as creams and lotions which use shea butter as their main ingredients. From her kitchen table she researched a range of possible products, tested them and designed the packaging. It was hard work on top of her day job but Monney was determined. “Africa has something very good” she says. “Something that the West can’t

“Africa has steal from us. We can make our own thing and sell it. I have no something very business background but I thought rather than sit down for good, something some big foreign company to chance on this I will.” The initial launch of the Avie la Skincare range was in 2008.that the West can’t steal from us” But after some rebranding and further product development it was re-launched in May 2021. “We want to see our products in in the hands of everyone who is experiencing the kind of skin problems that shea butter can help with. Our big target is high street stores like Selfridges, Holland and Barret and a return to Whole Foods Market. It takes a lot of time and negotiation but we already also contacting stores in the US.” n

Tailoring your space

Daniel Taylor MBE is the founder

of MDC Group, an award-winning office design agency with over 20 years of experience in designing truly inspiring workplaces for some of the world’s leading brands.

The company takes a ‘cradle to grave’ approach to design and works with clients of all sizes and at different stages of their business. It’s therefore no surprise that

MDC Group boasts an impressive client list that includes Facebook, Dolby, Harley Davison and JN Bank –the first Jamaican cashless bank to operate in the UK. Some of MDC’s award-winning projects include the South-Central ambulance call centre, which was given a silver award by the Home office.

Over the years the company has prided itself in creating modern working environments that encourage productivity, while providing a level of comfort that one would expect when at home.

“When I started the business, I wanted to create a legacy business, not a lifestyle business” Daniel says.

With such an upstanding successful business, I couldn’t help but wonder when and how it all started for this entrepreneur.

Daniel started his design career at Westinghouse, currently known as TECO-Westinghouse and then moved on to Allsteel, a subsidiary of BTR Group. While at Allsteel, Daniel followed his mentor as he moved up in the organisation to the positions of CEO for Europe and Middle East, a role that required a lot of travel. It took him to places like Czechoslovakia (before it became known as Czech Republic), Qatar and Moscow to name a few.However, travelling for work wasn’t as easy, flexible and sexy as it is nowadays. “When I used to travel for work, I used to take a suitcase full of gadgets in order to stay connected. For example, I had a laptop, modem, satellite phone and so the whole process became exhausting”, the entrepreneur recalls.

When Allsteel was taken over by another company, he saw this as an opportunity to build the legacy he’d always dreamt of. “I am an unusual designer in that I am a very creative person but I am also financially driven and always wanted to own and run my own business”, he says.

With a degree in products for commercial offices and a successful career at globally recognised companies, he had built the contact list and expertise to start MDC Group. His talent of being able to articulate an interior

“I wanted to work with family because no one has my back like my family does”

INSPIRING: Daniel Taylor MBE founder of MDC Group

design project has continued to win clients over the years.

“I always look at my clients as my friends, because people buy from people” ‘he says. Because of this analogy, Daniel was able to start the business with a few clients he’d worked for on previous projects. However, after a number of successful months, through the help of his accountant, he realised that his business was reliant on two customers. This was a high risk in an industry that can easily be impacted, especially by economic downturns.

As such, he decided to re-invest in the business and to make it a family business, because “I had identified earlier on that the UK government was not going to create a provision for me during retirement. Therefore, I had to make that provision for me and my wife of 30 years.” Today, MDC-group is flying the flag for gender representation at board level, with 3 out 5 of its executive board members being black women. “I wanted to work with family because no one has my back like my family does. It just happens that my family is predominantly female. When you work with people who are committed to the cause, especially black women, who are strong mentally and physically, they think more methodically and give you a clearer direction, which helps me a lot in the business.”

Unlike most businesses, the Covid-19 hasn’t slowed MDC- Group down. The business was “in a very strong financial position before it happened”. The company continued to win contracts during the period and has re-branded its self as a one stop shop for all property development needs required. Therefore, it has increased its offerings to include design, construction development and interior design.

Some of MDC’s latest projects include the Dartford hill hub by Rehoboth, and a high design gym with a fight club theme (i.e., catering for sports such as Jiu Jitsu, kick boxing). The gym is to be placed in a high-density area where it will be used by the surrounding local community.

If you are involved in the construction or property development business, make sure to reach out MDC Group. n

www.portroyalpatties.com

Our collection showcases a wide range of individual and selected statement pieces specialising in inspiring and often unique artwork that celebrates Val’s Caribbean and African heritage and culture. Founder, Val Smith started out making wedding and party favours for friends and family. She soon noticed a huge gap in the market for affordable AfroCaribbean art and goods and so ‘Touched by an Angel by Val’ was born. Val’s father was an accomplished tailor and her mother was involved in craft for many years, both of which inspired her love for sewing and creating unique decorative items.

Val’s shop in Greater Manchester was opened in 2020 but was soon hit by the pandemic and government closures which affected visits to the shop. Undeterred Val is closing the shop and has returned to showcasing her goods at fairs and events all over the country. Look out for details on her social media pages of events in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and in a County near you. Val believes that quality and affordability go hand in hand so we’re sure you’ll find that special uplifting and inspirational something for yourself, your family and your friends. Her mission is to provide inspirational pieces to people of colour and their families that reflect the beauty and diversity of Afro-Caribbean culture.

Uplifting the Community

Dawn Carter is a proper-

ty investor with over 27 years’ experience in an extensive range of areas, from private rental, residential and commercial sales, social housing to corporate lettings. Dawn is also a practicing solicitor specialising in family and housing litigation. Dawn is also the Director and Owner of Carter Mills Limited, an independent black owned, residential and commercial estate agent operating in Brixton Hill since 1999.

Dawn has been instrumental to the growth in Brixton and the surrounding areas over the years. Utilising her comprehensive net-

“Teaching young people interested in property how to navigate the sector”

Dawn Carter, Owner and Manager work in property and related sectors to build awareness of market opportunities. Carter Mills is a family orientated business, built on honesty and trust with a strong focus on the customer. They take pride in giving clients bespoke, personal, clear and informed advice, based on their deep knowledge of the market. With local expertise and a tailor made approach Carter Mills has established positive and long lasting relationships within the community. As a local black business, they are invested in bettering the communities in which they operate. This includes teaching young people interested in property how to navigate the sector. Their aim is to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people, through apprenticeships, work experiences, and mentorship. Carter Mills aims to inspire a new generation by passing on their collective years of property knowledge.n