On March 8th 2025, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day, representing a rallying call for progress towards gender equality. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, highlights the need for bold, continuous efforts to drive meaningful change.
At hampers.com, we’re proud to uplift women in business by partnering with female-owned producers and agencies, wherever possible. Supporting women-owned ventures not only fosters innovation, but also challenges outdated industry norms. Through doing this, hampers.com aims to help pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable marketplace for women.
In recognition of this important day, we interviewed Georgina, Director of Banks-Lyon Botanical, to hear how she transformed her vision into a thriving business. Read on to learn more about her inspiring journey.
Introducing Georgina...
Growing up with sensitive skin, Georgina struggled to find high street products that didn’t contain chemicals or preservatives, and offered the spa-like pamper she was looking for. Following a few experiments and many hours around the kitchen table, Georgina and her husband, Simon, brainstormed the creation of Banks-Lyon Botanical.
Georgina explained that, "From our offices in Ramsbottom, in the beautiful countryside at the outer-reaches of Manchester, we started to wrap, bottle and mix an ever-changing array of natural bath and skincare products. After selling our first soap loaves to friends and family, we’d soon out-grown the kitchen table (and the spare room). Add two children in the mix and a house renovation, and it takes us to present day and our current range.".
Georgina and Simon still strive to pack the best ingredients nature has to offer into all of their products. Banks-Lyon Botanical makes everything by hand, and then wraps each item in luxurious packaging to ensure they portray the love that went into producing them.
Georgina explained that this attention to detail, "combined with our strict stance on Fair-trade, sustainability and never testing on animals (all our products are approved by Cruelty Free International), all helps to create an ethos we’re rather proud of.".
hampers.com interviews Georgina...
As part of hampers.com's International Women's Day celebrations, we were lucky enough to interview Georgina about her journey, and ask what advice she would give to other women in business:
hampers.com: What inspired you to start, own or lead your own business?
Georgina: I was working in a corporate job and wanted freedom. I always wanted to follow in my father and grandfather's footsteps and own my own business to hopefully create a well known brand that could be passed down the generations like they did!
hampers.com: What challenges did you overcome during this process, specifically as a woman entrepreneur?
Georgina: Challenges, there were many, we had lots going on at the time I started the business. I was heavily pregnant and we were in the middle of a massive house renovation. A lot of people laughed and thought I was mad to leave a successful career to start Banks-Lyon Botanical but with lots of encouragement from my husband and his ethos of 'what's the worst that could happen', I leapt in!
Georgina shares advice for female entrepreneurs...
hampers.com: What advice would you give to other women looking to break into your industry or start their own businesses?
Georgina: Just go for it, you never know what you could create. I have always tried to push myself out of my comfort zone, which I must say, I found a lot easier before I had children. But that doesn't stop me! Sometimes you have to do things that scare you. Embrace resilience, be prepared for the challenges and setbacks.
hampers.com: What does this year’s International Women’s Day theme mean to you, and how do you celebrate or reflect on its significance in your business?
Georgina: I think we can all pay a part, however small it may feel. We have a wonderful team of women that work at Banks-Lyon Botanical. Made up of friends I met when our eldest was a baby and also a mum of one of my old colleagues.
We all provide so much support to each other, we lift each other and they empower me. I encourage them to take on new roles within the business to ensure they are multi-skilled, and to be honest I couldn't run the business without them.
I am very fortunate to have a strong female community around me, my wonderful mother, sister and 94 year old Grannie, my nieces, my incredible friends who all inspire me in their different careers and journeys. It makes me believe that anything is possible.