MILDURA resident Tracey Hickmott has taken her small start-up to the big time with La Trobe University’s Accelerator Program.
Running over 12 weeks, the program includes a range of mentoring, educational workshops and co-working spaces for applicants who want to start up, or take their start-up to the next level.
Tracey Hickmott, with her deodorant start-up Natural Approach, was the winner of the $10,000 grant at the end of the program this month.
After struggling to find an effective deodorant from a young age and being concerned with the chemicals she was putting on to her body, Ms Hickmott decided to experiment with making her own.
“From a very young age I can remember suffering with body odour and I always struggled,” she said.
“I used all deodorants, crystals — you name it, I have used it.”
Using family and friends as trial consumers, she found herself inundated with positive feedback and decided to “have a crack” at turning her product into a business.
“I started making it as a hobby and a lot of my family and friends were using it and wanted more,” she said.
“So I had a crack at it and it just hasn’t stopped — I have sold over 4000 tins Australia-wide.”
Ms Hickmott has frequented the Sunraysia Farmers Market since she moved to Mildura two years ago with her natural, hand-made deodorants and after encouragement from a fellow entrepreneur decided to apply for the La Trobe Accelerator Program.
She said it was one of the best experiences of her life and hoped it would help take her business to the next level.
“I really loved connecting with other like-minded entrepreneurs who are really passionate about what they do,” she said.
“I learnt so much — there was everything to working with mentors and making pitches.”
Ms Hickmott said she would love to continue expanding her business nationally, then internationally if possible.
“I am looking at trademarking my business and there is lot of equipment I need to buy,” she said.
“I want to hire somebody to help me make my product because at the moment I find I am struggling to keep up with the demand.”
She encourages anyone who can to apply for the program.
“When you go out to do your own business it can be lonely and you have so many questions and you don’t know who to ask or what to do — that was the best part about the program.”
