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A lot has happened since Barb de Corti was a self-confessed bleach queen more than 20 years ago. But her philosophy behind starting ENJO Australia hasn’t changed. “It’s about passion and purpose. I’m passionate about helping people and our main purpose is to be planet friendly,” she says.
While her house looked perfect when she was using chemical based cleaning products, her family’s health was far from it. Her young son was suffering debilitating asthma attacks, the cause of which turned out to be those chemicals.
In 1994 Barb used her family’s life savings of $40,000 to bring ENJO products to Australia and she believes the business still exists because of the strong messages behind it.
“What I have learnt is that people want to be connected with other people, face to face,” says Barb. “However, to make it easier for our customers to get to us we launched online in 2012, it’s important to have both now,” she added.
Today, she is focused on teaching people that they can make a difference just by the way they clean their house. “Yes, we have been around 20 years but in some ways our products are still Australia’s best kept secret,” she says.
The eldest of eight children, Barb grew up in a small village in Austria, where the population was only about 1000. “I think this is why I am so community minded and as a result the business is too.”
While her passion is helping others through her business, charity work is also something very close to her heart. “I believe that if you are blessed to have everything you want, it’s important to give back,” she says.
The 50-year-old mother of one devotes her time to raising money for breast cancer and Amnesty International but her main priority is helping people, especially young people, who suffer from depression, through the charity youth focus. “We hear so much talk about cancer but no one talks about the silent killer, depression,” she says.
Also a fitness fanatic, Barb encourages her team to get together two to three times a week and exercise together. “It’s no secret that if your staff are happy and healthy, they will stay with you and help you make a difference,” she says.
- What was the turning point moment or incident that made you realise you had to find a better way, in view of the reaction of cleaning chemicals on your son?
I had taken my son on one too many trips to the hospital for asthma attacks and nearly lost him on one of them. After giving him a bath, the attacks would flare up. I soon realised that what I was cleaning my bath with was having an adverse effect on my son’s health and I had to find an alternative.
- What were the biggest challenges you faced?
The biggest single challenge I faced was that people didn’t believe that only soft fibres and water could clean better than chemicals.
- What have been the biggest rewards or highlights?
Seeing so many women become independent business owners is a huge reward for me. Aside from this the constant feedback from customers, letting me know that ENJO has improved their health.
- Is there anything you would have done differently, looking back?
Not really, I see every failure along the way as a great learning curve, that has brought myself and the company where it is today. We have just celebrated 20 years with ENJO. With passion and purpose you will overcome any obstacle.
What 3 things would you say to women who are building their own business?
1: Believe in yourself
2: Put a business plan together – which is as simple as what do you want to achieve, when do you want to achieve it and how are you going to do it.
3: Surround yourself with people that have the expertise that you may lack instead of trying to do everything yourself. Focus on what you are good at.
In 2007, ENJO founder Barb de Corti was chosen to become part of the ACF’s climate project, trained by Al Gore to deliver cultural change around the area of climate change. In 2009, she was honoured with the Woman of Style Award in the Environment category. This award recognises her drive and passion, which has placed her at the forefront of Australia’s green movement for more than a decade. She was also listed on BRW’s 2014 Rich Women list.
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