WOMEN IN BUSINESS: 'Organics overcame my chronic fatigue' | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

A battle with chronic fatigue syndrome was the catalyst that saw Teena Cooke create a new business specialising in organic skincare.

The Otumoetai woman had been working as a hairdresser for 15 years when she became ill.

While her doctor told her it was chronic fatigue, Teena suspected the underlying cause was years of working with harsh chemicals.

"Your body is designed to handle crap but it was overloaded. It was being tipped over the balance.

"I had headaches, tiredness, I was grumpy as hell, [and] had mood swings. It was really bad. It was toxic chemical overload."

As someone who "never does things by halves", Teena decided to sell her hairdressing salon and join the police.

She cut her long hair, stopped using skincare products and makeup, and cut as many chemicals as possible from her life in an effort to feel better.

"I went from colouring my hair and using every beauty product there was on the market, to nothing.

"I started looking at what products were out there and eliminated everything.

"It took 18 months [to feel better]. It had probably been going on longer than I realised."

As she started to reintroduce products, a friend suggested she try making her own chemical-free soaps and moisturisers.

"I started doing some research and I found that making cream is like making a mayonnaise.

"I'm very curious and tenacious. If I want to know something, I'll find out - you have to when your health is bad.

"Once I got the first moisturiser made, family and friends wanted to use it."

And so Tease Organix was born. The company now sells more than 30 natural plant-based beauty products for face, body and hair.

Teena left the police force and moved back to Tauranga, where she re-opened her hairdressing salon with an  organic focus.

At night, she made organic products, which she began selling at Tauranga Farmers Market.

The business soon grew, with Teena selling products online to customers all over New Zealand and as as far afield as Australia and Britain.

Now, she's recruiting consultants to sell the products at Tupperware-style parties.

Teena already has three consultants in Tauranga and one in Orewa, and aims to add one new consultant each month. She regularly travels to Auckland to host parties.

"I decided I wanted to look at party planning, so I went to a party and hosted a party.

"I did the old Kiwi research, 'that looks like a good idea' and winged it.

"I had no problem standing up and talking about my product."

Teena has now hired a party plan coach and approached the Chamber of Commerce to help take the business "to the next level".

She encourages her consultants to be helpful and focus on education about organic products, rather than being "pushy".

And she's found that the party plan sales method is perfect for her product range.

"Women like to talk. I think that's the best way to grow a business. Word of mouth is huge - it's the most cost-effective way for small New Zealand businesses to grow."

Now, Teena is in great health and lives a "really normal life".

"Now I can have the odd thing like wine. It's nice to not feel crappy. I'm a real label reader and I know which things to keep away from."