Lifestyle: Meet Tayla, a self-Mayde woman

Changing careers can be a daunting prospect, especially for a 21-year-old looking to start her own small business from scratch.

For Tayla Mort, however, it was an opportunity she relished, swapping her scissors and blow-dryer as a qualified hairdresser, for blenders and juices to open burgeoning nutrition bar Mayde Health.

“It was a very big change going from being a hairdresser to owning my own business,” Tayla says.

“They are very different hours, I mean I used to rock up to work at 8am and now I’m up at 4.30am every morning.

“But it’s also been really nice because my old clients still support me and being next to the hairdressers I still get to see everyone all the time.”

Born and bred in Bunbury, Tayla was seemingly destined to join the family business of hairdressing, after her mother Francine Mort and grandmother Felicia Nani helped teach her the trade at their Parks Centre salon Hair For All.

But after developing an intolerance to gluten an idea was sparked to start her own business to cater for others in her position.

“When I was younger my full focus was on hairdressing, because it was a family business and I wanted to continue that,” she says.

“But when I became gluten intolerant that really sparked my interest in healthy eating, as I tried out a range of new foods and found how delicious alternatives can be.

“I realised I wanted to give people healthy options on the go and allow people with food intolerances, or who are vegetarian or vegan, to have options available to them when they go out.”

On January 4 this year, just before her 21st birthday, Tayla opened Mayde Health, where wholesome juices, smoothies, naturopath-made tea and sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free raw treats are available.

“I just turned 21 when I started Mayde Health,” Tayla says.

“My mum was like ‘do you want a party?’ and I was like no I’m too stressed to have a party, I need to focus on the business!”

While Tayla shouldered the burden for designing and creating the store, she did have a little help from the Small Business Centre, as well as guidance from her family on how to manage your own business.

Although she believes she would be remiss telling others the path to owning your own business will be easy, Tayla says that shouldn’t stop you from trying.

“It can be difficult to be a young business owner for sure,” she says.

“You have to give up a lot of your social life, but the pay-off is well worth it.

“If I could give one form of encouragement to others looking to pursue their dreams or start a small business like mine, it would be that no matter what, if you are passionate about it, just do it.”

That passion has led Tayla to receive a certificate for excellence in customer service as well as be nominated for three upcoming South West Small Business Awards. It’s a passion she wants to keep up, already musing about long-term options to expand the business.

“Moving forward I have a few plans for stages two and three,” Tayla says.

“Once I’m really established here, I would love to get a food van so I can travel with healthy options to events.

“And of course, eventually down the track I would also love to establish some sister stores.”

With so much time invested in her business though, when Tayla does get a moment to herself she says she likes to spend it at the gym or enjoying the company of her family.

“I don’t really get a lot of downtime,” Tayla says.

“However, I always go to the gym every day as it’s the one time I can shut my brain off and I also love to spend time with my family as I’m a family girl at heart.”