Meet Casey, owner of Yaraay Yulay, a business that hand-makes cosmetic products in Dubbo, NSW.
Today we introduce you to Casey, a Gamilaraay/Yuwalaraay woman from Walgett NSW living on Wiradjuri country Dubbo and the owner and creator of Yaraay Yulay. Yaraay Yulay formulates, and hand-makes cosmetic products for skin and hair that harness the power of traditional Indigenous bush ingredients. With a career in nursing, Casey discovered she had an interest in skincare after completing a cosmetic nursing course. Casey has built her business since July 2022 with the support of her business coach Danny and hopes to one day make it her full-time job!
“I would have to say that the biggest change has been the confidence I have in myself. You just take on that businesswoman persona. Before I had a business, I would see businesswomen and wish I was that confident. They just radiate positivity, and now I’m there myself, I get it, I understand it.”
Read more about Casey’s story:
Meet Casey
So my business is Yaraay Yulay, a skincare business that formulates and hand–makes cosmetic products for skin and hair that harness the power of traditional Indigenous bush ingredients. I’ve been operating Yaraay Yulay since July 2022.
I have a nursing background and am still a nurse. I was actually doing a course in cosmetic nursing, and I ended up becoming interested in the skincare side of the study. I did some research on skincare and realised it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was. Having a nursing background helped with understanding the chemical makeup of products, so I thought I’d give it a go.
I did a lot of research on how to start my own business, and then the ad for Many Rivers popped up in my Facebook feed. I saw the ad, and had a look at your website, read the client stories and watched some videos and thought I’d check you guys out.
This was just before I started my business in July. At that stage, I wasn’t clear in my head if I could even start a business, so I thought it would be great to talk to someone to see how to get there.
I want a career where I am satisfied with what I’m doing – I am in nursing, but I want the freedom that you get when you work for yourself, and the work–life balance. If you put in the hard work now, eventually the freedom will come. Life is too short to be working for someone else every day!
Working with Many Rivers
I received business coaching, and support with writing a business plan alongside a loan to assist me in buying more ingredients for the products. 
The most useful thing I’ve found is tapping into knowledge I didn’t have. My biggest barrier was knowing that I know nothing about business. I wouldn’t know where to begin. I don’t know how to write a business plan. Just having someone there to guide me along the way has been great. For example, Danny sat down and developed a marketing plan with me, teaching me things I didn’t know. You are constantly learning as you go, it was so helpful having someone who has the knowledge, knowing they are on your side.
I did receive a loan from Many Rivers. I used it to pay for some of the ingredients to start making the products on a larger scale. Initially, I didn’t get the loan to see if I could get started without it, but it was hard because I was buying small amounts of ingredients. With the loan, I was able to buy ingredients in bulk which gave me a leg up with the stock because it’s cheaper the more you buy. It’s currently just me working on the business right now.
Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge has probably been juggling the business growth whilst managing my current career. I haven’t reduced my hours and it’s been full–on!
Biggest Success
The biggest success would have to be the amount of traction I’ve been able to gain in such a small amount of time. I’ve sent orders out all-around Australia including wholesale orders and I have interest from New Zealand. I’ve got a good social media following, a good email list – the growth since July has been incredible!
Biggest Change
I would have to say that the biggest change has been the confidence I have in myself. You just take on that businesswoman persona. Before I had a business, I would see businesswomen and wish I was that confident. They just radiate positivity, and now I’m there myself, I get it, I understand it.
Future Goals
I hope to make it my full-time job and develop it up from just my side hustle. I’d love to either sell it or build it up to pass onto my children.
Thank you Casey for sharing your business journey. For anyone interested in Yaraay Yulay’s products, check out Casey’s website and socials.
Follow Yaraay Yulay:
Facebook & Instagram: @yaraayyulay
TikTok: @yaraay.Yulay
Website: www.yaraayyulay.com
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