Interview: Marva Williams founder at Shhh… Menopause Wellness
Retailers are slowing starting to recognise the needs of menopausal women as there is now a strong demand for supplements, sleepwear and skincare products.
Marva Williams is the founder of Shhh… Menopause Wellness and a passionate ambassador for supporting woman who are going through the menopause. If you’ve not yet tried the Shhh product range, you’ve probably seen them in pop ups across the UK in stores like John Lewis and Boots.
What is your background?
I’m no stranger to the skincare industry. I have been developing skincare ranges for medical practitioners and physiotherapists since 2013. I have also completed the Confidence in Menopause Course to support woman on their journey.
Was there a catalyst for starting Shhh…?
In 2019 I was hospitalised twice after collapsing which we later found out was due to issues connected to the Peri Menopause. I was put on a cocktail of medication, including tramadol and morphine which spaced me out, I couldn’t think and just wanted to sleep. With my background, I knew I needed to start working on products that would help me naturally to help alleviate some of the symptoms I was having.
Two-thirds of woman don’t talk about the Menopause. Is this changing?
Since the pandemic, I believe people are talking more openly about mental health and other challenges like the menopause, but there is still a lot of shame around it. A lot of women that I talk to don’t understand what is going on with their bodies. Menopause affects over half the population so we need to keep talking about it as loudly as we can and exploring effective treatment options. Not everyone can take HRT; women need to be offered natural alternatives.
How are customers responding in store?
Very well. A lot of women have said to us that they feel like they are being ‘spoken to’ as opposed to listened to. Everybody has different symptoms and react differently to the stages of their menopause. Our sole focus is the wellness products and so when we are approached by customers, we can offer a real personalised service.
What does the future look like?
Many women struggle to get time with their Doctors – it’s just the reality of the NHS today – and there are woman out there that want an alternative to HRT, so they are going out to do some self-research. Making more information available is very important.
We are still a young brand, but we do have plans to expand. We are working with health professionals to develop more training and then we will roll out nationally. Training is so important because there is a lack of knowledge out there and we want to be able to really listen and help as many women as we can.
