Melanie Nolan had been working in the health industry for eight years, but it was only when she became a mother that she had her “game-changing” supplement idea that would go on to make her $1 million.
The 29-year-old single mum of three including twins, from Victoria, realised there was “something missing on the pre-natal market” when she became pregnant.
And when she gave birth to the twins, Melanie set to work to tackle what she had spotted.
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“I saw women becoming mothers and falling down to concerns like nutritional deficiencies, post-partum depletion or iron deficiency,” Melanie tells 7Life.
“I saw so many women who were suffering from low iron in pregnancy, and despite taking their pre-natal vitamins diligently, their iron levels kept dropping.”
Melanie says she envisioned a “range of supplements that actually do what you want them to do” – with high quality ingredients and the ability to be purchased without needing a prescription.
“Slow absorption, poor forms, nausea, constipation; I knew there had to be a better way,” she says.
And so, Melanie’s idea was born.
After launching The Natal Naturopath women’s clinic in 2019 – which is a collective of qualified, Australian naturopaths who have a specific interest in the health of women and mothers – Melanie went on to develop her own pre-natal and iron supplement.
This launched in October 2022, and generated $30,000 worth of sales in just 15 hours.
To this day, Melanie says she makes around $115,000 a month – and this figure is growing.
The first product in Melanie’s range is EverNatal ($54.99) – which has been designed for women to take before, during and after pregnancy.
“EverNatal contains the highest amount of choline compared to any prenatal (supplement) in Australia (350mg daily dose), which is really important as choline intake is essential for healthy foetal brain and central nervous system development,” Melanie says.
Her EverNatal supplement uses “the best forms of ingredients in science, in meaningful doses”.
The second supplement in her range is IronBiotic ($34.99).
This “contains high-quality and absorbable ingredients to help prevent dietary iron deficiency, support energy and red blood cell production, while maintaining your digestive health”.
Melanie says IronBiotic is her most popular supplement, although there are a range of unanimously positive reviews on her website.
Both of her supplements are vegan and come in sustainable packaging, rather than being housed in plastic bottles.
Reviews on The Natural Naturopath are glowing, where women have described both the supplements as “excellent” and “fantastic”.
“This product deserves so much praise. Firstly, I love the fact that I’m using just one product for pre, during and post-natal. Secondly, I love the formula. It ticks all the boxes. I love this product so much,” wrote one reviewer.
“I am taking EverNatal and despite having a newborn and a toddler and living off minimal sleep, I am finding my energy levels and overall health are great!” another added.
A third said: “EverNatal doesn’t give me any nausea at all. Highly recommended. I love using it!”
But despite owning a range of supplements, Melanie says she doesn’t want to be seen as “just” a supplements business.
“I want to be the place where women can go when they are feeling dismissed and unsupported within their health challenges,” she says.
“Women do need more support when it comes to healthcare.
“I am so passionate about undoing the dismissal ignoring of women’s health concerns, and I also want all of our customers to gain more health literacy, to know their bodies well, so that, when something isn’t right, they don’t accept being dismissed.”
And she has no plans to stop where she is right now either.
Melanie says she wishes to expand her supplements range in the coming years, with a particular focus towards “exploring ingredients that are more sustainable for the planet like algae oil instead of fish oil for a DHA supplement”.
“I have a deep passion for bridging the gap between baby care and mother care,” Melanie adds.
“The dream of founding a company that does so much good for other women and also supports my girls is a burning fire that I just keep heading towards.”
For more information about The Natural Naturopath and to shop Melanie’s range, head here.
Women should consult their medical professional before taking this supplement and consult The Natural Naturopath website for a list of side effects and/or ingredients.