Holly Farm was conceived by Kathy in August 2005 following a series of simple events. Kathy had stopped by the local visitors centre in Toodyay to buy a last minute gift for a friend, and immediately noticed an opportunity for someone to make local handcrafted products.

She’d always had a flair for creating luxurious body care products and creating essential oil blends, and so announced to her husband that night ‘I might start a small business’.

The following day she phoned around to see what was involved in establishing a small business, and phoned the Toodyay Visitors Centre to see if they were interested in her idea. 

As luck would have it, a new manager had just been employed with a plan for the centre, which included local businesses like the one she was considering creating.

The enthusiasm of the visitors centre manager was all she needed to make the decision to jump into the business venture.  She registered the business, and began creating.  Her husband, family and friends became willing (or at least they pretended to be) test specimen, and since her day job is as a scientist she felt qualified to call these ‘controlled scientific trials’.

The business name had already been decided long before the business was conceived.  During the previous year she’d been to the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne with her best friend.  Both being devoted lovers of the four legged canine variety, they’d been discussing a winery which had chosen to use their dogs as their logo, and then went about devising business names for themselves, should they ever decide to venture into business.  The girls decided on Holly Farm for Kathy’s pretend business, thanks to her beloved boys; Harvey the golden retriever and Ollie the bull mastiff. 

So once the pretend business became a reality there was no option but to use the name Holly Farm.  The only dilemma she now faces is what happens when either Harvey or Ollie is required to go to puppy heaven?……the next generation may well have to be called Harold and Molly.

The range of Holly Farm products has steadily grown based on the fabulous ideas of family, friends and (more often) family of friends.

The creative part was a breeze… however the business side of things was another matter entirely.  Some much needed direction, on the business front came about by chance.  A very good friend was having drinks one night at the pub, and by chance Kathy happened to meet a friend of hers with a very bright business brain, whose guidance and input has been absolutely invaluable.

At present Holly Farm supplies products to outlets throughout Western Australia, with their main aim to provide unique personalised gifts.  They tailor product ranges to the region or theme of the outlet selling the products, or to the person buying the gift.  Of course the Toodyay Visitors Centre is still, and will always be, Holly Farm’s favourite outlet, and is well worth a visit should you fancy a trip to the majestic Avon Valley (www.toodyay.com).  It must be mentioned there is now some fantastic locally made products from the region, all beautifully displayed in the visitors centre