09/09/2026
Well… HELLO to all the new people! 👋😂
There seem to be rather a lot more of you here than there were a week ago, after my little rant about protecting my staff went completely bonkers on Facebook.
So if you’ve followed me because you saw that video and thought “Who the bloody hell is this woman?”… I thought I’d better introduce myself. 😂
I’m Kate, and Becalmed is my baby (although at 19 years old, it’s now technically an adult and should probably start paying its own bills).
I started all this back in 2007, after returning from living in France. I trained in complementary therapies and started off doing mobile treatments under the name My Calm — lugging my massage couch about and trying to build up a little business.
Then came a Saturday market stall in Leek selling 100% natural beauty products...
Nothing glamorous. No empire. No enormous budget. Just me, my little stall, lots of ideas and a determination to make it work. I was so scared when I spent a whole £100 on stock 😬
From there I moved into Getliffes Yard, then Stanley Street where the brand Becalmed came into being and eventually, on 3rd September 2016, into our lovely shop on Sheep Market — which has JUST celebrated its 10th birthday! 🥳
Fast-forward 19 years and somehow I now have TWO shops, because apparently one wasn’t enough work for me. 🤦♀️😂
Our original shop is in Leek, and earlier this year I took the slightly terrifying leap of opening our second shop in Ashbourne.
So what do we actually sell?
Basically… LOADS OF LOVELY STUFF. 😂
🌿 Natural skincare and beauty
🕯️ Home fragrance
👗 Gorgeous, colourful clothing
👢 Footwear
💍 Jewellery
👜 Handbags and accessories
🎁 Gifts
🏡 Homewares
✋ Massage, beauty, holistics within Leek
🎄 All year Christmas shop within Leek
🌸 And all sorts of things you absolutely didn't come in for but suddenly NEED.
We stock some fabulous brands including Joe Browns, Neal’s Yard Remedies, UpCircle, Joma Jewellery, Katie Loxton and Gisela Graham, alongside lots of other gorgeous things I found for you guys to shop!
We also make our own pure essential oil and soy wax candles and wax melts. I develop the flavours (yes I know), faff about with essential oils, test things, change things, make a mess and eventually create something lovely. 🕯️😂 We also make a range of jewellery called Heartley using crystals and reclaimed upcycled beads 💍
And because Becalmed actually started with wellbeing and complementary therapies, that side of the business has never disappeared either.
We have treatment rooms in Leek where we offer massage, facials, Indian Head Massage, pregnancy massage and other lovely treatments for when life has basically done your head in and you need someone to sort you out. 😂
And an all year round Christmas shop in the basement called our Christmas Cave🎄 🎁
But Becalmed isn't really just about what we sell.
I've always wanted my shops to be somewhere people feel comfortable.
You don't need to be young, thin, fashionable, wealthy or know your retinol from your hyaluronic acid.
Come in exactly as you are.
Spend £3 or £300. Have a mooch. Have a chat. Ask us questions. Try something ridiculous on. Tell us your life story. We genuinely don't mind. We are friendly, fun and give out the occasion hug for good measure.
I've also somehow accumulated an absolutely fabulous bunch of women who work alongside me, and if last week's viral post taught the internet anything, it's probably that I am VERY protective of them. 😂❤️
We're a proper little independent business.
I still choose the stock.
I still make candles.
I still do some treatments.
I still serve customers.
I still panic about the bills.
I still get ridiculously excited when a delivery arrives.
And I still regularly wonder what on earth I'm doing. 😂
But 19 years, two shops, a market stall, several premises, thousands of massages, God knows how many candles and one unexpectedly viral Facebook post later… we're still here.
So if you're new — WELCOME TO BECALMED. 🌿❤️
Thank you for following, thank you for all the incredible support over the last week, and if you're ever in Leek or Ashbourne, come and say hello.
Just behave yourselves.
Apparently I'm unhinged. 😉😂
Kate xx
