Woman turns side hustle business into main job after being in crash

Shauna Barthus is originally from South Africa but made Haydock her home a year ago when she moved here with her husband.

The 28-year-old always loved the idea of Journaling and created a guidance and meditation journal and stationery which aims to help people live more intentionally.

She was doing this as a side business while working as a stylist for a photography studio in Manchester when she was involved in a car accident in November in Newton-le-Willows.

The accident led to her having seizures, which means she can no longer drive – making her job impossible to do without a very long commute to and from work on trains.

It was then that she decided to make Blissful Type her full time job, with more on offer soon.

Shauna said: “The accident changed a lot about my life, I had a 9 to 5 job, and it was monotonous, and the accident was a pivotal moment which I could have allowed to define me or I could use it as a thing to make me process what’s important and instead empower me to turn my side hustle into my job.

“Blissful Type was in the works anyway and I sold stationery but now I’ve got these journals which include activities and references and incites to try and share other people’s stories in a way to empower other people on their journeys.

“I think society only celebrates certain successes, usually they involve education or money but for some people getting out of bed that day is a success, or making what looks like a small change to others but a big step in their life towards a big goal is a success and Blissful Type aims to promote all those successes, big and small.

“Covid has shown us, much like the collision showed me, that we have no control over some things, but equally we can take control of other things in our life and work towards our own goals, and I think that’s beautiful.”

For more information, go to blissfultype.co.uk or follow Shauna on Instagram: @blissful_type, Tiktok: @blissfultype.