Products and services for women living with cancer were the ideas behind new Perth retail store Amanita.
Amanita (Malaysian for peaceful woman) owner Dee Sidhu saw the gap in the market after experiencing breast cancer first-hand and having a bilateral mastectomy.
“I was living in Malaysia and working for the National Cancer Society there. I opened a resource and wellness centre, did fundraising and was a project manager,” Ms Sidhu said.
“But I wanted to focus on women.”
Ms Sidhu moved to Perth last year and trained to become a certified breast prosthesis and bra fitter.
Amanita officially opened earlier this month in Queen Street, selling a range of products including compression sleeves, aromatherapy products and massage oils.
“We are much more than a retail store,” Ms Sidhu said.
“It is our aim to ensure customers are cared for the moment they step into Amanita.
“Our commitment is to help women restore their appearance, self-image and confidence and to make their life beautiful again after breast surgery.
Amanita offers a personalised consultation for those experiencing temporary or permanent appearance changes after cancer or other surgery.
“Women can walk in or make individual appointments with the staff to be fitted for breast protheses and lingerie and we do hospital and home visits,” Ms Sidhu said.
“We also teach exercises to reduce the risk of lymphoedema and explain how to massage scars to reduce the effect of scarring.”
Ms Sidhu researched her business idea in the UK and Ireland and found there was nothing like it south east of the UK that completely serviced women.
“Not just here but everywhere,” she said.
“There is no one-stop service where women can go for all of these needs and be helped by women who understand.
“The long-term goal is to service the whole Asia Pacific region because this is the area that needs it.”
Ms Sidhu has also opened a second Amanita in Kuala Lumpur and commutes between the two stores.
