How one Derry woman used Tik Tok to launch her very own successful business

There aren't many in Derry and even further afield who don’t know Elaine Maxwell. The Derry woman is known for her tik tok videos updating her 60,000 followers on her everyday life.

From fashion to food Elaine has covered it all. The influencer even managed to launch her own business ‘The Wee Derry Shot’ which she credits to her tik tok success.

Here she tells Derry Now how and why she started on social media, what she loves the most about it all and how along with her husband she was able to create and grow a successful business.

Elaine recalled how her journey all started when her daughter set her up a Tik Tok account and how her following grew.

She said: “I had an account and all there and didn’t know how to use it. One day anyway I pressed record just sharing about my day in town. I posted it thinking nothing of it. It went mental and took off from there. It has been great, I now love posting videos! You do get trolls when it comes to everything this is no different. I do my videos for the craic and I keep it positive.

“I love doing the outfits of the day, and I am an ambassador for Bperfect, showing off their makeup is amazing! If there are any new businesses or struggling businesses in town I love to get out to them and help them as much as I can by using my platform. If I can use this to help people then that’s what it’s all about.”

With over 60,000 eyes on her almost everyday Elaine takes it all in her stride saying she often forgets there are that many people watching her.

“If there is a negative comment, I don’t take it on. I just block them. Other people would worry if they saw anything negative. People making negative comments don’t really know me. I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. I think that attitude is what keeps me going on tik tok.”

On the back of her social media success Elaine quickly became a business woman. After inspiration from her husband Picka ‘The Wee Derry Shot’ was born last year.

Reflecting back on the development of ‘The Wee Derry Shot’ Elaine said: “For years my husband had been making wee concoctions and keeping them in the fridge. He had all different kinds of bottles with ginger and garlic. He was taking them for years and it then got to a stage where I thought I needed to start taking them too.

“He was running about like a spring chicken and I was suffering with aches and pains in my joints. Within no time of taking them my aches and pains were away.

“People started to notice me taking the wee shot every day and questioning me about them. I told them all the benefits of them and soon enough people kept saying to me they would buy them if I sold them.

“Within no time we were making them from our kitchen and people were landing at the house looking to buy them.

“We went through all the procedures to get our kitchen passed and bottles tested. There have been people that have made negative comments about us going this

“We realise there have been doing this for years but there is room for everybody. I really believe our shots took off due to my platform and we are so grateful and blessed for that.

“My children used to be embarrassed thinking about it all but now everyone is amazed and how far it has come. The support has been unbelievable.”

The Wee Derry Shot has had resounding success not only in Derry but throughout the North. The health shot can now be found in 60 stocklists within the North.

Elaine shared how one shopkeeper in Armagh explained to her that customers are lining up to get the shot and buying five and six bottles each time.

“I have had people come to me and tell me this has helped health conditions such as psoriasis. Some have said they couldn’t be without it. They are hard to take, but believe me you will feel and see the benefits. It’s like a medicine you have to let it take a couple of weeks to work.

“The original Derry Shot has some water, garlic, turmeric, ginger, lemon, limes, orange, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Every ingredient is fresh.”

For more information and stocklists visit Facebook @ The Wee Derry Shot