Atkinson, 43, is the co-owner of Napiers, which specialises in natural health treatments and herbal medicines. The company recently joined forces with Culpeper, which owns a chain of herbal shops, and the combined firm now has 14 retail outlets and eight natural health clinics throughout the UK. It employs around 150 staff and has an annual turnover of £4 million.
In addition to travelling to see new products, Edinburgh-based Atkinson also visits the company’s UK stores and attends trade shows around the world.
Those trips must have been an eye-opener?
They certainly were – I had a marvellous time. You have to be a bit careful in San Jose (Costa Rica) though. I had a dodgy experience there when I got into a taxi and realised the driver was taking me in the wrong direction. I just had that horrible feeling that something awful was going to happen. I waited for the taxi to slow down in some traffic and then just jumped out and ran for it.
Any other strange experiences on trips?
I suppose I’ve been quite lucky, really. I was once stuck on a bus in India and it was very cramped. I needed to get off to go to the loo, but it was just impossible, so I’m afraid I had to hang my butt out of the window. When a girl’s got to go, she’s got to go.
Which other exotic destinations have you been to?
The place that really stands out is the Solomon Islands. I went there in 2001, to see if we could get some ‘fair trade’ coconut oil. We couldn’t at the time, but it was an incredible place and I stayed with a local family, which made it all the more interesting.
Do you ever go on more conventional business trips?
Yes, I’ve been to New York, Washington and Canada on business. I went to New York because we had just signed a contract with Bath & Body Works, which was a massive deal for us. I flew on Indian Airways and the aircraft was decorated in 1980s laminate. There were no lights in our section. I also saw a fistfight between a group of young ladies who reclined in their chairs and a rather large woman, who was sitting behind them. It was all calmed down when the large woman was moved to another seat and the little princesses were allowed to carry on reclining.
How do you book your trips?
I usually do them myself and book over the internet, often with expedia.com. I’m always in the back of the plane because I go for the cheapest option. On short haul trips, I’ve been with easyJet quite a few times.
