The dad of three was on a ventilator and almost died
A dad-of-three has opened up about how the loss of his father at a young age and a harrowing brush with Covid-19 motivated him to make a dramatic lifestyle change. In early 2020 when lockdown first began, Demi Pendakis, found himself hospitalised with Covid-19.
Recounting the ordeal, he said “it was like a nightmare” and was not sure if he would make it. The 46-year-old said: “One minute I was fine, the next I was lying in a hospital bed on a ventilator.
“Nobody knew what Covid was back then or what it could do to you. I panicked and lay there asking myself, ‘Have I spent my time in the right way? ’ If I make it out, I have to make changes’.”
Thankfully, Demi managed to pull through. However, after his near-death experience, he quit his high-flying career in global fashion to start his own business after realising what was important in his life. Despite spending over 20 years at the top of sales and commercial operations for some of the world’s leading clothing suppliers, it was a gruelling shift.
Some of the suppliers included the massive giants Shahi Exports and Li & Fung, which supply household names like Tommy Hilfiger, M&S, Primark, and major UK supermarkets. Boasting a lucrative lifestyle that included a £200,000-a-year salary, a stunning family home, and a globe-trotting career, the intense travel and gruelling 60-plus-hour workweeks made him reassess his life choices and left him concerned for his wellbeing.
The punishing schedule meant he barely spent time with his wife, Laura, and their three daughters – Amalie, 14, Hollie, 11 and Leia, 7 – averaging less than 10 days a month at home. The pivotal moment for his decision to quit came during his recovery when a friend brought him a plate of figs. This simple gesture sparked an idea – to start his own business.
He explains: “A friend brought me a plate of figs, and the smell instantly transported me back to my gran’s garden in Greece, playing football with my brother. It was a powerful reminder of how fragrance can evoke wonderful memories, and that’s where the idea for F.Y.G (Find Your Glow) came from.”
Starting a luxury fragrance and lifestyle brand and getting his training from UK candle-making supply specialist Candle Shack, Demi developed his first fragrances and later in the same year as his hospitalisation, launched a business. Due to what he went through, he paid tribute to the NHS, featuring multi-coloured designs as a nod to the healthcare workers who helped save his life.
Not only did he dedicate it to the NHS, but today, his brand’s candles and fragrances are now stocked in high-end retailers, luxury hotels, and online platforms across the UK. Going on to win a number of awards, the business has been in profit every year and last year turned over an impressive £550,000.
Stressing that there are financial challenges but no regrets, Demi says: “Sometimes I miss the camaraderie of corporate life, but I prioritise my health and family now.”
“No meetings before 10am, and weekends are for loved ones,” he continued. “Health is wealth. There’s no point having money if you’re not happy or healthy.”
This is not the only health issue Demi has had to deal with. Sadly his father passed away when Demi was in his early 20s, resulting in him taking on both the emotional and financial responsibilities for his family and their business.
Faced with soaring debts at just 23, Demi even attempted suicide. “We lost everything,” he reflected. “It all got too much, and I hit rock bottom.
“But I rebuilt my life from scratch, and that’s why I know I can handle anything. I speak to a lot of people going through struggles now. If speaking about my experience can help even one person, then it’s worth it. There is always a way to recover.”
Keen to see his brand go from nationwide to worldwide, Demi says that he wish he started sooner. “I want to be there for my kids and ensure I’m healthy and happy. I wish I’d made the leap sooner, but everything I’ve been through has shaped who I am today.”
To find out more about F.Y.G visit their website here and Candle Shack’s website here.