MWWAH editorial

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MW WAH …

Mums who work at home

Stars real-lifle specia

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You hear about star mums doing it all the time – that is, starting businesses from home like Days star Arianne Zucker and her jewellery label Lowd Suga.

So we have found some of the best online businesses started by MWWAH (mums who work at home).

For the kids!

Mums, Bubs and Gifts: www.mumsbubsandgifts.com.au An online store specialising in exciting, innovative products and gifts for mums, bubs and the whole family. They also provide free sample bags for new and expectant mums.

Funky-Buddha Bibs: www.funky-buddhabibs.net Bandana teething and wipeable snap and scoop bibs along with other accessories.

Cute as a canvas: www.cuteasacanvas.com.au Personalised canvas artwork for children’s rooms.

Your Cheeky Monkey: www.yourcheekymonkey.com.au Beautiful yet practical products, gifts and gift ideas for newborn babies through to mums.

Arianne models Lowd Suga earrings.

Jewellery!

www.mummarocks.com Baby-safe jewellery handcrafted out of semi-precious beads and pendants.

Marley rose: www.marleyrose.com.au An online designer jewellery boutique where customers can shop for the latest must-have accessory labels.

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Toby And Nic: www.tobyandnic. com.au Personalised bibs, tees and onesies for little ones.

Princess Abbey:

Mini Boss: www.miniboss. com.au A cute and quirky range for every little bossy-boots.

Mumma Rocks:

Ecocubs: www.ecocubs.com Educating people about modern cloth nappies and a variety of other eco-friendly alternatives for families.

www.princessabbey.com Hand-beaded jewellery for girls and boys and also gifts such as keepsake boxes, jewellery boxes and personalised mirrors.

Twisted Jewellery Creations: www.twisted jewellerycreations.com.au Quality handcrafted jewellery.

Food!

CoAstal Chocolates: www.coastalchocolates.com.au Delicious, handcrafted gourmet chocolate gifts.

I Dream Of Cupcakes: www.idreamofcupcakes.com.au Enjoy amazing designer cupcakes for any occasion.

Baby Vegas: www.Baby Vegas.com.au They specialise in hard-to-find, educational and play toys as well as unique gifts for children.

Pretty Things Distract Me: www.pretty thingsdistractme.com.au Hair accessories for babies, children and mums. They’re fun, funky, functional and, most of all, they stay in little girls’ hair!

Giggleberry creations: giggleberry.etsy.com These fabric bunting banners are lovingly handmade. Each flag is double-sided so it can be hung across a room without hems or the “wrong side” of the fabric showing. Every banner is professionally finished with a fabric tag and heat-sealed grosgrain ribbon.

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Story of a MWWAH

Mums who work at home

OZ Handmade:

Pettiskirt Princess: www.pettiskirtprincess.com.au Pettiskirts ranging in size from babies all the way up to adults.

CeeBee Designs: www. ceebeedesigns.com Specialise in making invitations and greeting cards, which are all handmade and fully customisable.

Creative!

www.ozhandmade. com 100 per cent Australian-owned, online market, open 24/7. Sellers make and sell gorgeous, unique items.

Charity!

Backpacks 4 Aussie Kids: Little Bird Décor: www.littlebirddecor.com.au Unique wall decor, decals and growth charts. They also bring customers’ own designs to life.

ninky Bear: www.ninky bear.com.au Specialty items for mums and bubs.

Non-profit volunteer group filling backpacks and nappy bags with essential and personal items for kids going into foster and kinship care. Email despina parakas@yahoo.com.au

name is Beverley-Anne Rolt and I am the owner of TrendyKidz™.

I live in Perth, and I am a single mum to two gorgeous teenage girls.

In 2005, I was working full time as an executive manager in a recruitment company, I found myself becoming frustrated as my girls were entering puberty.

My 12-year-old needed a ladies size 14 which, of course, came with plunging necklines and low-rise pants. My 13-year-old was so tall and skinny that she needed ladies size 10 just to get the length in the arms and legs.

These clothes were inappropriate, but all that fitted them.

Being disgruntled led to me registering my business name and going to China to find manufacturers. It took lots of hurdles and pitfalls to get TrendyKidz™ up and running, before the first sample was produced. The minimum quantities were massive for a small business and I found it difficult to keep returning to China to conduct business.

At the beginning of 2007, I’d worked too hard and got the wake-up call required. I was in intensive care and my husband and children had been informed that I may not make it through the night. I realised at that moment that I needed to make some drastic changes.

I wanted to compete in the marketplace with all the “known” labels, I had found

I needed to have higher prices to cater for the minimum quantities required when manufacturing, so I left China (and my marriage and career all in the same week) and went to Bali for a holiday, as you do!

I ended up sourcing a building, renting it, gutting it, putting in porcelain white flooring and painting the walls, and setting up my own factory in the village Dalung (now known as the cleanest factory in Bali!).

By being a business owner in Bali, I am able to support the

whole village, its school and children and also the local orphanage. I get great pleasure from seeing the staff and their families thrive and have found that starting this business has been the most satisfying thing I have ever done!

My staff are really happy. They receive double the standard wage, have their health cover paid (for their families too) and a chef to cook their lunch each day.

I also collect used mobile phones for the villagers on the outskirts of Bali.

I feel very blessed and fortunate because my staff have incredible skills. Originally, my goal was to offer ageappropriate clothing for all kids. I can now do this because I own the factory.

The clothes are of exceptional quality and most items are in the $20-$30 range. We have also expanded our range to cater from baby to teen.

We produce for many other labels now, meaning others don’t have to go through the same challenges that I did in the beginning.

And I also get to fly to Bali every 6-8 weeks, so I have finally found my dream job! www.trendykidz.com.au

With my nephew.

Items from our range.

Sweet Chilli Philly Photography: www. sweetchilliphillyphotography. com.au Specialise in stunning photos for the whole family.

Looking to

workfrom home?

Where to start websites: www.wheretostartwebsites.com If you’re considering starting your own online business, or just want to turn a hobby into a business, Where To Start Websites can help you create the perfect site at an achievable cost.

Baby ear muffs: www.babyearmuffs.com.au Provides a variety of hearing protection earmuffs and earplugs suitable for children and young babies. The aim is to educate parents on the importance of hearing protection from a young age, as once hearing is lost it cannot be repaired.

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Amanda Riley Design:

Paper Scissors Rock Stationery: www.paperscissorsrock

www.amandariley.com.au Unique personalised invitations, stationery and design.

stationery.com.au A stunning array of invitations, party accessories, notebooks, journals, cards and wrappings.

Lifestyle Careers: www.lifestylecareers.com.au This is an online recruitment job board.

It provides employers with access to a motivated group of job seekers who are looking to work flexibly and in less traditional ways. These people have made a decision to seek employment with elements of flexibility that will suit their unique requirements. They are driven to work for organisations with a more modern outlook.

Email: leah@workathomemums.com.au or call 0419 747 097.

The ultimate resource for all great home businesses in the one spot is www.mwwah.com.au. It’s a site for MWWAH business owners to unite together and show off the variety of home businesses, and a place for members to come to find all their wonderful treasures.

Some of the Trendy Kidz items.

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