mumpreneur Award Winning Websites
Mumpreneur Spotlight Shivani Patel The Ultimate Inspiration
16 Beach Essentials
CONTENTS
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Meet Shivani Patel: Mumpreneur, Charity Worker and all round inspiration!
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The GIving Machine: Treat yourself whilst helping others.
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How to create an award winning website
Page 9
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Read about Mumpreneur businesses who have built the best websites online
Page 12
How to build a solid business foundation
Page 14
Your summer beach essentials: Everything for the perfect day at the Seaside
Page 16
Mumpreneurs To Watch
Page 19
The problem that turned Sally Marlow into a Mumpreneur Inventor
Page 20
The former stock broker who followed her heART
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Career woman, mother, wife, charity worker & inspirational figure... Introducing Shivani is extremely passionate about dentistry and in 2010 opened elleven dental (www.ellevendental.co.uk) – an award-winning, highly specialist dental and orthodontics practice in London – with her husband Sameer and business partner, Anthony Lam. Specialising in dentistry, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry, the practice leads the way in innovation and dental techniques, offering pioneering treatments using state of the art technology to its patients, which include celebrities
Shivani Patel
such as Emma Watson, James Caan and Lewis Moody.
UK due to being fresh and innovative in its approach.
Staff numbers have grown year on year from two to twelve and with around 20% of its patients travelling from abroad, elleven is now recognised as one of the best dental practices in the UK. It was the first UK practice to operate the Sure Smile scanner which reduces treatment for teeth straightening by up to nine months, with the practice being selected to trial the technology in the
As a partner of the practice, Shivani puts in the most hours at elleven and is responsible for training staff along with more of the everyday aspects of the business and clinical work. Trained to consultant level, she spends three days a week doing clinical work. On her other days she lectures to postgraduate students at Guy’s Hospital, the Royal London Hospital and teaches therapists at the University of Lancashire. In addition, she is editor of the Orthodontic Practice journal, which, along with administrative duties, she can do from home. She has also travelled aboard to Kenya lecturing to the members of the Kenya Dental association. At the last meeting in October 2013, she was awarded an honorary fellowship to the International College of Dentistry (of which there are only 200 out of the 12,000 members). In 2012, Shivani was the runner up for the Professions category of Asian Women of Achievement Awards and is a registered member of the Inspirational Women’s Group which sends women out to be role models in the south Asian community. Shivani is
heavily involved in the community and gives talks at various schools about work experience, a career in dentistry as well as educating children on the importance of practicing good dental hygiene. In her personal time she is a semi professional Indian classical dancer, which she has been learning from the tender age of 10 years. She still attends post diploma classes and performs at any given chance.
As a businesswoman Shivani is keen to grow elleven and the partners are currently looking to open a practice in the suburbs nearer their home which would be more family-based. Shivani is also offering continuous professional development evenings every few months to dentists in the vicinity of the main practice to educate them about orthodontics. Shivani loves her job and her family and as it stands, she is doing an incredible job of creating a perfect work life balance.
t f i G The
n O p e e K s e o D y l l a e R t Tha
Giving
Shopping for bargains in the New Year sales? Then why not contribute to charity without paying a penny extra? enterprise web portal that taps into the hidden world of online sales referrals. Brits have been won over by the Known as affiliate marketing, it ‘Click and Connect’ Christmas or generates commission on sales from by the promise of 24-hour ‘door-to around 800 of the UK’s best known retailers, including Next, door’ deliveries. The Amazon, John Lewis, Internet provides the Argos, M&S and additional benefits to Sainsbury’s. As check instantly for the the retailers pay best bargains, with the contributions, the ease of instant we can carry on shopping provided shopping with a with internet apps to clear conscience. Internet shopping is a new age mobile phones or tablets. It provides the convenience of shopping phenomenon and is fast taking over Every retailer has committed to pay a the traditional foot-slog around the without having to leave the home. percentage of the sales revenue of every aisles. Over the Christmas period online purchase. Typically, for every itself (from December 24 to 26, 2013), Online sales referrals more than 45 million shopping hours Now, shoppers can also benefit from £100 spent online, charities receive were done online, according to credit making ‘free’ charity donations whilst between £1.50 and £3 in donations experts Experian. In December 2013, they shop. TheGivingMachine (www. through TheGivingMachine. there were more than 3 billion visits thegivingmachine.co.uk) is a social Millions of shoppers are enjoying the New Year sales bargains this year – or at least those with the money and energy left to spend. If you have taken pleasure in the season of giving this Christmas but feel financially constrained when it comes to charity donations, there is now a way to raise money for charities of your choice at no extra cost to you. You can now contribute cash donations free, every time you shop on-line.
to retail websites in the UK alone.
As the only ‘not for profit’ affiliate marketing fundraiser in the UK, any funds TheGivingMachine takes go towards its day-to-day running costs. The remaining 75% of what it raises goes directly to charities – one of the highest percentage contributions in the charity sector. Users also have the choice of donating to between one and four charities or schools of their choosing. It means the organisations that mean the most to them can benefit from any funds raised. More than 6,300 schools and charitable organisations are already benefitting from TheGivingMachine fundraising. It could be they are a national charity, or a local hospice, school, choral society or animal sanctuary - as long as an organisation has school or charitable status, it is eligible to receive funds. Changing shopping behaviour Theoretically, if shoppers spend £4bn in the January sales, they could generate more than £100m for charity if they all used TheGivingMachine portal. In reality, the actual number of donations is much less. More than 1 million donations have been generated worth in excess of £700,000 to causes that matter to them most over the last few years. With a slight change in behaviour, consumers can ensure this figure is a lot higher. After all, where’s the catch in generating free donations?
This form of giving has some interesting outcomes. First, the shopper can choose where to donate, meaning they can give to charities that mean the most to them. Giving becomes a behaviour choice, not a financial one. Retailers also find this type of giving builds a powerful engagement mechanism. Most large corporations have some form of Corporate Social Responsibility policy and it helps for them to be seen to give something back to society. Finally, charities and schools can develop a free and regular source of new unrestricted income. By simply asking supporters for a small change in behaviour, rather than directly asking for money, then the ‘buy-in’ for contributions is so much stronger. Why not start making that change today? Log on to TheGivingMachine and see how you can make a difference at www.thegivingmachine.co.uk.
Article written by Richard Morris, the founder and managing director of TheGivingMachine.
How To Create An...
Award WinningWebsite Winning an award can be a great Design / Visual boost to your business, but is Experience your website up to the standards needed to be an award-winning Design is a very personal thing, everywebsite? one has different preferences, but what Your We’ve asked Sadie Knight Glassraven web design for some pointers on what sets aside an award winning website from just another
website should guide your customers through – be it an ecommerce website where you provide an easy buying process, or a service website where you lead them through the services which interest them. Clear call to actions on each page will greatly assist in this – whether it be guiding them into the next page overwhelming. Good quality photography of information, or into the next is important – especially on ecommerce page in the checkout. This leads me into my final point... websites! Take a look at
is appropriate for one sector is often not from suitable for another. The design should be of high quality and be appropriate for your audience – this will help to establish trust in your business. It should support your content, but not be
website... Regardless of the sector you are in, successful websites share many of the same elements...
Content
Ease of use
www.partyparade.co.uk and Intuitive Navigation www.lovethelittlethings.co.uk for an example of excellent use of Keep your navigation consistent and easy photography by award-winning websites! to use – make it clear to your customers what area of the website they are within to aid them in browsing. Ensure the most Expert Coding sought after information is easy to access You may be surprised how different a from anywhere in the website (and make website can look when viewed using sure it is accurate and well-presented).
The content is what your customers are coming to your site for! Your website needs to have concise, meaningful content which is appropriate to your customers interests. Divide it up into sections to make it easy Internet Explorer instead of Chrome or to scan read, and lead them through Firefox instead of Safari if not into other areas of the website for more created properly. where this is relevant. Make sure you provide enough information for A website people to make an should work no informed decision – this is matter what! particularly important for Make sure ecommerce websites. you test your website in difKeep it Current ferent browsers, ideally validate it against the W3C web Nothing looks worse than a website standards. with out of date information - a blog which was last posted on over a year ago, pages with broken links, events listings full of past events (and none in the future). If you include this kind of information on your website – keep it up to date!
Recruit friends and family to look over your website and see how they use it – this can be eye opening! Good luck! I hope to see you sporting the Mumpreneur UK award on your website very soon!
By Sadie Knight, Glassraven Web Design
Elite-magazine.co.uk
23
Do you collect Interior Design Magazines and wonder how you can make your home that beautiful? Are you passionate about colours, but lack the knowledge or confidence to use it? Do you wish you could be clever about how you use the space you live in? When it comes to decorating our own homes there’s inspiration everywhere we look and with interior décor magazines becoming more popular it’s easy to get excited by the variety of ideas on display. However, pulling off that magazine look isn’t always as easy as it may appear.
Whether working or staying at home, your home is where you spend much time. That’s why it’s a reflection of you. It’s all about creating interiors that suit you, bring you happiness and joy. While interior decorating on a budget, prioritising is key. With less money come fewer choices. My Unique Home has been designed especially for those who are passionate about their homes and design but lack the confidence and skills to produce the look they require. The focus is all on you; it offers you a chance to develop your own personal style whilst working on the skills needed to produce results. We’ve got expert advice, guidelines and checklists and much more to help you say “Hello Home! Good Bye House!” www.myuniquehome.co.uk
Orkid Ideas’ aim is to encourage children of all abilities to grow into ORKIDS —that’s ORganised KIDS! At Riverside Lifestyle we specialise in artisan food and beauty produce made with our home-grown, British organic lavender and olives from handpicked groves in Spain. We’ve also carefully curated a collection of luxury cashmere and merino wool goods, rustic homewares and covetable personalised gifts. The Riverside food hall is packed with unusual artisan products and gifts - why not try out our best selling Raspberry and Lavender jam or our award winning Lemon and Ginger marmalade or even the favorite Crunchy Cucumber chutney. The Bonilla olive oil crisps are a really treat and come in regular bags or family packs or even the unusual and whacky 500g tins. When there’s nothing for it but to get away, come to Riverside Cottage and treat yourself to a few days with your head in the clouds. Nestled among 5 acres of British countryside, the perfect luxury retreat which has even been named among The Sunday Times’ 25 Great British Holiday ‘Get Aways’. The Riverside olive wood is made to order using wonderful and extraordinary olive wood logs shipped in from Spain and Italy; our throws and cashmere are also made to order ensuring the finest quality. All of the above are part of our luxury Hampshire Holiday Let. www.riversidelifestyle.co.uk
Lists and visual reminders help us to organise and keep our busy lives running smoothly. Being organised reduces stress and anxiety and saves us time. Providing children with the tools to become more organised teaches good habits and helps to develop their independence, confidence and self-esteem. Clare and Deborah, founders of Orkid Ideas, designed and created a unique new product called TomTag. TomTag was inspired by a child with dyslexia who needed help to organise their belongings for school in a way that was easy for them to understand.
TomTag allows children to create their own personalised checklist using picture cues so that every child, regardless of age or reading ability, can use it easily. Simply attach a TomTag set to the child’s school bag and when it’s time for school - or time to go home again - they just check, pack and go! The beauty of TomTag is it’s versatility. It can be used as a visual checklist in a wide range of situations by any individual who experiences problems with memory and organisation, particularly those with special educational needs. www.orkidideas.com
My work is based around pure silver and silver smithing techniques. I love using graphic prints, textures, natural images text and a striking aged technique to give the designs their quirky edge. My latest designs have started to incorporate tiny touches of enamel and gold plate to create new exclusive designs for JoJoJewellery. As well as selling my work online, I exhibit at around 4 local exhibitions a year.
Mumpreneur silver website award winner Louise Morrison set up www. antenatalonline.co.uk after the birth of her first child, Evie. Louise says `I was pretty terrified of giving birth so was keen to prepare myself as much as possible. I then found that free NHS classes in my area had been cut back to just 2 hours’.
Music Bugs provide play based and interactive music and singing classes throughout the UK for children aged newborn to 4 years of age. Our aim is not to teach music but to encourage young children to develop, grow and explore the world around them through music and song. Gently structured sessions and flexible age groups enable parents to choose a class most suited to their child’s individual needs with a choice of Baby Bugs (0 - crawling), Mini Bugs (6 – 24 months), Jumping Bugs (18 months – 4 years) and Family Bugs (mixed ages).
After paying for private classes, Louise ended up opting for a home birth so knows from experience that a good antenatal class can really help if you are anxious about giving birth. Unfortunately it’s often not easy to find good, affordable classes.
JoJoJewellery has been in business for nearly seven years. In this time I have established my work in over 25 stockists nationwide, and have been chosen to join the website www. notonthehighstreet.com, www. frombritainwithlove.com and www. petspyjamas.com and employed my first assistant to help move the business forward. I am a textile graduate, also a children’s book illustrator and needle felting artist. For more Information on JoJoJewellery, or to get in touch for a commission, please visit www.jojojewellery.me.uk. www.jojojewellery.co.uk
Having previous experience of running large web-based communities before having her children, Louise thought that moving classes online was the obvious solution. `I wanted to provide something that was really high quality but affordable and could be accessed by people all over the UK, especially in areas where there was no alternative’. Antenatal Online offers comprehensive video-based antenatal classes, run by NHS midwives. The online classes have proved invaluable for busy working parents-to-be. `Mums and dads-to-be like the fact that the classes can be taken from home, at a time to suit them and watched as many times as necessary’. www.antenatalonline.co.uk
During a typical 40 minute session, we sing nursery rhymes, counting songs, knee bouncers, action songs and finger play rhymes and use a wide variety of props such as hobby horses, hand and finger puppets, parachutes, pom poms, teddies, rhythm sticks, chiffon scarves and tactile percussion instruments to help engage children and bring our sessions to life. Music Bugs are proud sponsors of World Nursery Rhyme Week – a global initiative to promote and celebrate the importance of nursery rhymes in child development and early years education. www.musicbugs.co.uk
Lipsplash Cosmetics – A savvy online shopping space for lip cosmetic lovers.
Fit2Drop is Bristol’s leading specialist fitness trainer for the expectant and new mum. Services include: drop in circuits classes; post natal workshops and fitness classes (you can bring your baby or toddler); pregnancy and post natal Pilates; small group personal training and workshops, all carefully planned and researched to ensure you and your baby remain safe as you train. Fit2Drop’s founder, Sarah, saw a real gap in the market for post and pre natal training in Bristol and the surrounding area. Since 2012 she has built her business, expertise and reputation and been nominated for a number of local and national awards for her classes. She is always building on her knowledge to support pre and post natal women in their fitness goals.
In the words of one satisfied client: “Sarah has an amazing ability to motivate and drive you to achieve results but in a really friendly and assuring manner and as a fellow mum she totally ‘gets’ the need to schedule sessions whilst baby naps (plus gave me some very handy parenting tips along the way!).”
www.fit2drop.com
At Boys & Girls Nursery we have a long list of things we care about and at the top of the list are our boys and girls. We understand that no two children are the same, and that they all have their own likes, dislikes and strong personalities. By caring for and meeting the needs of every individual to the best of our ability, we know every child can flourish, learn, have fun whilst enjoying a sense of belonging and community. We are extremely proud of our team who have created a uniquely nurturing and informal environment which has helped us establish a reputation as a leading childcare provider in the area.
Our aim is to nurture and develop each and every single child so that when they leave us to move on to the next step in their education, they do so with confidence in themselves, their abilities and the knowledge that learning is fun.
Consumers looking for luxury branded lip cosmetics; gift and accessories at discounted prices now have a place to shop. Lipsplash.com offers its customers up to 75% off recommended retail prices on cosmetic brands such as Dior, MAC, Elizabeth Arden and YSL.
Lipsplash is the brainchild of Sandra Gallimore, an experienced high-street buyer and merchandiser who spotted a gap in the market. She said: “For me, nothing beats the buzz of getting that quality product for a snip of the price. It’s not about buying cheap, it’s about buying quality.” The site has been designed to give its visitors a relaxed shopping experience with a personal touch. This focus on customer service extends to Lipsplash’s dedicated hotline; open Monday to Friday from 9:30am till 4pm.
We are delighted to be awarded a silver award for our website. We work hard to portray the nurturing environment created in our nurseries on our website and social media activities - being recognised for this by Mumpreneuruk is an added bonus.
But, above all, Lipsplash strives to provide its customers with superior brands at low-cost prices. “I am always on the lookout for the next deal, to enable us to pass these great discounts onto our customers,” added Sandra.
www.boysandgirlsnursery.com
www.lipsplash.com
How To Build A Solid Business Foundation
If you have dreams of starting your own business, there are several things you can – and should do – to pave the way and make the road a bit smoother. There are also some pitfalls and potholes along the way, and being aware of them in advance will allow you to travel past them with greater ease. Try not to overthink the plan. It is also vital that you set it in motion, but There are many good reasons remember that no points are written for wanting to be your own boss, in stone; periodically reassessing but be aware that it is hard work, your methods as well as your goals and becoming a successful is part of business. entrepreneur takes discipline and perseverance. If you want Ensure Financial Health more freedom, or the flexibility to balance home and professional Recognise that a business is a responsibilities, freelancing may continuum of effort. “Overnight be attractive. It is rarely a panacea, success” is rare. There will likely be though, and requires planning. Both detours and roadblocks to traverse sides of your life may need some along the way. You can smooth adjustment to make it work. the way by getting your personal credit standing in order before You are likely to need the support of proceeding to launch your business family and friends, even if it’s only enterprise. Make no mistake: As a in the emotional realm. Be certain sole proprietor or an entrepreneur, to obtain all proper permits, and your personal credit report is of comply with legal requirements. prime importance. Open a business bank account and consider consulting a tax adviser. An impeccable credit rating may Lastly, you will need the financial contribute more to your initial resources to provide for yourself in business success than any other the beginning stages. It becomes single factor. If you have access to a much easier task if you have financing, and your personal affairs amassed startup capital, and if you demonstrate an understanding of have the necessary credit rating the need to manage debt, repay and financial stability to carry you loans and monitor finances, you are and your new business forward. a step ahead.
First, Assess Your Goals
Most importantly, do you have a plan?
Define Your Goals, Make a Plan It has been stated that no business succeeds without a dream. On the other hand, no business succeeds with only a dream. Take the time and effort to define realistic goals. Write out your mission and objectives, chart logical steps and methods, and draft at least a preliminary timeline. You need to have benchmarks along the path; and you need to plan for specific actions at certain mileposts.
Establish Good Habits Research from Experian Credit Expert reveals some alarming figures about how young Britons are – or are not – falling into healthy credit habits. Student debt, high debt to income ratio, missed payments; even having more credit cards than necessary, can mean a lower than desired credit score. That puts you at risk in the eyes of a potential lender or business backer. There are financial advisers to help you improve a less than stellar credit report, and Credit Expert offers valuable tips. For your business, as in your personal affairs, a realistic budget will keep you on track. Establish a contingency fund for your business, just as you do in your personal life. Plan for major expenditures. “Make do” when possible. Reassess your credit report on a regular basis. If you are persistent in your approach, starting your own business can be extremely fulfilling and profitable.
Marks & Spencer £39.50
Accessorize £5.00
Dune £110.00
Beach Essen
La Redoute £19.00 Accessorize £19.00
Bonprix £7.98
Sunglass Junkie £13.00 Topshop
h ntials
d Accessorize £19.00
Debenhams £32.00
Acceaaorize £12.00
Paper Dolls £39.99
Matalan £6.00
Isme £22.00
Accessorize £12.00
Dorothy Perkins £12.00
I suppose there was just something in me that was determined to succeed at ‘something’ in my life as a business opportunity. Not sure if it’s just because of the stage of life I’m at or that it has just been in my genes all this time as my parents were both successful business partners. It had to be a business that wouldn’t interfere too much with the family life as I have 2 small children ( 6 & 3 1/2 years) so still being able to do the school and nursery runs, dance classes, football training, swimming lessons, looking after a pony, work part time as a dental nurse – not even mentioning the house work, keeping the husband happy and other daily chores was still my main priority. Online businesses seemed to be the way forward and I was able to keep my start-up costs down as I already had my main tool – the Mac computer. Family life was the inspiration and we are very lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the country and be able to enjoy endless opportunities from watersports to popular local tourist attractions. Dorset is a tourist attraction especially Bournemouth and Poole (my home town) and so I wanted local families to have the chance to experience this as much as our tourists do. So a simple idea of a local family discount card was
decided. The name ‘High Five’ was given as it’s a symbol of celebration and a feel good action all the family can imitate (especially when you save money). I was spoilt for choice of the many local family orientated establishments but getting through to them was the difficult bit. Having little time to meet the local business owners face to face to get an exclusive deal, I had to put up with making endless phone calls, leaving messages, sending emails (not knowing if they were going to be received or put in their spam folders) and using social networking sites. It was initially hard to persuade the businesses to join us as we were so new and not knowing if it was going to be successful. Luckily our website was designed professionally and gave a great first impression. Mentioning that it is free to advertise with us was a great way to them interested. All we ask is that they can offer our card holders an exclusive deal in return. We have 7 categories; Family Days Out, Hobbies & Lessons, Sports & Leisure, Arts & Crafts, Eating Out, Holiday Clubs and Parties. Once I was happy we had enough places to offer, the launch began! Leaflets were distributed around local schools, nurseries and family events. Facebook and Twitter were a valuable platform for researching, networking and free advertising (even though it has caused endless headaches and problems along the way!) Potential
customers
are
able
to
purchase their family membership online and pay using PayPal (£10 a year or £5 for 6 months). Yes, there have been times when I have thought about giving it all up as everything seemed like an uphill battle. But with plenty of encouragement from my family and friends I can now look ahead and know from all that I have learnt along the way that the business will grow from strength to strength. With over 80 family establishments our favourite attractions to the card include; Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Snowtrax, Bowlplex Poole, Poole park attractions, Crazy golf, The Dorset Heavy Horse Centre, Little Kickers South Hants, Wareham Boat Hire, Diamond Faces plus many more! It is certainly not a business that I can just sit back and let happen as there is always updates to be made, communicating with the business owners and cardholders and keeping the website and social media fresh, up to date and maintained. I can’t believe my first year has passed by already and this article has given me the chance to reflect all
Mumpreneurs To Watch
S
tarting a business is never easy, but with family and fun in mind Michelle Tait and Katie Barnett were determined to do just that. Here, Michelle tells their story…
B
airnz Boutique started in May 2013 when myself (Lorraine McRobert) and my business partner and lifelong friend Tracy Dunlop, reached a cross road in our life. We both have 2 children, our boys (now aged 5 and 6) and our girls (2 and 4 years). Having worked in administration jobs straight from school, and after having our children we realised that we wanted and needed something more. While shopping for our own girls clothes we had noticed a gap in the market. We discovered that there was not a lot of clothing that was that little bit different, but in a price bracket we could afford. Like a lot of families our household incomes were stretched to their limits but we didn’t want to sacrifice on quality and style. So after months of talking over cups of tea while our kids had playdates, we made the life changing decision to start our own business and took on the challenge of solving this problem. With a very small cash pot we bought our very first batch of stock, decided on the name for the business, opened a Facebook business page and started trading. We spread the word through family and friends and used social media as our marketing tool to reach our customers. While doing all this Tracy was still in part time work and I was on a career break from my own part time position whilst caring for my son, who has Down syndrome and had to have major chest surgery at this time.co founders photo Having our own business meant that we could work our hours around our families and provides us with the perfect work life balance. As our customer base grew so did our confidence in our business and knew we wanted to make this a success.
We started to source reliable suppliers who would deliver the quality that we as mums ourselves expect but at an affordable price. Bairnz Boutique is quality girls’ clothing not available on the high street. Our main age group is 2-7 years but we have ranges available to order from 3 months to 12 years. By keeping our overheads to a minimum we are able to keep our costs down with our most expensive item retailing at only £30. Our style is traditional with a modern twist, whatever the item we always have the same message that we want to keep children as children. From shorts to party dresses they all have a lovely girly feel whether it be soft floral patterns or sparkling diamantes. Our route to market is now social selling; we take our boutiques to our customers. Like personal shopping this provides a relaxing and stress free shopping experience. No hassle of tantrums half way round the shops, we have all been there when a certain little person refuses to move! However we don’t just pop up in homes we pop up anywhere, from toddler groups to events and complementary businesses. As well as our Pop up Boutiques we continue to sell through our Facebook page, www.facebook. com/bairnzboutique and our website www.bairnzboutique.co.uk where you will find our own little girls modelling our ranges. We have been overwhelmed by the response from our customers and the feedback has been amazing. To help take our business to the next level we applied to Entrepreneurial Spark, a 5 month accelerator for start-ups and in February 2014 we were accepted into the programme. At this point we made the massive decision to leave our part time positions and focus solely on Bairnz Boutique.bainz The whole experience has helped us develop as a business and we are now at a stage where we can
begin to grow. In the weeks ahead we are aiming to recruit agents on a commission basis to take our boutiques across the UK. Not bad for 2 mums still juggling the kids and the household chores! We are so proud of how far we have come in such a short time and we couldn’t have done it without the continued support from our customers. A pinnacle point for us was having our occasion dresses at the Loch Lomond Wedding Exhibition, to see the little models strutting down the catwalk with our dresses shimmering in the light was fantastic feeling. We are excited about the next year and hopefully you will see our Boutiques popping up near you soon. We live and breathe Bairnz Boutique we don’t sell anything we wouldn’t put on our own children and our customers know this.
STYLE THAT WORKS
KNOMO LIFESTYLE ACCESSORIES Whether for work or everyday, a great bag that keeps our belongings organised but looks stylish too, can really make your day. A worn bag without any organisation can do the opposite, especially when our keys get lost inside, or we miss an important call because we can’t find our phone. That’s why we started Knomo, creating bags and accessories that keep you organised and also protect your tech devices too. Whether you choose a handbag, briefcase, laptop sleeve, travel trolley or tech accessory, each piece will protect either your laptop, tablet & smartphone. Designs are offered in sleek, luxurious leathers, lightweight nylons or durable canvas, with prices starting from £25.
www.knomo.com
SOUTH WALES MUM STEPS UP AND INVENTS NEW PRODUCT TO STOP TODDLER TANTRUMS. I'm sure most of us would agree that looking after a toddler is fun, but hard work. Whether we have kids ourselves or not, we've all witnessed a terrible two year old, screaming down the roof of the supermarket or disturbing the peace and quiet of the local park. A common reason for these tantrums is that kids don't get to do what they want — they seek more independence than adults can safely give them.
When Sally Marlow's normally happy 18
month old daughter started to become agitated and upset before every car journey, she needed to find a solution. The reason for the misbehaviour was that Jess wanted to get in the car herself, but of course she wasn't big enough to reach the seat. So Mum and Dad, just like many others up and down the country, lifted her in. Sometimes kicking, screaming or crying, straining their backs, banging her head, and making everyone involved generally grumpy and stressedout. Not what you want just before the school run traffic or a long car journey. So Sally began looking for a solution — some sort of step that Jess could use to climb into the car seat herself. With no luck finding a product to buy, she started using a foot stool, the sort you put under the sink for kids to stand on and brush their teeth. However it was getting in the way, taking up space in foot well — plus of course it wasn't secure, wobbling precariously when Jess tried to use it. So Sally resolved to make something herself, and discovered an hidden creative streak. Two years on, and Jess is almost too big for My Car Step, but Sally's business is growing fast. The product she came up with is as simple as it is genius. A single piece of plastic, it slides underneath the child's car seat, creating a secure and discreet step the perfect height for toddlers to climb in unaided. Kids love My Car Step because it makes them feel grown-up. Sally says "When Jess first started using the prototype, she got super excited and felt really independent, plus of course we could all enjoy heading out in the car without the anxiety of an impending tantrum. Though of course she wasn't happy when the prototype got taken away for patenting!" The major benefit of all this of course, is it makes setting off in the car smoother, quicker, and more fun for everyone. Sally says she's also had great feedback from parents and carers who struggle to lift a toddler due to back problems, pregnancy or other physical limitations.
It's great for nannies who lift kids all day long, and also grandparents, who are often the main source of childcare for working parents. The design is so clever that it fits the front or back of any car and works with all group one car seats. It takes a few seconds to slot in place, without any fuss and won't damage your upholstery. It's light-weight but strong (Sally was keen to stress that My Car Step has been rigorously safety tested, and is reliable and sturdy to use) compact and even has an easy to carry handle. As a Mum and teaching assistant, she knows how much impact the daily routine has on both child and carer, saying "I am so proud of My Car Step, it's taken a lot of hard work and determination to get this far, but I hope My Car Step helps others like it's helped us". You can find out more about Sally and her progress so far at www.mycarstep.com or by emailing Sally directly on Sally@mycarstep.com Take the drama (and back ache) out of car journeys, by letting your toddler climb in by themselves. R EVI EW.... I thought this looked like a very sturdy product. There was NO need for any outer packaging except postage packing and this was fine. The instructions were very clear and precise. This step fitted perfectly underneath our car seat; I was worried that it would be too big but fitted perfectly. It was very easy to install. My just turned 2 year old LOVED this! She is very independent. It made the process of getting her into the car easier; as no longer had to fight with her to get into her car seat!! The quality is excellent; very sturdy and imagine will last a long time. I think it offers excellent value for money; even if just for the fact no longer have to fight to get her into the car. I would definitely consider buying this product. It is perfect. I have already told my friends and family about it. Fantastic product, very easy to install and does exactly what it says it does! It is worth everypenny of the £39.99 cost price
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Invest in your skin
When Dr Maria McGee combined her love of science and medicine with crafting, the result was Marble Hill and it’s range of natural skincare range. Mumpreneur Magazine spoke with Dr McGee to find out more about starting her business, and the products available today from Marble Hill. MM: Where did the brand name ‘Marble Hill’ originate? DMM: My husbands family come from Donegal, the most northerly county in Ireland, where they have owned a farm near Marble Hill Beach since the 1850’s. It was on this farm that Marble Hill was created.
MM: What is unique about Marble Hill? DMM: Marble Hill approach the skin in a very pro-active way. It’s not enough to treat dry, irritated skin – at Marble Hill we use natural oils to maintain the moisture and prevent drying in the first instance, by producing soaps with up to 10% free oils in every bar.
MM: So how did your business journey start? DMM: We moved to Northern Ireland in 2000 due to my husband taking up a new position in Derry, and we began to spend a lot of time on the farm at weekends. During my time there I discovered the well on the farm had always been highly regarded for it’s purity. Being interested in both science and crafts, this well gave me the idea to use it’s water in naturally based soaps. MM: Did you create the perfect product there and then, or was it a case of trial and error? DMM: Initially I began blending the spring water with essential oils to produce fragranced soaps, but I soon found that shea butter, neem oil, and other conditioning oils gave exceptional results for my son’s dry, irritated skin. MM: At what point did you realise the growth potential of your products? DMM: As a surgeon, my husband has to scrub up a lot, resulting in severe dermatitis on his forearms. Seeing how effective the results were on my son’s skin, my husband asked me to make him something to help. I created a blend that he found extremely effective, which we called SurgiSalve. It was from the creation of this products that things really started to grow. Whilst I had achieved a lot for my family’s skin issues, I knew that I had only just begun to tap the potential of these natural resources.
We achieve this by making every bar by hand using the traditional cold process which also retains the glycerine (a natural moisturiser) which is removed in the commercial milling process. A range of moisturisers containing nature-equivalent oils such as Jojoba and Argan oil to maintain the skin’s condition and suppleness every day can be provided. All of our moisturisers are 100% natural and guaranteed to be water and fragrance free. In fact they are edible!”
MM: Do you have any advice for people suffering skin complaints? DMM: Many people unwittingly cause their own problems using harsh detergent based cleansers which strip the protective oils from their skin, leaving it vulnerable. My first advice to everyone who asks me what they can do for their skin is “Read the label”. Very many people are sensitive to Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, so just checking can be a great help. All sorts of products contain these chemicals and other irritants, even skin wipes. You may be surprised what you find!
MM: Which one is your favourite Marble Hill product? DMM: Many of my products are a direct response to the needs of my own family, such as the Health Scrub Bar. This is the only product to contain organic seaweed and essential oils, and has become a firm favourite with dandruff and acne sufferers. Then there is our foot cream - PediSalve which is recommended by chiropodists, podiatrists and doctors. It’s been a lifesaver for people who, like me, suffer from chronically dry, hard and cracked skin on their feet. MM: What do you hope the future holds for Marble Hill? DMM: The understanding of the benefits of natural skincare is growing fast, and we see demand for our products in every age group. We originally set up to trade online, but as demand for our products increases all over the UK, we have recently linked up with a distributor to allow customers to buy locally. Our next task is to raise our profile, and let even more people know what Marble Hill can do for them. Marble Hill’s unique range can be seen and purchased on www.marblehillonline.co.uk To stock Marble Hill, contact info@marblehillonline.co.uk or Tel: 02871357128
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It’s never too late to follow your heart
At MumpreneurUK, we love hearing about mumpreneurs like you who have taken the plunge and followed their dream. 30 year old Katie Massie-Taylor is a great example of a mum who has swapped a high flying city career for something far more rewarding. After years as a stuffy stockbroker, Katie (and 11-month old Tilly) now follow their dual passions of art and family, with Katie’s innovative new gift business www.paintmeapresent.com “I’ve always had a passion for art,” says Katie “and always did paintings as presents for friends, who loved them because they were so personal. This made me realise there was a gap in the market for somewhere to commission quality, personal art at a reasonable price as art is so often perceived as only being available to the very wealthy groups in society.” Katie’s artwork is based on a photograph provided by you, so you can have that masterpiece landscape or portrait, but of a person or a place special to you. Katie decided to leave behind the daily grind of the trading floor (and the lucrative salary) and take a leap of faith to start up her own dream business. “I won’t lie, it was scary and it still is,” says Katie “but I would never go back. My working days are certainly different now, but I have the pleasure of knowing I’m bringing affordable art to the masses while spending time with another love of my life, Tilly.”
“The beauty of being my own boss is that I can work when it suits me and no two days are the same. I usually start the day when my daughter chooses and then once breakfast is sorted, it’s down to business. I usually work while Tilly naps but sometimes she joins me on Skype calls too and I might sneak a few emails in while she’s happy playing.” Katie manages all the orders that come through the Paint me a Present website personally, and although that can take up a lot of time it’s her priority to get the photos, notes and details to the professional artists so they can start working on the masterpieces straight away. And once that’s done, she can do something even more fun with Tilly. It’s not easy juggling the two“you have to be very disciplined when you work from home and really focus to be as productive as you can in the time that you have,” adds Katie “I have to multi task to excess and keep switching my brain between mummy and business woman,
sometimes at only a moment’s notice!” Katie is now launching Paint me a Present in the US so work doesn’t stop after Tilly has gone to bed. “I might still have to do a few more emails to customers to check they’re happy, to the artists for updates, to the accountants or the lawyers, pass on any more orders to the artists and well anything else on my to do list. I often work right up until bedtime and sometimes even beyond!” “I’ve been my own boss for over a year now and I love it! It’s tough and juggling business and mummy means really long days but it’s perfect for me.”