3 minute read
MAMAHOOD
woman in
WORK
Liz Rawlinson, mama and founder of premium baby playmat brand gus + beau
Interview CARLY GLENDINNING
Q Tell us about gus + beau... What made you want to launch the brand?
A gus + beau are premium baby playmats, designed to fit into your living spaces. We choose simple designs in muted colours so that they complement your interiors.
I had my son Gus in October 2017 and was on maternity leave from my role as Ecommerce Director at Anya Hindmarch when I came up with the idea for gus + beau. Gus was at the age where he wanted to be on the floor all of the time and kept rolling over and bumping his head on our wooden floor! I started looking for a foam jigsaw playmat which wasn’t a multi-coloured alphabet version. I couldn’t find one. So, I decided to design and manufacture one myself. I knew there must be other parents looking for the same thing, so I felt there was a gap
in the market. I spent a lot of time on Instagram and found that parents were looking for functional baby products which were still aesthetically pleasing.
Q How long did it take to get the business up and running?
A From concept to launch it took about 9 months – funnily enough the same amount of time it takes to grow a baby! We launched in March 2019 and it’s been a whirlwind ever since!
We started simply with a Triangle design – our grey with white triangles is still our bestseller 18 months later.
I have worked in e-commerce for 13 years, so I knew how to create a website and how to market it. However, I had zero experience in manufacturing a product, so that has been a huge learning curve for me. I learn something new most days.
Q Did your parenthood journey play a part in the decision to launch the business?
A My first son, Beau, was stillborn in 2016 when I was 38 weeks pregnant. You are unable to prepare yourself for such a life changing event and at the time I didn’t think I would ever recover. It is true that I am forever changed and
what Beau has given me is immeasurable. He taught me so much about the world, more than I ever would have learnt without him. I was lucky enough to have Gus a year later in 2017. I always think of Beau as giving us Gus, our rainbow baby.
When I started my business, Beau was a huge inspiration so I knew I wanted him to feature in the name. It is very rewarding being able to speak his name every day and for him to forever live on in our hearts.
I had my third son, Jerry, in December 2019 – so I might need to start a di usion line to include his name!.
Q Where do you find inspiration when you’re designing new products?
A Instagram and Pinterest are a massive source of inspiration for me – I love seeing
how people decorate their children’s rooms and playrooms. I design playmats that I would like to have in my own home and hope that others like them too!
Q How important is sustainability to the business?
A We are continuously looking for ways to improve sustainability in our business. We use paper and cardboard wrapping wherever possible and also have 100% cotton storage bags. It is a big focus for us in 2021.
Q And finally, best and worst things about running your own business?
A The main reason I started gus + beau was to have a flexible working life around my children. I want to be able to take Gus and Jerry to and from school when the time comes – that’s very important to me. By running my own business, I am able to do that. I also have Fridays o to spend with my boys and go out on adventures together.
The most di cult part is the juggle. Especially this year during the global pandemic. Being on maternity leave, lockdown and running a business has definitely been one of my most challenging life experiences so far!
