Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Balance is something I am always working towards, but I definitely don’t think I have it right just yet. I try to make sure I am present when I am with my kids and focussed when I am working. Ideally, I would have days where I am with the kids and days where I am working, but since we are still a young company, I am wearing many hats and need to switch into work mode at some point most days. I have recently put time limits on my phone so that I am reminded to have phone-free time, slow down and just enjoy the moments with my family.
Between Mumma Etcetera and her financial consulting role, Danielle is truly a workaholic. For her, weekends are the time to unwind and spend quality time with her fiancé, friends and often to visit her family on the Gold Coast.
The Drive: What challenges have you overcome?
There is a pretty huge list! We have come across a lot of challenges in our first eighteen months. Our slings are ASTM and CPSIA approved. This process was very extensive and costly but well worth it to know our slings meet international safety standards. Another issue for us has been inventory management. Being made from handwoven linen, the lead time is quite long and so with our popular colours selling out so quickly, it has been a huge issue. We are starting to get on top of it all now.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros for us would be, firstly, the fulfilment that comes with people responding to your product and brand. We get a lot of ‘thank you, my sling is a life saver’ and ‘this is the only way I can get bub to sleep’ comments. This means so much to me as a mum. I love that we are helping out fellow mummas. The negative is not being able to switch off or leave work at work. Whether you see it as pro or a con, with small business, the more you put in, the more you get out. There is always an incentive to do more and to work harder.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We have just launched our new Sol Collection which includes some stunning new colours. We are looking to expand our product range and are currently designing some beautiful new products that align with our ethos – stylish, minimal, mindful. We are also starting to become supported by stockists, having recently opened our business up to wholesale. There is a lot going on! Hope and dreams – to become the go-to brand for simple, quality, ethically-produced mumma products.
To learn more, visit the Mumma Etc website, and join their communities on Facebook and Instagram.
