The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Our greatest challenges have been the aspects of business that we couldn’t foresee and plan for. Both of us coming from a teaching background, we did not have strengths in building a website, advertising, using social media for business use, accounting, legal matters and many more. We have overcome these challenges by collaborating with people we know with strengths in these areas and have experience with owning and setting up their own businesses.
We also face daily challenges to make this business an ongoing success. We initially had to learn how to transfer an idea from our imagination to a form that can be enjoyed from a box. Adapting ideas and letting ideas go that we have loved has also been a challenge.
As we are both at different life stages, we work at different times of the day, which can make communication challenging. To overcome this, we ensure we meet once a week in person to clarify and discuss.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Having to do all aspects of the business from marketing, website design, product development, and accounting is both a pro and con. A con because there is so much that you constantly need to be doing to manage the business and in such a variety of areas that aren’t necessarily familiar or an area of expertise. This is also a pro as you develop a strong understanding of each area and know your business so well. Things like a few minor changes on your website become easy for you to do once you have learnt how to create the website. Another pro is having the opportunity to work alongside other amazing New Zealand businesses, which we have been privileged to have the opportunity to do. You are in a position to create the business into whatever you want it to be.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We would love our business to be doing so well that it can be something both of our families can work in together full time. We love our business and value family so much that it would be a dream to combine the two.
We hope that many families are able to share the joy of time together and that we may be a part of that magic.
Head to the Together Time website to find out more about their amazing kids’ activity boxes. You can also join their communities on Facebook and Instagram.
