Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I walk our dog on the beach early every morning with my husband. It’s our time to connect with each other about stuff beyond who is doing what school/sports pick up, etc. I work from home as much as I can so that I’m there when the kids get home from school. My lovely husband likes cooking and happily shares the mental load of doing the domestic stuff with me.
The Drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Encouraging women to change their buying habits. New Zealanders have been slower to adopt online shopping for period products. We are used to buying our tampons at the supermarkets or shops. But we get “caught short” when we forget to do this. Having your tampons delivered to your door each month is tons easier, and means no more late night dashes to the service station or dairy. It only takes two minutes to sign up for tampon delivery and you never have to think about it again. This is the basis for our business.
Having your tampons delivered to your door each month is tons easier, and means no more late night dashes to the service station or dairy. It only takes two minutes to sign up for tampon delivery and you never have to think about it again.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Flexibility is the biggest up because it means I can be with my kids more. And it’s a hugely satisfying to grow a business from an idea to something that not only produces income, but also helps women who cannot afford period products. For every order placed with Crimson we donate a box of tampons to an organisation that works with homeless and vulnerable women, such as Auckland City Mission.
The downs are that you can feel a bit isolated in your decision making as all the decisions are yours. And I miss the social aspect of going to a workplace. Other than that, I don’t think there are many downs. The flexibility is golden.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
To grow awareness of period poverty and how different cultural attitudes to menstruation can affect or limit women’s education, choices and opportunities in a way that men never have to think about. To expand Crimson overseas while spending as much time as I can with my beautiful family.
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