Even though I said it would be easier to start a business pre or post children, I do think my children allow me to not get too stressed. As when I am with them, they need me as a whole person, so it removes my mind away from all those stressful things that come with running a business. I suppose they fill my soul with fun, love, and perspective on things.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
When starting a business from scratch, and one that has created a category that no one even thought would exist 10 years ago, it comes with a lot of challenges. Again, I think, why didn’t I just set up a business selling chocolates or a category that has been around for hundreds of years?! I think that it is because I absolutely love new and unique things, places and people. And I love to learn. I can already see myself as a granny doing a PHD at 80!
We have always been ahead of the market, which means we must spend a lot of time on educating the market and convincing people on our beliefs. This means there is a cost even before we sell anything. So as many businesspeople know ‘Cash is Queen’ (not King for me!) and the Queen is always challenged.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Running your own business comes with a lot of responsibility and one I take very seriously. I care deeply about the people who work for me, and I feel responsible for their wellbeing and the need for the company to continually grow for them.
I used to think that running your own business gives you a lot of flexibility, which is true in some senses. Compared to when I was a commercial lawyer working ridiculous hours in large law firms in NZ and London, it is certainly more flexible. But when you run your own business, it is like walking around with another invisible person as it is always with you.
I remember some of my best ideas came to me while I was breastfeeding my children, watching them feed while my little invisible person was filling my mind with strategy and ideas. When I reread this, it makes me sound like I am schizophrenic, but I am far from that – it is just a way to explain it!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Our dream is that every household has a Munch product in their kitchen. Our vision is for 100% sustainable kitchens for the world. A world full of fun, colour, connections and love for the planet.
We are continually working with our mainstream retailers to understand this market and the desperate need for people to make small steps to help our planet.
I love thinking through how a product works, looks, its need, who makes it, how it is made and ensuring we are not adding to all the waste on the planet. I have many plans for more product stewardship work or, in other words, creating more vertical lines which offer a clear eco loop, i.e. no waste at all.
This will be my legacy and over the last eight years I have put in a lot of hard work creating this company for good.
Visit the Munch website to find out more and join their communities on Facebook and Instagram.
