The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
As a ‘newbie’ to the business space, I was naïve in hiring companies to assist in some areas that I felt that I lacked the expertise. I spent a lot of money and time on companies that were not following through with the promises that were made. It was a tough process for me to push through when I realised that I personally made poor decisions, but also knowing that if I threw in the towel at that point, then I would look back with disappointment. It is all a learning curve, quite a steep one! But I am grateful for the process and will continue to look at challenges and obstacles that I face as opportunities to learn new skills and ideas to continue to expand the business.
One of the other main challenges that I have faced would have to be the tech space and the ever-changing social media landscape. I have never been a great tech person, with a very basic level of IT knowledge. Prior to the business, I rarely posted on social media, but being able to grow your online presence through social media is such a strong focus these days, rightly or wrongly. Having to learn and pay attention to these areas was a steep learning curve for me, and to be honest not one that I overly enjoy. I am continuing to remind myself about posting on social media to bring about brand awareness as this is not something that has come naturally to me. Having to learn new IT skills that I had never previously turned my attention to is and will continue to be a challenge given how fast the tech world evolves and adapts.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I am still in the relatively early stages of running my own business so ask me again in 12 months and the answer may have changed! But for the most part, the pros have certainly outweighed the cons. I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment within myself for getting this far, which I haven’t felt in my previous job roles. The excitement when I receive a new order is very real and it is a feeling that I think would be hard to replicate. As a parent, being able to work on a more flexible basis, around the kids and family commitments, is a huge factor for me. My kids are my number one priority so knowing that I can do the parenting with them during the day is a huge plus. Knowing I can do most of the work tasks whilst they are in bed and I am not sacrificing our time together is another motivation for me in this business.
One area that can be both a positive and negative is having complete control over the decisions within the business. To steal a well-known saying, “The buck stops with you”. Whilst I love being independent and having confidence in myself for the decision-making process, it can be isolating and quite intimidating. Whilst I have my husband or friends to bounce ideas off, ultimately it comes down to my decision. There have been times when I have made the wrong decision, and it can be tough to pick yourself up when you don’t have a formal professional team around you. Another area that can be challenging is having to be an expert in all the areas. This was quite overwhelming for me at the start, but I have learnt that it is important to invest in yourself and your education. I have undertaken further study and will continue to develop areas of my knowledge and understanding of the business world.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
In addition to the expansion in sizes and designs, our plans for the business include increasing our offerings in the linen space. We also have plans to expand our range into the play space with a continuing focus on sustainable waterproof products that aim to make the messy parenting moments that bit easier to manage.
Visit the Evelyn & Co website to check out their products. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
