The Drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I think my kids getting older has definitely helped overcome a lot of challenges. They don’t need my undivided attention anymore and are less demanding. No more hundred-mile-an-hour sprints through the house because I’m toilet training a toddler, or thinking that I can’t hear them so I’d better check on them – only to find them drawing on swing tags and cutting up pricey header cards… Aaarrrrrgh! It’s times like these that I would have preferred to see one of them with a new self-haircut! LOL.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Well, that is the big question…
Pros are easy and positive: working from home, working around family schedules, having freedom to work the hours you want, flexibility around school holidays, having brunch with a girlfriend during the week, play dates with the kids, being parent helper at kindy/school, getting your washing done and dried on the same day… oh the list goes on! Building huts with packing boxes and always having tape! It’s a fantastic idea to have your own business with all these benefits.
However the cons… well, the reality is you’ll never get paid the hours you actually work. Sometimes you just don’t get paid at all. There’s no such thing as working 8.30-5pm Monday to Friday when you have your own business based at home. The business takes over your house: the garage, the dining room, the spare room… it’s everywhere! All your packaging supplies, stock, machines… they all have to go somewhere… and the temptation to finish off orders, return emails, order supplies and sew after hours once the kids have gone to bed is always there. You do have to be careful you don’t run yourself into the ground!
Hopes and Dreams: What next?
Watch this space… There’s always a next step. For now, I’m just happy knowing my product is helping families here in New Zealand and overseas! I love having Mitten Sleeves made here in New Zealand. Another great point of difference is being NZ Made and supporting locals and local businesses, helping out that single mum with a few hours of work, or a freebie for a friend of a friend of a friend… It’s not always about making heaps of money; it’s about helping people and loving your customers. After all, if you don’t have customers, you don’t have a business!
Visit www.mittensleeves.co.nz to find out more and browse their products. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
