Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s not uncommon to be packing orders with a child on our lap, to stop designing for a hug, for a little head to pop up in our Zoom meetings, or to have a child demanding a lollipop on a stockist phone call. We are grateful for those disruptions, which serve as timely reminders that we are mummas and lucky to work from home and have flexible work hours. Our work fits in with our lives, not the other way around. We are also so thankful to be able to call this ‘work’ – the utter joy we get every day from this business is something we are always grateful for.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Visibility is a challenge. We were so excited when we launched our website, though we quickly realised a great product and site isn’t so great unless people know how to find you! To gain this traction, we have learnt to be proactive. We have spent countless hours researching, working with marketers, getting out of our comfort zone and broadcasting on social media, and getting in front of A LOT of people.
Being a small business, budget is always a challenge. We wear multiple hats and learn on the go. We have found it extremely rewarding to overcome these challenges to see our new skill sets converting into results, allowing us to outsource some of these tasks to professionals who can help us grow further.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
We definitely see a lot more pros than cons. A few are being our own boss, flexible work hours, being able to work with your best friend, and discovering how well we complement one another! Also being able to decide what we work on (a designer’s dream) and who we collaborate with – we have made the most incredible connections with families, industry professionals, stockists and suppliers.
Cons are that there is always so much to do! We have a huge to-do list that we are just bursting with excitement to get through, though when you wear a lot of hats you often need to push the fun stuff aside to do things like business admin *yawn*.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We have so many aspirations, we would say watch this space for more tools to help your little one deal with big emotions. Also, more exciting resources for schools and occupational therapists. Our focus has definitely sharpened, and our dream is to help nourish a more mindful and resilient generation.
Head over to The Creative Sprout website to find out more, and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
