The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Overcoming the generational differences and lack of education for car seats within New Zealand has always been a major battle. The car seating world is one of great debate and some big personalities – which means sometimes there is a battle of will, which has been extremely frustrating when we are all wanting the same thing – education.
The biggest challenge by far has been personal – 2020 brought COVID-19 which brought business struggles for sure, but it brought a marriage separation as well. This has meant making some big and saddening decisions for the business. The bricks and mortar store was closed at Christmas time and now a new challenge of building a mobile and at-home business begins again.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The better is most definitely the flexibility to do what you want and focus on what is important to you and your whanau.
The worse is easy – it’s a massive load! Providing for a whanau, trying to keep mum guilt to a bare minimum, and to juggle a household and a business is a work of art! I also found honouring my skill and charging what it is worth a hard thing to maintain – not working for free!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
For now I am finding my feet in a new employment position, and raising the presence and availability of my car seat service as a mobile service.
I hope to one day be able to have more of an influence on the legislation that needs to change within New Zealand to keep children safe.
Visit the Sitting Safe website to find out more and join their communities on Facebook and Instagram.
