The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Practically, I felt pretty nervous about the world of digital marketing. Although I have a marketing background, it is an industry changing by the day, especially social media for business and initially I just had to throw myself in at the deep end. It was a definite challenge and it is also an intrinsic part of growing a business, so I knew it was very important to get right.
Luckily I stumbled over a funded 8-week Digital Marketing Boot Camp, which covered so many different topics in digital marketing ranging from starting a YouTube Channel to opening an Etsy Store and absolutely everything in-between. It was comprehensive and has turned out to be so useful as I now have a really clear plan, an understanding of all of my options and a definite direction that my business will go in.
Knowledge truly is power after all!
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros for me are definitely being able to balance my business around my most important job, which is being a mum. I pick my children up from school every night, I am around to take them to their after school activities and I don’t have to worry about taking time off if one of them is unwell, or to attend their school assemblies and nativities. I also have job satisfaction, I have creative freedom and I decide what needs to happen and when, and if I don’t like something, I can change it. I also have a really strong sense of pride of what I have created and I know I am really lucky to be in this position.
The cons: I sometimes miss having work buddies. I mean I have the dog but she’s not much of a conversationalist! It is also difficult at times knowing that absolutely everything rests on your shoulders. I was pretty wiped out with illness just before Christmas and that, coupled with the postal delays, led to a pretty frazzled Sophie! I spent half of January recovering! But everything got where it needed to in time for the big day!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My dream for Me & You Baby is to have my own unit, with all of my stock neatly arranged, with dedicated areas for sewing, packing and photographing garments, a postie that collects all the orders and a little kitchen to make coffees. It would be amazing! I would also love some work colleagues, to hear other people’s creative ideas and input, and to take some of the jobs from my list and lighten the load (the accounts are first to go!) – that would be great!
Next though, I hope Me & You Baby continues to grow, I hope to add more clothing items to the Mums and Kids Collections, and hope to introduce a Baby Collection soon.
But, I think my most important hopes and dreams are that what I have created in Me & You Baby helps other mums feel a little more like themselves at such a special time in their lives.
Check out their gorgeous range of breastfeeing-friendly clothing on the Me and You Baby website. You can also join their communities on Facebook and Instagram.
