The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
When we stopped receiving orders at the beginning of March 2020, we knew something was up. The situation with Covid-19 started escalating very quickly, and we realised we were in trouble.
As the announcements intensified, I realised that I had a period of time ahead of me when I could use all I had learnt so far designing our tourism products and create some of the other ideas that had initially excited me. There is something magical about nursery rhymes – a timeless appeal that can spark our imaginations in many different directions. I had been playing with a few ideas in my head, but had previously been too busy to move forward with them.
We had since been working toward the Spring Gift Fair, which was planned to be held in Auckland at the end of August 2020 and where we planned to launch our new ‘RoomArt’ and ‘Seasonal Decor’ ranges.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has stepped in again, and the Gift Fair has been cancelled. The day the Level 3 lockdown was announced in Auckland, we made a new plan. This rapidly changing world we are living in is incredibly uncertain, but if anything, it is teaching us to be light on our feet, and be ready to change direction in any moment.
With all this change, I’ve been realising with increasing clarity that the idea that we have any control over our lives is an illusion. The harder we hold onto our ideas of how we think things ‘should’ be, the more difficult it is when the proverbial carpet gets whipped out from under us.
I have experienced this so many times over the years with my children – just when we think we have this parenting thing figured out, they reach a new stage and everything changes. Life is a moving playing field. We make plans, and build routines into our lives which give us a feeling of solidity and control, but at any time something could happen to rock our entire world and change everything.
Mindset feels like it is key – a balanced mind, and an openness to dealing with whatever it is life throws at you. In life and business there will always be challenges, and the greatest breakthrough for me has been learning to use these challenges as opportunities instead of feeling like a victim.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It isn’t always easy. When I had babies, I was lucky to be able to snatch an hour for myself here and there, and even luckier if it resulted in something productive. Back then, I thought it would be that way forever. Life was exhausting, but I have an inherent need to create. I took the time I could back then, and I used it to learn, and to create what I could.
My children are now 11 and 13. Each stage of childhood comes with its challenges, but also each new stage brings a little more ‘me’ time. I will always, first and foremost, be a mother – and working in my business today allows me to be that. I can take time out to go watch my children compete in sports, or to talk to their teachers, or keep them home from school when they need to recharge. I can take the whole school holidays off if I need to, or just days or parts of days, depending on their needs.
On the other hand, when work is busy, my children are old enough to understand that. They don’t need me to keep them occupied or find them something to do. They can step up when needed to help cook dinner, walk the dog, keep the house tidy. There are still times when it feels like a juggle, but I think the most important thing I have learnt is to define my working hours, and my family time. Work should never take over from the family.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
There are so many challenges to overcome as we go about our lives and businesses. I have already touched on some of these we have faced, but ultimately, I think it’s important to come back to whatever it is that drives you.
As Covid-19 evolved, I realised that no matter what happened to our existing products, it wasn’t them that made Laser Studio a business. Even if we never sold another one of our original range, it didn’t really matter – because what makes Laser Studio a business is our drive to create and develop new products. The most exciting part of our business for me is this development of new products – and as long as there are ideas, I feel like we are being successful.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Laser Studio fits around our family life. We get to determine our working hours, and to decide if we need a day off – or to extend our hours if we need to. We decide how we want to grow and in what direction. Because of this, we have essentially written our roles within the business based upon our individual strengths, talents and passions. I am in charge of design and the processes involved in building our products. Simon provides a critical eye in the design stage and pushes our products to the next level. He is also in charge of sales and client liaison.
As a con, it can be incredibly daunting approaching tough times within your own business. No-one else can do it for you, and if there are no sales, you don’t get paid. You must learn to trust your instincts to navigate through these times, as there is no-one to make those decisions for you.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
Our favourite thing about Laser Studio is that we created it out of nothing. When we started, we had never used a laser cutter before and we didn’t even know what we planned to create. We did, however, know some of the potential of these machines, and we believed that we would have a great idea. As the ideas evolved, our products materialised, and possibilities did too.
We have an idea of where we want to take this, mainly that we want Laser Studio to grow into a business that will support our family and the lifestyle we have dreamed of through all the tough times. We also hope it will inspire our children and others to run with their ideas in life.
Visit the Laser Studio website to find out more and to view their beautiful range of products, and follow their creative journey on Facebook.
