The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I guess the biggest challenge has been that I am definitely not a businesswoman, so have had a steep learning curve. I have made lots of mistakes along the way but learnt so much too. I’ve loved creating and growing a sustainable and natural brand, but haven’t had such excitement or passion when it comes to margins and stock management – the start point for most business owners! I have grown the business with my heart but to scale the business I know I need expertise and passion in areas that aren’t my strength. Growing a team and allowing the brand to flourish means letting go of some control – a challenge to let go of my baby, but so exciting too.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Without doubt, the biggest pro to running my own business is freedom – the freedom to make things happen, take new directions, create new products, and best of all to take a day off when I want to be with my family. Strangely, I probably work as many, if not more hours, than I did when I was teaching. The difference is that it’s when I want to work and on my chosen priorities. The cons are that it can be quite lonely, particularly at the start. Taking on tasks and responsibilities I knew nothing about and being the sole decision maker was a real challenge for me. There are times when you just want a break and someone else to make the tough decisions – but its always down to just you.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We have such an exciting year ahead at Baa Baby – new sheepskin footmuffs and handwarmers in production and branching out into wholesale in some beautiful independent stores who share our ethos. We are shortlisted for some major awards for the brand and perhaps most exciting of all, a TV advertisement in production. Hard to imagine for a teacher who was just cutting sheepskin in her lounge a few years ago!
Visit the Baa Baby website to check out their beautiful sheepskin baby products. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
