Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I work when the kids are at daycare – 3 days a week – and also in the evenings. Except for packing orders during nap times, our weekends are generally free to concentrate on family. I also have to really prioritise and make sure that every single thing I am doing is good for the brand and the business in terms of growth. I have to put some things that I want to do for the business aside as in reality they aren’t going to be adding much value at the moment. As my husband says, “Focus the majority of your time on what’s important not what’s urgent”.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Mostly too many ideas and not enough time. I have to put some things that I want to do for the business aside as in reality they aren’t going to be adding much value at the moment and I only have limited hours in my day.
The fact that we are new to the market and very much unknown, I have to realise it will be a few years before we make any profit and try not to let this get me down. We are still new and still growing, I’m sure there will be massive challenges in the future that we will have to overcome to grow but whilst my kids are pre-schoolers, we are happy to work on the business slowly and organically. It’s as much a passion project as it is a revenue stream for now.
We make sure that we invest any profits in the month by adding to our product range. This gives us a chance to offer new and beautiful waste-free solutions and get a gauge on what the people want. That way we can optimise our stock too so that when people visit our site, we have what they need and are looking for.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Doing something every single day that I believe in. Feeling like I am making a difference for the better. A sense of being helpful to those who are just starting on a waste-free journey. Then there’s the flexibility, being my own boss, being able to make decisions that directly affect the future of the business.
Just getting a steady amount of orders so that we break even each month is really positive. For me it is encouraging because it says people are trying to change the way they consume.
Cons? Lots of set-up time and effort for very little/no financial reward – but it’s a long game you are playing. It’s about having the stamina to keep at it and persevere for a few years until you crack it! It’s about resilience. I work a lot harder than I ever did for a salary but it doesn’t bother me as I believe in what I’m doing.
It can also get lonely. I spend a lot of time on my own as a start-up. Every new business is unique and so whenever I get a chance to have a chat with new businesses or start-ups, I always enjoy the insight and inspiration it can bring.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We want to make living a sustainable life feel very achievable, because it is. So this year we are working on a book. It will be a collection of tips, tricks, recipes, suggestions and general handy hints to help and encourage ways to do your bit to live a life less wasteful.
We are also looking into expanding our offering. Both with exciting new brands that we find, and excitingly, by developing some products that we make ourselves. We’d like to become everyone’s go-to for waste-free living advice. The Jamie Oliver of sustainability!
Visit the Waste-Free Home website for ideas on how to live more sustainably and join their Facebook and Instagram communities.
