Meet the Mumpreneurs!
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Behind every great baby idea there's a mum who's been there,
done that, and had baby posset on her T-shirt. Babyworld takes a look
at 'mumpreneurs' who have used their experience of parenthood to forge
a new career…
Julie's career started early when, aged 16, she left school to work for
NatWest bank. After five years there, she left to try to pursue a career
in business and joined Keiper Recaro - the car seat manufacturers - where
again she worked in finance. She ended up running the accounts department
at the tender age of 22 before starting work in the ruthless, male-dominated
world of stainless steel. During this time, she realised that accounts
weren't really her thing. Her much-longed-for change of direction came
when she was offered the position of assistant to the company's sales
manager, soon progressing to become a full-time saleswoman.
When the stainless market hit an all-time low, Julie decided to use her
sales skills at the Yellow Pages, where she won several awards
including Customer Service Awards and Regional Sales Awards. Julie then
decided to join her husband in his business. It was to be a huge challenge
for them both, not only working together as a husband and wife team, but
also taking the risk that running a business brings. Within three years,
Julie had again made her mark by bringing in big blue-chip names such
as Volkswagon Group, Norwich Union, Shelll and many more.
The birth of two babies
In 2004 Julie fell pregnant. The whole experience made Julie reconsider
her life and her career and, only three months after having Samuel, she
decided to start her own baby-related business. An idea to sell mother
and baby products at home parties had gone through her mind several times
and when her husband agreed that it was a great idea she started to realise
that it could be a viable proposition. Soon afterwards Truly Madly Baby
was born.
In May 2004 Julie did her first Truly Madly Baby party. She had already
created a website, chosen a selection of products, put together a 64-page
catalogue and had started gathering interest from mums around the country.
By July 2004, she had recruited four consultants in Cornwall, Milton Keynes
and Wales. She then decided it was time to enter the Dragons' Den.
From mumpreneur to Dragon slayer
In series 2 of the BBC series Dragon's Den in 2005, Julie managed
to secure investment with investor Peter Jones. The other dragons were
sceptical that Julie would manage to make this into a big business but
she proved them all wrong. In the end, she decided not to go ahead with
the deal she struck with Peter Jones but instead accepted investment from
another source.
As of April 2007, there were more than 200 consultants for Truly Madly
Baby in the UK, from as far afield as the Orkney Islands to Guernsey.
Plans are now afoot for Europe...
A flourishing future
The future continues to look bright. Julie hopes to increase the number
of Truly Madly Baby consultants to 500 whilst also growing the internet
and mail order side of the business. But how hard is it to be a successful
businesswoman and a mum and wife?
'Apart from Samuel and my husband work is my life and I probably haven't
got my work life balance right at all!' Julie admits. 'However I do make
special 'family' and 'Sam' time and the time we have together is wonderful,
very full of fun and very special. My dream was to create a flexible work
option for mums across the country which would allow them to still be
mum. Whilst I may not have it right on a personal level due to the business's
success, it is very rewarding to see how my consultants benefit from what
we have to offer.'
Julie's top tips for aspiring mumpreneurs
Julie has the following top tips for any mums interested in setting up their
own businesses.
- Think carefully about what you want to do, how committed you are
to it and how it will impact on your family life. You have to have the
support of people around you in order to get through the harder times
and give you the moral support you need to build a business.
- Make sure your idea is viable. Know your market, the size of it,
the potential in it, the route to it, and the need for your product
or service within it. Have a great name for your business that is memorable
but also available on the web, and to perhaps trademark it if necessary.
Be prepared to eat, breathe, and sleep business: to be the best you
will have to dedicate everything you have to the cause. Believe and
be passionate about your business, because if you are not, how can anyone
else be?
- Always remember that there is one person who will always make things
happen, and one person only, and that is YOU.
Find out more about Julie's company www.trulymadlybaby.co.uk
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