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pregnant with toddler and just started new business - any advice?

12 replies

wondermummy · 08/08/2006 16:14

hey everyone - I've just started my own business (online maternity shop - www.wondermummy.com ), am 8 months pregnant, and have a 16 month old toddler. Am I completely insane? would love to hear from others with similar stories - of survival please!!

OP posts:
sleepycat · 08/08/2006 16:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wondermummy · 08/08/2006 19:53

DS is in nursery 2 days a week at the moment, and my OH helps out too. Still, plenty of evenings (like now ha ha)and weekends....its brilliant and rewarding but can be quite stressful at times. would love to hear from anyone else in similar situation.....

OP posts:
SenoraPostrophe · 08/08/2006 20:04

well unless you've been realy lucky an online shop will take a while to build up business anyway so it'll probably work out fine. you'll need to check for orders/emails obviously but there probably won't be much actual work as such just yet. Just marketing (aka sending emails and signing up to things).

I had ds and dd 19 months apart and work with online businesses and yes, you can work at nap times and stuff although if business goes well you'll probably find you need help. I had an au-pair type arrangement (i.e. somebody coming into the house to watch the kids. not a qualified nanny because it didn't matter as I was in the house anyway) and you will need someone to help with the business side of things for the first month at least.

gemmum · 08/08/2006 20:04

Hi,
I have 2 girls 1 25m and 1 12m and i run my own business selling usborne childrens books(www.usborne4u.co.uk), i am also an avon rep too.

So yes i think your completly mad but i am too, lol.

It is fine when the kids go to bed and i get a couple of hours in the evening, and there is stuff i can get done through the day all being well. When there ill is another story! arrrrhhhh. Everything just gets put on hold but i guess that is the beauty of running your own business and i wouldn't have it any other way.

Life is too short to waste opportunties, i'm the kind of person that needs to be busy and would go insane if all i had to do all day was nappies and ironing.

Goodluck with the new baby and your business, Gemma

4Luck · 08/08/2006 20:25

Good on you and yes, you do have to be slightly insane to work from home with little ones, or at least it helps to be so. I have a 21 month old, plus Miss 5 and Master 7, and am due with baby4 this Friday. I work for myself, from home, and would never have started had I been completely sane.

I think the advantage of being an entrepreneur (as opposed to an employee) is that you can dictate your own hours around the needs of the home, you don't have the hassle of office hours, clients can be more flexible than employers, and you get out of it what you put in.

Domestic help is always a bonus, but is not a reality for many women in this country. For me personally, what has helped the most is the realisation that I do not have to have an immaculate house, that it's okay for dishes to soak in the sink for a day, and that every article of clothing in my children's wardrobe does not have to be ironed to within an inch of it's life. I can achieve balance as long as everything does not have to be perfect.

Oh, and the other most valuable piece of advice I can give you is make sure you have a good accountant. Best of luck with your venture, and with enjoying your beautiful babies.

wondermummy · 09/08/2006 10:37

thanks so much everyone - its really good to hear that I'm not alone in my madness! I must say I'm finding it incredibly rewarding so far, and love that I can dictate my own hours. Its lovely to have your good wishes - a real boost.

good point about the accountant - something I've been meaning to get on to - any handy tips in choosing one?

OP posts:
4Luck · 09/08/2006 14:48

I would avoid the big accountancy firms. With all due respect to them, it's not worth being one of their clients unless you have the turnover to justify paying their overheads.

I got in touch with my local Business Advice unit, who signposted me to a small local accountancy firm, which happens to be run by two fantastic women (HareEdson in Norton, North Yorks - I'm sure the girls won't mind me giving them a positive plug!). I'm sure your local business advisory service would be able to do the same for you.

My accountants have been able to not only make sense of the mess of a shoebox where I keep my receipts, but because they are experts on all aspects of tax law, they have found benefits for me in the system that I could never have found on my own. They are worth the added investment which, to be honest, is not that much.

wondermummy · 09/08/2006 19:17

thanks 4 luck. I've just tried to make sense of the pile of receipts I've been gathering - could definately do with some professional advice.....

OP posts:
dabihp · 09/08/2006 20:00

Hi! I have a 1yr old and a 3 yr old and run an online business too (www.sinnersnetwork.co.uk) it is difficult to find the time! (esp, when i cant exactly open the pages on my site when the little ones are about!!)

It takes a lot of dedication and endless advertising. But its better than not being with the kids during the day!

btw, the clothes on your site are fabulous! Wish it had been aroung when I was pregnant!! Good Luck!

(You can contact me through my site if you want to trade marketing strategies!! and feel free to add a link!! as long as you reciprcate!! he he)

mummysnoops · 10/08/2006 15:07

Hi wondermummy - just to say I love the site - the clothes are fabulous, delivery was very quick - I'm one of your recent customers! you're obviously doing well juggling your priorities. Well done all you working mums!

daisydog · 24/08/2006 15:29

Hi
Your site looks fab - well done! Love the clothes - are they your own brand? Reason I'm asking is because I have a business -Mamatoto- selling tried and tested products for pregnancy to preschool and wondered if we might be able to link up somehow? Our website goes live next week www.mamatoto.co.uk - have a look and get in touch!

Best of luck to you - I'm sure you'll do really well!

griffintribe · 29/08/2006 14:44

I have a business selling funky clothing for babies aged from birth to two years.
The clothing has funny slogans on the front.
Featuring slogans such as

milk-a-holic
i blame the parents
its good to stalk mummy
my other pram's a porsche

I have 101 funny designs.
If anyone would like a FREE brochure then please e mail name and address to
[email protected]

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