Hello - I'm New Here!

[shelby]

Hi,

I am new to the message board and was pleased to see a section dedicated to all of us who juggle our children with working at home!

I have a 20 month old daughter and although I was working full time from when she was six months old I decided I would much prefer to be at home with her and start my own business - so I took the plunge a few months ago and recently launched an online store selling baby clothes and accessories.

imp (http://www.impstore.co.uk) is currently stocking some great stuff from great independant US designers like Trumpette, Skip*Hop, Fortune Tee, Wry Baby, Mighty Politey and Kee-Ka. The clothes and accessories are fresh and fun and hugely popular with many US celebrities. Courtney Cox Arquette, Kate Hudson, Debra Messing, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker are amongst the famous mums who love Mighty Politey, of which imp is currently the sole UK stockist.

Anyway, I hope to be able to pop by for a chat and to get any helpful advice you can offer.

Michelle

[Ravenfire]

Hi Michelle and welcome to the site

Im a wahm and I live in lancs with my DH and our three girls.

Good luck with your business and look forward to chatting with you

Toni

[weaselgirl]

:Hello2: Michelle and welcome

I'm Jo, mum to DS 5, and DD 23mths and we live in Bristol with Dh.

Good luck with the new buisness :happy72:

[Macaroni]

Welcome tot he site Michelle, and lots of luck witht he business :happy72:

[choice]

Hiya
Sadly my Joe is too big for that stuff now! Your site looks great. I'm Vicki a wahm and a teacher
Vicki
x

[shelby]

Originally posted by choice@Aug 8 2005, 06:33 PM
Hiya
Sadly my Joe is too big for that stuff now! Your site looks great. I'm Vicki a wahm and a teacher
Vicki
x
817963


Hi Vicki,

Thanks - if things go well I will be expanding into bigger sizes (so to speak!!)

Michelle

[babybiz]

You've got a great store there :) How are you finding juggling motherhood and business?

I'm Tash, a WAHM but I'm only just starting out really I spent the last two years getting to the start.

Good luck with it and I look forward to exchanging advice with you.

Tash xxx

[Wundatigga]

Hi and welcome

I am Sophie i'm 21 and SAHM to Ruben, and Married to Adam. We live in Northern Ireland

Look forward to getting to know you xx

[shelby]

:D Originally posted by babybiz@Aug 9 2005, 02:59 PM
You've got a great store there :) How are you finding juggling motherhood and business?

I'm Tash, a WAHM but I'm only just starting out really I spent the last two years getting to the start.

Good luck with it and I look forward to exchanging advice with you.

Tash xxx
818020

Hi Tash,

Thanks for the compliment - your site is great too! At the moment I don't find it too tricky but business is just starting and I only have the one child to look after - don't know how you manage it with four - you put me to shame! Besides, the implicit joy I experience from spending all day with my dd makes up for the evenings sat beavering away. As I had to leave her every monday to friday from six months to eighteen months due to long hours at a stressful job I treasure every moment now (yes, even the grumps and defiance!).

The hardest thing I have found is getting the business out there - so any tips you, or anyone else, has would be much appreciated.

And a big hello and thank you to everyone else who has welcomed me too :D

Michelle x

[babybiz]

Originally posted by shelby@Aug 9 2005, 08:41 PM
The hardest thing I have found is getting the business out there - so any tips you, or anyone else, has would be much appreciated.


Yeah I must admit working all the hours is so worth it to be around the kids all day although I'm looking forward to them going back to school, four is a lot to have all day every day - for them as much as me!

As for getting the business out there I'm still figuring that one out! I'm optimising the website at the moment and have started to get a few orders through that way. A few referrals are starting to trickle through too but so far it's been very slow. I think it's just going to take time to build up links, referrals and enough money to really spend on advertising.

Frustrating isn't it!

[shelby]

Originally posted by babybiz@Aug 11 2005, 08:53 AM
Frustrating isn't it!
818220


It is very frustrating - like you I am just keeping on at it and trying to get lots of links and referrals. Advertising is very expensive - I have one in the classifieds in M&B but can't really financially justify any other big mags at the mo. Have you tried your local NCT branch to see if they have a publication - the rates aren't too bad in my local one?

Btw I think you are amazing coping with four kids - I don't think mothers get quite enough recognition for how much hard work it is, never mind when you are trying to run your own business at the same time

[Ravenfire]

Have you done any leaflet exchanges, they are always a good way to get your name known as well

[Preso2]

Hi,
My name is Wendy and I am WAHM running Creative Printing (http://www.creativeprinting.co.uk).

I am also happy to swap leaflets - if you are interested email me direct on wendy@creativeprinting.co.uk

Good Luck with the business :D
Wendy

[shelby]

Sorry if I sound a bit stupid, but what exactly do you mean by leaflet exchanges - obviously I grasp the idea of exchanging leaflets but how does it work after that if businesses are purely web-based?

Michelle