Articles tagged ‘mumpreneurs’

It’s probably safe to say that when you go from being ‘without child’ to ‘with child’, the word ‘Mum’ takes on a whole different meaning. But Mums as we knew them, are changing – once where they traded in their brains for bottles, and careers for home cooking, these days there’s a whole new generation that’s making new history and defying all stereotypes by choosing to become entrepreneurs instead of opting for a life of housewifery.
Call it bravery, call it entrepreneurship, call it sheer madness – but mumpreneurs are the new-generation mums rocking the business world and what’s more, they are using online to turn their passion into profit. The IAB, recently reported that Mums are the most savvy of all Internet users. But the real truth lies in the fact that they are not just influencing purchasing decisions, but are using their knowledge of the Internet to succeed in business.

Author of the Kitchen Table Tycoon, Anita Naik, has her view of why this sudden increase in mumpreneurs has occurred, “The trend of mums opting to run their own businesses from home for a variety of practical reasons; necessity (if you can’t get a job why not start your own stream of income), they have a big idea, or simply because they want to see more of their children, be less stressed running from A to B and pay less for childcare.”
But, apart from Naik’s reasons, the web and social media in particular, by their very nature are suited to Mums running a business from home – for one, most of it is free, it involves reaching out to others and crucially, it’s personal. That’s why here on BT Tradespace, we’ve felt the mumpreneur power ourselves. Some of our most active and loyal users are mumpreneurs!

Enhance Me’s, Victoria Dixon’s reasons for starting up were more personal than anything else, “I hadn’t been working for some time due to having a stillborn baby boy eight months into my pregnancy. I was then advised I couldn’t work during my next pregnancy. So when Milly was born, I knew I wanted to find something that would allow me to work from home whilst caring for her. It had taken us some time to have the child we longed for and I didn’t want to miss out on anything!” Finding new business isn’t an issue for Vitoria, who turns every day pictures in to fairytale finesse, it’s finding the time to expand her business!

For some like Sarah Alderson, owner of ethical and green business, Boudalu, running her own business wasn’t a choice, but a necessity, “I don’t think I really chose to become a mumpreneur, it just happened. When I was on maternity leave, I went slightly crazy. I was just not used to not working (not that having a newborn isn’t hard work but I missed the sense of creating new projects, project managing and making things happen)!” Sarah found a gap in the ethical and green business market and founded Boudalu, a fairtrade boutique where users can shop by type of product or by cause. She’s proves she’s committed to her cause – both as a mumpreneur and as a green business when she says, “We don’t think it would be right to keep our profits, so we donate them all back to grassroots social projects in the developing world.”

Innovation borne out of necessity has been accelerated by the state of the economy. “I had a year off work when I had my first child, I had planned to go back part-time, but unfortunately my hubby lost his job so I had to go back full-time! Says, children’s illustrator Kelly Brett, of Piddley Pix. “By then I had started doing art for my son, so the business idea grew from there.” Kelly is a BT Tradespace newbie, testing her mumpreneur skills “It’s great to have something I love doing to focus on and to have an aim of running my own business one day. The dream is to run a family business – allowing more time for family time too!”

For mumpreneurs and BT Tradespace regulars like Barabara Saul, whose expertise was in the Internet, choosing this medium came naturally, “I work with the Internet – so blending this with family life works very well for me. Whether it’s identifying the best marketing strategy for people, or setting up a cost effective website it’s great fun – I love getting involved with my customers’ businesses and working out the best way for them to get more business.” While business is good, Barbara’s challenge lies in getting the work-life balance right “It’s tough to switch off, keep the “job” separate from family/home life, especially when there is a deadline from the business side, or when a child is home poorly.”

Work-life balance doesn’t seem to be an issue for mumpreneur extraordinaire, Joycellyn Akufo who runs three businesses alongside her family life, “I run a lifestyle website for working mums, a childcare directory and a nanny agency! I like the fact that you are your own boss, so you are in charge of what work you do, when and how often (hopefully!)” she says. Nothing can stop Joycellyn as her business is going from strength to strength, as she launches another two websites this month!

So what does it take to be a mumpreneur success? Naik advises that mumpreneur success begins with asking yourself some key questions – if you get it right at the start, the only way for mums in business, is up!

And our final tip for being a BT Tradespace mumpreneur success? Give it time, keep updating your Tradespace with relevant and good quality blog posts, pictures and even video and business will continue to blossom…

Are you a mumpreneur? What has the experience been like for you? Would you like to add us to our ‘Mumpreneur Hall of Fame’ below? Let us know your thoughts in our community!

The BT Tradespace Mumpreneur Hall of Fame

“I am a Fairy maker of sorts! I have had almost 10 years experience using a variety of computer programs and effects and put this to use to create Magical Photo portraits taking everyday photos and turning them into fantastic, enchanting works of art.” – Victoria Dixon, Enhance Me.

“Boudalu is a fair trade boutique with a difference. Every purchase made through Boudalu supports global change, be it empowering women in the most impoverished parts of the world by providing them with a sustainable income, educating children affected by HIV or tackling the effects of climate change on rural communities..” – Sarah Alderson, Boudalu.

“The dream is to run a family business – allowing more time for family time too! I am lucky to have a goregous son and two beautiful nephews who are great inspirations for my children’s illustrations and artwork.” – Kelly Brett, Piddley Pix.

“Like many women, the flexibility working for yourself makes it too tempting not to at least ‘try’ to work for yourself!” – Joycellyn Akuffo, Mothers who work.