Name: Debbie Mankelow
Age: 43
Children: Joshua, 7, and Holly, 3
Job title: Managing director
Company: Debra Clare
Profit in first year: I have just started trading (January 2008), having spent almost two years developing the product and patenting the design.
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
I was self employed before I had children, so starting my own business again was not that daunting. I came up with an idea that people really liked and thought was very marketable so I turned the idea into a business.
What are the best bits about working again?
Self esteem is obviously a key issue, as well a getting out and meeting people and having conversations that are not just about children or school. I have always been creative so I really need a creative outlet, and I?m really excited about developing all the new design ideas I have for the Baby and All Bag.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been your highs and lows so far?
The highs include winning the Concept Award from the Baby Products Association. It gave me the reassurance that my belief in my product was shared by industry experts. Getting acceptance from major clients has also been a reason to celebrate. The lows have been the slow progress of getting prototypes right, which has been trying at times. One of the greatest challenges is wearing all the hats required in the early stages of starting a business but it does mean that I have a handle on all the elements of the business.
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to when your family was young?
My family is still pretty young but what I am beginning to discover is how much is available for women to help them get back to work or start their own businesses.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
I do a lot of the concentrated work, such as designing and mocking up prototypes, at night when I get large chunks of uninterrupted time. My husband has been totally supportive which has made it much easier.
Also, working in the childcare industry has proved a good choice as many people understand the demands of children and have in fact themselves only entered the field after having children of their own. I have actually come across a number of companies who have office hours to suit the school run.
What has been the high point along the way?
Winning the Concept Award was really totally unexpected and gave me the boost to persevere.
What is your worst experience along the way?
Delays, delays and more delays. It has been astonishing how long it has taken to bring a product to market. Had I been childless I would probably have jumped on a plane and sorted out my prototypes in one or two visits, but the reality has been many weeks between prototypes and an agonisingly slow process. Just as well that I had the distraction of family life to stop me pulling my hair out!
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can’t have a successful career and a happy family life at the same time?
I thoroughly recommend working for yourself – it is very fulfilling and gives you the flexibility to be able to be there for your family, too. At the moment, I work from home which suits me very well, but I am conscious that as the business grows I may have to make other arrangements. I think it is all about balance, and I will endeavor to be there for the school run and lighten my load during the school holidays. Running my own business puts me in the privileged position of being able to make my own choices about how and when I work; although I am aware of the amount of time a new venture needs, particularly in the early years.
Top tip: be good to your friends and family because you are likely to have to ask for help. Some of my friends have bent over backwards when I have needed it. Thank you again – you know who you are.