Name: Fiona King
Age: 39
Children: 3
Business name: TotsBots
Profit in first year: 16k
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How did the idea for your business come about?
After the birth of second baby, I wanted to use cloth nappies but had been using disposables, so I designed my own easy-to-use cloth nappy.
How did you fund it? The start-up costs were low, and I worked from home and had 3 months supported trading from my local benefits agency.
How do you manage your business with childcare commitments and running a home?
I share everything with my partner – one of us goes to work and the other stays at home. What is the best thing that has happened to you as an entrepreneur so far? Winning both gold and silver at the Mother & Baby awards last year in the best reusable nappy category, and then winning gold again this year. I would never have believed it if someone had told me this six years ago.?
And the worst?
Discovering our Turkish supplier was a bit of a cowboy and had run off with our money just after we had launched a new product. We didn’t have the fabric or the capacity to make the garment here. Having to find a new manufacturer and get things set up from scratch set our company back by about a year. The stress was terrible.
What would you do differently if you could turn the clock back?
Trust my instincts and act on them sooner.
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Any tips for mums who are considering setting up a business?
Do your research and a draw up a good business plan, get a mentor if you can, they are worth their weight in gold.