Anouk Skurek, 34, is a mum of two and runs The Stripy Company (www.thestripycompany.co.uk) with her sister. Is it keeping business in the family a tug of war ow elcome change from her previous job as a project analyst? She yells motherswhowork.co.uk about life as a business mum.
What work did you do before you set up your company?
I worked as a project analyst.
How did you fund the business?
Savings – and starting very small
Profit in first year
We are expecting to break even at the end of the first year and make a profit year 2.
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
Wanting to be a mum yet still have my independance and to use my mind.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
That it’s mine and my sister’s – It’s our idea and that we made it happen.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
The length of time it took to get it underway was the low point, the highs are seeing our products in magazines and getting orders from
strangers!
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood while running a business?
By juggling and supporting each other – my sister and business partner will be having a baby in January so the balance of work will shift for a while, but we will help each other out with our different aspects of the company. Supportive and encouraging husbands also help. We involve the kids where we can so they love the idea of The Stripy Company, too.
How has running your business impacted on your relationship with your partner and children?
They are totally behind us and offer advice which we say we want to hear but they must not get upset if we don’t take, with this agreed we can all talk to our partners about the running and the future of the business.
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?
It’s all in the planning, becoming a mother opens up a whole new world of opportunities – you need to be open to them and take your time to plan for when the babies become children – you can do a lot once they are at school, 9 – 3 is a good amount of time to work and still be a mum when they are back from school.
