Louise Day, 35, is mum to three-and-a-half year old Charlie, and worked as a management accountant before starting her business ? Lifft Baby Slings, www.lifftslings.com. Some family members felt she was wasting her successful career, but the business is a success, and as a managing director, she gets the best of both worlds.
How did you fund the business?
I financed the business myself, and took a loan from parents!
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
I have a gorgeous life-changing product I wanted to share with the world and an uncontrollable urge to spend as much time with my? children as possible. Starting my own business meant I could dictate my own working hours to fit in and around my new family, whilst filling the gap in the baby sling market.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
The customer? feedback. When you receive an email or a call from someone so? grateful that they have found your product! A good fitting sling? means total freedom for mum and contentment for baby whilst they are constantly sharing heart-warming snuggles.? Bliss!
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been your highs and lows so far?
It is a shame that many businesses do not share good ethics and values. We have been let down by many people and businesses in the past which is a tough lesson to learn.
On a plus, you do realise quickly that you are totally responsible for the smooth running of the company and when you find someone you can rely on you appreciate them so much more.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands? ?of motherhood while running a business?
My business and product was created in response to motherhood and I have always been realistic in my expectations of working with a child in tow! You have to set realistic targets and not forget why you established the business in the first place. Of course, snuggling them in a sling helps when you are trying to get on with work!
How has running your business impacted on your relationship with your partner and children?
My husband is 100% supportive of the business because he believes in the product. He loves the fact that I have been able to spend time with Charles whilst building up the brand. We believe Charlie is a more contented child because of the? way I work, which makes for a happier home life for us all. Because? it is my business, he doesn?t object to me working long hours? throughout the evening, whereas I don?t feel he would be as understanding if I were working for someone else.
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?
A? ‘successful career’ means different things to all women. I gave up my job as a management accountant to manufacture and sell baby carriers. Described in the early days by mother as a ?terrible? waste?, but in reality I had become managing director of my own company with a happy baby. You need to decide (and then act upon) what is most important to you and not be afraid to accept your motherly urges, no matter how pre-historic they may seem to everyone else.
