Sarah Watkins: Fairbourn Children?s Furniture, www.fairbournchildrensfurniture.co.uk
Job title: Designer/director of Fairbourn Children?s Furniture
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
When my son was two I needed some furniture for his bedroom and couldn?t find anything that was good quality and affordable – there seemed to be a big gap between high quality and cheaper flat packed furniture, and a few years later I had the opportunity to start designing furniture and loved it. The natural progression seemed to move to make my own range.
What are the best bits about working?
I love meeting a diverse amount of people, and learning something new all the time. For me, standing still and not evolving wouldn?t be a good example for my son. We do find life is hectic most of the time, but we work together as a family and life seems more fun and fulfilling.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been you highs and lows so far?
Developing a range of furniture from scratch was a challenge, especially as I wanted to keep production within Yorkshire. It’s quite a male-dominated area and without carpentry knowledge it was very difficult to find the right company to produce the larger items, but I did eventually find a great company and I?d say when the first sample items were made it gave me a real boost. I think the lows have to be the current market situation, being such a new company I haven?t developed a customer base yet and think the future will be challenging.
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to when your son was younger?
I think the one thing we missed out on was nursery vouchers, I think they are a great idea, I think companies should all subscribe to the scheme.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
I?m not going to pretend that I?ve also managed to stay ?on top?. When my son was very young we struggled with childcare, as we didn?t have any family help, and I really sympathise with other parents in that situation. My son is now eight, which does make things much easier, and I have two friends who are also working mums and we share care for our boys in the school holidays and when we need to work away. It really works so well that I can?t recommend it enough to other parents.
What has been the high point along the way?
I think getting feedback from customers who were so positive about my products.
Have there been any lows along the way?
Being such a new business I think starting at such a bad economic time is very worrying . I would have loved to launch the business in a bigger way, but I feel I will have to try to grow slowly while the country begins to climb economically again.
Any tips for expectant mums, or mothers who feel that you can?t have a successful career and a happy family at the same time?
Enjoy having your baby and give everything time.
Follow your instinct, you?d be surprised at what you can do, and the more fulfilled you are the better your relationship with your child will be.
