Mum Lucy Fitzgerald, 31, decided to ditch her part-time job as a HR manager to take charge of her career and give her the flexibility she needed to raise her family. Now the managing director of her very own company, Sleepytot (www.sleepytots.com), was it all Lucy imagined it to be? She shares her story with us.
What was the motivating factor for staring your own business?
I wanted to be able to achieve my ambitions and have the flexibility required to raise a family. I found this impossible when working for someone else. As a part time employee, my career options were limited.? I also believed I had a good product idea that would genuinely help lots of parents, babies and toddlers to sleep.
What are the best bits about working again?
Having an income is a necessity since we can?t live on one salary. I find I need the intellectual stimulation and the challenge of work ? not that parenting doesn?t give you that! But also success and achievement have been something I?ve always worked for in life and I need goals ? big things to aim for. Working gives me these things, as well as independence.
Running a business can be a mixed bag sometimes. What have been your highs and lows so far?
My biggest low was the day I received our first load of stock. I bought 3000 items and our supplier really let us down ? the quality wasn?t high enough and didn?t match the production sample. It was a huge blow, financially and operationally. Quality and safety is the cornerstone of the Sleepytot brand and something I will never compromise on!
The good that came out of that though is that we now have a superb supplier who I can completely trust. Highs are winning awards and getting good product reviews from our customers. I love it when someone rings me or emails me just to say that their little one is finally sleeping through the night after buying a Sleepytot. It?s so simple but it is after all why Sleepytot began!
What is available to mothers now that you wish you had access to when your family was young?
Laurie is only three years old, so I?m not sure there is anything out there I didn?t get. Maternity pay is now nine months where it was only 6 when Laurie was born. I personally don?t believe there is enough support available to mothers who want to stay at home with their children. Government policy is organised to drive everyone back to work as soon as possible and all the incentives are geared towards this. It is a huge shame for mothers who would like the option of being at home and unusual when compared with the rest of Europe.
How have you managed to stay on top of your career with the demands of motherhood?
This has been tough. I work from home most of the time so that makes it easier to do the odd chore around the house when I?m working. But at the same time, it?s hard to separate work and home life. I?m often still working at 2am because I chose to take Laurie to the park for the afternoon. But then, that?s a choice I?ve made.
There are times when we are really busy with high order volumes and then the housework slips and Laurie spends a little more time with his granddad. But when the pressure eases off a bit, I then have the time to put back into the family so I get the best of both worlds.
What has been the high point along the way?
Seeing our trade customers grow and place repeat orders has been really rewarding. I love to think of my Sleepytot, which was once just a germ of an idea, becoming a product that is selling in nursery shops across the UK and Ireland. I have genuinely loved the past five months ? we?ve brought a product alive and that makes me feel very happy.
What is your worst experience along the way?
The stock issue I mention above was the worst. That was devastating because we were all ready to launch, trade shows set up and marketing planned. We?d even taken pre-orders on our website. But we came back from it and I have learned so much that I?m sure I will be grateful for the experience in a few years (or more!).
Other lows have come from the instability that is natural when starting a new business. My family and I have invested a lot of money and it is always worrying to think that may be lost ? especially given the current economic crisis. But so far, so good. Sales are steady and increasing and we are feeling confident as we start 2009.
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?
That was just how I felt. I was a HR manager and I really wanted to be part of the business, growing it and moving to a place where I contributed to decision making. But I couldn?t do that as a part-time employee. I?m sure there are many employers out there and many careers where this is possible.
For me however, I found that while I was valued, it was in a role as a part time employee. I knew I would always want to be able to pick up my children from school and make their tea. And when they?re older, I want to be there when they get home from school. So this wasn?t a short-term issue for me. I was going to be part-time for a long time! The only option for me seemed to be to start my own business. This way I can realise my dreams, reach for the stars so to speak, but also retain the flexibility I need for my children.
I?m happy with my choice because it has given me control and I am able to juggle it all. One thing I would say is it does sometimes mean working weird hours and starting a business is really hard work. I never, ever stop at the moment. I just go from one thing to another. I also had to take a financial risk so it needs to be something you can cope with and afford. But there are so many options out there. Working flexibly doesn?t have to mean setting up your own business!
The best tip I can give is to go for what you want, strive for the balance you desire and you will find a way there.
