Mumpreneur webchat December 7, 12-1pm

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webeditor2 Platinum member
30/11/2009 at 07:39
Put your questions about coping with work and mummy life, starting a business and anything else relating to work and children here! Julia Minchin, the founder of nursery retailer Hippychick, will be doing her to best to answer your questions between 12 and 1pm today Mon December 7th.

[Modified by: webeditor on 07 December 2009 11:25:00 ]
nicola41 Gold member
07/12/2009 at 07:21
HI Julia,
sorry to post early but I have a to dash out shortly. I'm just wondering what you think about the childcare vouchers scheme? Did/do you use it? Any thoughts about whether the Govt should keep or drop it?
Thanks!
ali40 Silver member
07/12/2009 at 07:38
Hi Julia, I can't really cope with going back to work and leaving my two small girls, and ideally would like to work from home. This wouldn't be possible in my current job, so I'd have to leave. But I need to work so can you recommend the best way for me to find work from home I can do? Should I just look in local papers, or the job centre. Also, should I look at organising childcare for my children or do you think I could work around their day (ie in the evenings). Any advice would be appreciated!
tink-a-bell Platinum member
07/12/2009 at 07:45
Hi Julia,

When our first baby comes along in March we can't afford childcare so I will have to be a stay at home Mummy. This is fine by me, I have a PhD in geology so its not as though there are lots of jobs available to me anyway that don't involve months of fieldwork.

I do however want to help my husband and earn us some money. We have been looking into part time work from home franchises, what are your opinions on these? How do you know whether or not you are buying into a good opprtnity and not being 'ripped off'. Do you have any recomendations for finding a suitable franchise or advice for people considering this?

I don't have any experience in business whatsoever so I am a bit afraid of doing it alone which is why the idea of a part time franchise is so appealing to me but I am 100% to other suggestions of ways that I could work from home, even if it was just earning enough to cover our weekly shop it would be a great help.

Many thanks

Tink
xxxx
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:01
Hi Everybody - great to see so many questions already posted. Best stop chatting, best get answering! Julia
whiskers83 Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:06
Hi Julia,

I've been planning to set up a holiday letting business aimed at young families in Cornwall for a while now.

I am on maternity leave from my job which is for an alternative holiday agency and so if I do go ahead I will have to leave my job. Does this mean that my statutory maternity pay will finish, or will I still be paid as I worked full time for them for two years until I left in October?

Also, do you happen to know if you get penalised for quitting a job, meaning you would receive less tax credits?

What a minefield! Thanks. Claire :\?
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:06
Dear franticmum - we do offer the Childcare Voucher Scheme at Hippychick. As yet have no first hand experience but they look to be valuable. As you probably know they are available for children up to 16 years old and the value is up to ??55 per week or ??243 per month. I would say every penny counts so certainly worth looking at.
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:12
Hi Ali - I know just what you feel about leaving your children - it is incredibly hard. However, there are a number of websites that now target mums going back to work. The best thing would be to google them - they offer a variety of part time home working and flexible options. One word of warning you will have to weed out the odd pyramid scheme. When I first started Hippychick I worked around my children but pretty soon had to organise part time childcare. Hope this helps.
Homebunny_Uk Gold member
07/12/2009 at 08:12
Hi Julia
Bit of a silly one really, its more about work/ home balance. I work full time and have have two step children, so have been thrown in at the deep end a little bit. Do you have any tips on keeping the house tidy in the little free time you have? We cant afford a cleaner and what with working all hours, house work is never ending and so gets on top of me and really gets me down. It's silly how keeping a clean house makes such a difference to my mood and men just don't seem to get it! Do you have any tips on coping with and balancing both home life and work life and still having time for some quality family time!
Thanks in advance
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:16
Hi tink-a-belle - the at home franchises can sound very attractive on paper but I have yet to meet someone who has made a consistently reliable income from them. It is not something we have a lot of experience with but you can research more by contacting your local Business Link.
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:20
Hi Whiskers - how exciting setting up your own holiday letting business. I am not an expert on tax credits etc but the following websites are very helpful: direct.gov.uk (put return to work in the search box), citizensadvice.org.uk, acas.org.uk and berr.gov.uk. Between them, they should be able to give you all the info you need. Best of luck!
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:28
Hi Homey - getting a good home/life balance is not easy and so many of us are in the same boat. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Look at what you are achieving and not at what you are not. There are only so many hours in the day. Somebody once said to me I should take 15 minutes a day, put some music on, and start with a room at a time. Doesn't sound much but it worked for me. Just remember everything doesn't have to be achieved at once and everyone can chip in - my six year old can now just about empty the dishwasher! Hope this helps.
VickiSkehan Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:30
I'm planning my own business and intend going round some big retailers to try and get interest in the new year. My dream scenario is to get some decent sized orders, but can't afford to invest in stock until I know it's going to sell. Any tips on coming across as a 'proper' business without committing myself to orders I can't fulfil?
ali40 Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:32
Thanks for the help Julia. One other question, I think I've got a good idea for a business I can run from home, but where do I start with getting a loan? Should I go straight to my bank, or are there other ways of applying for a business grant or loan through local govt do you know? Thanks
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:45
Hi newnewmum - investing in stock without knowing what you are going to sell is the age old problem. Firstly, ensure your product is protected and if not that you get an NDA signed by everyone you show it to. Re manufacture, distribution etc you can either do it all yourself or you can find a third party to do it for you. At Hippychick we sell not just our own branded products but we distritute other people's products eg Wheelybugs. From your point of view there are pros and cons for both - my husband, Jeremy, spends his life negotiating with the big retailers - and would be happy to offer further advice as to how to try and avoid the many pitfalls. Please don't hesitate to call if you feel this would be of value. Whatever you do ensure that the terms and conditions suit you not just everybody else. Good luck - sounds very exciting!
webeditor2 Platinum member
07/12/2009 at 08:49
FROM BX member 'meercat' (posted in the wrong forum so I've cut and pasted it to here! Web Ed)
Hi Julia
I have just launched a new baby product - SnoozeShade that helps babies sleep in the pram for longer - it is doing really well, we've been taken on by Mothercare and Jo Jo as well as a range of other retailers - my question is what is the best way to manage a successful business as well as a family and being a mum?
At the moment I am squeezing in working days at the end of my day and into the early hours as well as snatching every chance i can during naptime and nursery.. Have you any advice?
Thanks in advance
Cara


[Modified by: webeditor on December 07, 2009 12:49 PM]

Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 08:54
Hi Ali - re business grants and loans, Business Link are very helpful and will help you do a business plan, with forecasts etc to take to a bank. They will also have access to a number of grants (some of which will be match funded). It is definitely worth seeing a number of different banks as some are more understanding of new businesses than others. Beware of hefty guarantees - we found that an overdraft facility worked for us initially but it obviously depends upon the level of investment needed. If you believe in your business don't take no for an answer!
Meercat71 Silver member
07/12/2009 at 09:01
Hi Julia

Me again, I hope I am posting in the right place this time

One other question, I assume you sell Hippyseat all over, have you any advice about growing your business in the UK and then to taking it overseas?

I know that all sounds very ambitious I'd like to think about it now so I don't miss anything obvious.

Your mumpreneur competition sounds great - really nice to see a mumprenenur who knows what it's like to start a business whilst raising children supporting other mumpreneurs! I will enter for sure.

Thanks in advance.

webeditor2 Platinum member
07/12/2009 at 09:02
It's 1pm now so no new questions please. Many thanks to Julia for her time and valuable advice today.
Web Ed
Julia_Minchin Silver member
07/12/2009 at 09:04
Hi Cara - firstly many congratulations on listing SnoozeShade with both Mothercare and JoJo. Jeremy told me about your product after the BPA Show. Juggling both a growing business a family was the most difficult thing for me and I didn't necessarily get it right in that I wish I had had more time with the children when they were younger. If you try and do everything yourself then you limit what it is possible to achieve. Concentrate on what your strengths are and find good partners for the bits that are going to be seriously time consuming or challenging for you. Do please feel free to contact us if you want to talk some more.
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