I have always wanted to start my own business; however it was difficult to know exactly when and how to begin. I was planning on having my own family shortly after my engagement; with many baby thoughts in my head (as all mums-to-be have), I soon turned this into a business idea and decided to start a baby retail business.
It was nerve-wracking making decisions which I knew would change my life forever, including planning how it would work, weighing the risks and feasibility of the business and deciding when to resign from my job. With all these thoughts in my head, I still felt confident about the business idea and so I registered MaByLand Limited and started the essential research to get started.
The name "MaByLand" came to me when I was trying to think up a name to represent my products. I took "Ma" from "Mama" and "By" from "BaBy" and like Disneyland, I created MaByLand! But don't worry dads - I haven't forgotten you - I'm currently working on a new line for dads too, which will be called "PaByLand".
What was your motivation?
I am an ambitious and driven person; once I have set a goal in my mind, I will persevere to achieve it. I am always looking for the next challenge, so going out of my comfort zone with all the exciting challenges appeals to me even though I know it is not going to be an easy ride sometimes.
What did you do before you started MaByLand? What experience do you need to start a web-based business?
I was a performance executive, part of the executive board at Serco Docklands, a franchise of the Docklands Light Railway. My job was to optimise the performance of the railway, from reliability of the trains to the finances. It was challenging, but I achieved all of my objectives and it was really rewarding.
I knew starting a business together with a family was going to be tough, which is why I took the steps at my own pace. I chose the online approach as MaByLand's starting point, as I believed this would create flexibility with a new family member.
I believe an online business is just like any other business; the fundamentals of knowing and understanding your potential customers and your selected market. I personally think my job at Serco Docklands helped me achieve this, as it provided me with a broad view of how a business is managed. So although I am still learning a lot myself as MaByLand develops, I think a firm grounding in common sense is important and the ability to enjoy the "rollercoaster" ride of the experience!
Where would you like MaByLand to "be" in 5 years' time?
I like to see MaByLand being recognised as a new alternative brand in baby/nursery products in the UK - not just as an online retailer, but available in major shops such as Mothercare, John Lewis, and other well-known retailers.
How do you fit being a mum to a young baby around creating and launching a new business?
Siobhan was born when MaByLand had only been running for 3 months, so most of the preparation work was planned and done when I was pregnant. And I won't lie, the journey since Siobhan arrived has been pretty tough at times, especially when she was a newborn and I had so many sleepless nights. However I had figured this into my business plan and that's why MaByLand began online - I knew I could keep it running with minimal input initially. Of course it also contributed to MaByLand having had a slow start but looking back I actually think the timing of launching the website worked quite well, as all the hard work of getting the web page up was done before she was born, allowing me to not worry about MaByLand in the first few months of Siobhan's life.
Siobhan is now 8 months old, and I feel it is important to interact with her as much as possible to nurture her intellectual growth and development so I spend my days with her - including singing and swimming classes. This means of course that my working day only begins after she has gone to bed! Working at night can be tiring, but I enjoy the fact that I am the one who decides the flexibility of my time management, and this I think is an important factor for keeping a healthy family and work balance.
What is your own support network like?
I am very lucky to have full support from my husband, my parents and my in-laws. Having a supportive husband has certainly played a large part in maintaining my motivation through the tough times, especially with the responsibilities that come with motherhood.
I feel so fortunate that they all have really been great throughout this journey, both the business and motherhood aspects. I would like to really thank them for all their support.
What is your top tip for other mums who are considering starting their own business?
It is a very big challenge, starting your own business, and that's not even including looking after a family - so I would suggest to any mums or mums-to-be who are considering starting their own business to really think about it: do your research, weigh out all the pros and cons in your individual situation, consider the level of risk you can afford and the business-to-be's viability, discuss your findings with your family to assess the level of support, and also be sure to include backup plans.
What is the most important thing you have learnt since you started MaByland?
There are many things I have learnt from starting MaByLand but I think the most important one would be to try to have a clear and calm head at all times. In fact, I am still learning how to achieve this, as it is easier said than done, but I will keep trying!
www.mabyland.com
Sheena will be at the Baby Show at ExCeL 19-21 February at Stand C40, just opposite the Fairy and Mothercare stands. Stop by and say hello as she'll be offering a £5 voucher if you register on the day! She'll also be at our next Nearly New Sale on 14 November at Southfields Community College. |
