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If you’re finding it a problem organising your busy household, struggling to keep on top of your kids busy social schedules, remembering birthdays, planning your meals and your groceries etc, as well as running your business, then look no further than Sarah Sadler, the founder of Organised Mum, who produces a brilliant range of stationery products to help mums organise themselves, their families and their homes.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Nothing clever or well thought out – I had an idea and thought I’d give it a go. I didn’t do any market research but I kept the initial investment as low as possible. I needed something to think about (I already had lots to do but not much going on mentally) and if I was going to do something I thought it ought to try to help us out financially too. If I’d understood that no brand new business returns much (if any) profit I might have thought again.
What have you learnt about yourself since you became self-employed?
Absolutely loads – mostly that I don’t know much and that I’ll be learning throughout. I have to accept that I make mistakes. I really enjoy seeing the business grow. I’ve also learnt that I am not particularly ego driven but more financially focused. I also work extremely hard – sometimes to the detriment of my own health and this is a part of my lifestyle that I’m trying to work on.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Totally financial – I run what I call a ‘lumpy business’ – i.e. its seasonal and at some times of year next to nothing is coming in but we’ve still got lots of bills.
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What has been the best thing about being your own boss?
That I stand or fall on the mistakes that I make and cannot really blame anyone but me. Also that my father is proud of me which (I know it’s soppy) is just lovely.
Who has given you the support to succeed?
My husband is incredibly supportive and works full time in the business. My two girls (aged 7 and 10) love the place too and really enjoy spending time in the ‘unit’ playing phones and packing parcels. I love that it has a family feel. They get bored if I talk business constantly though.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone with a ‘dream’ an aspiring ‘mumpreneur’ what would it be?
To follow your dream but be incredibly focused on the financials too. Don’t just say “one day it’ll make a profit” but make your plans so you have a goal as to when that will be. You can’t run a business just for the money, you’ve got to love what you’re doing too but you ignore your cash flow and profit / loss at your peril. Get to know your bank manager and make him promises then keep them. He’ll get to know you and help to dig you out of bad situations because they’ll know that you’re good to your word.
To view the full range of Organised Mum products please visit www.organised-mum.co.uk
