Good morning everyone; today we have another lovely mum in business on the blog. Please welcome Rebecca from Hugo’s Workshop. You can also find Rebecca on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so make sure you pop over and say hi. Rebecca is very kindly giving away one of her gorgeous personalised photo frames so make sure you read right to the end to see how you can win! ?
Who are you?
Rebecca de Jager, 34 year old mum of 2 boys in Maidenhead, Berkshire
What do you do?
I own Hugo’s Workshop, I make bespoke personalised gifts by engraving beautiful pieces of oak.
When did you establish your business?
I started making and selling products in 2013 just before my eldest turned 1. I did it alongside my day job for a couple of years and then took some time out during my pregnancy with the little one. When he was 10 months old I decided to quit the day job and focus on Hugo’s Workshop full time.
What made you start your own business?
It’s a funny story really, my husband is in the construction industry and came home from work saying that he had bought me a present. I was excited of course, what on earth could it be?
Well it was not a piece of jewellery like I was hoping, but It was an engraving machine!
What on earth was I supposed to do with that?
Anyway to cut a long story short, I decided that it would be really cool to make solid oak engraved photo frames. I really love the look and feel of oak, and I also take what feels like millions of photos of my boys! So it was engraved photo frames that I started off with. I found a factory in North Yorkshire that makes gorgeous chunky oak photo frames so I bought some. I made a few prototypes and gave them as gifts to friends. They were a massive hit! Friends then began to order them, then I started to get repeat orders. Then people who had received one as a gift started to order them too, either to give as gifts or to complement the ones they had received. It just spiralled.
Since then I have expanded my product range to include chopping boards, notice boards and even hammers. I’m always looking for the next thing. But it’s important to me that I use quality materials and that the items that I produce are the best that they can be. I do not want to be a “Jack of all trades”. I would much rather specialise on a few items and do them really well rather than spread myself too thinly and subsequently have the quality suffer.
What do you love about working for yourself?
I love the freedom of being able to work whichever hours I need to. If my son has an assembly or sports day, I can do some extra hours in the evenings to make up for it although my engraving machine is pretty noisy so I have to time it so that the engraving is done during the day.
My husband also works from home so we are able to have breakfast, lunch and dinner together most days.
Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
Even though my husband also works from home, he is in his office upstairs and I am in my office in our converted garage. I do get a little bit lonely at times and I do miss the office banter!
Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
I might not have named the business after my son as I now have 2 sons and I need to think of something to name after the little one!
What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
Aim high – you will be surprised at what you can achieve if you have a good product that people want.
There are so many free resources online that you can access online which have great hints and tips for business owners, make use of them! They are not only educational, but they are also very inspiring and help to keep your focus.
My current favourites are the blogs and podcasts of Janet Murray which you can find at www.janetmurray.co.uk and I also like Debbie Clarke’s blogs at www.debbiedooodah.co.uk
As I said at the beginning Rebecca is very kindly giving away a beautiful 7×5 photo frame (which you can have personalised with your own handwriting on the front if you wish) to one of my very lucky readers. All you need to do to enter is complete the Rafflecopter below. The winner will be notified by email on the 5th September 2017. Good luck x
142 Comments
Love the egg and soldiers board xxxx
I absolutely love the childrens handwriting Photo Frames 🙂 …. they are such a fab idea! how lovely to capture a memory/period of your childs life like that and to be able to keep it forever xxx
I really love the personalised chopping boards. They would make such a wonderful gift.
I love the notice boards. Look really solid and like they’d last well.
I love the doube photo frame. Perfect for my Mum to put her first 2 grandchildren photos in. One is 8 weeks old the other (mine) is due in 6 weeks
The triple photo frame – I can display even more memories 🙂
I love the egg and soldier board as you’re never too old for a boiled egg and soldiers x
Childrens handwriting chopping board is my favourite. I think it is a brilliant idea, i just love it!
I love the photo frames with your child’s handwriting on. My little boy’s just starting to write so it would be great to have a record of his early efforts.
I really love the personalised chopping boards. They would make such a wonderful gift.
What a really clever idea. My fave is the handwritten chopping boards as I’d be looking at it every day making up those packed lunches for work and school 🙂
Children’s handwriting chopping board is wonderful xxx
I like the double photo frame.
The egg and soldier board, makes breakfast fun
I love the Triple photo frame, what lovely products!
The noticeboard, we have lots of pieces of paper and bits just in a drawer and so would be very useful and the handwriting would make it so super personal
I love the children’s handwriting products – precious. 🙂
I love the triple photo frames as I have 3 children so could put one in each
Love the photo frames with own handwriting, perfect for a gift
I really like the triple personalised photo frames! They look gorgeous
Love the photo frames with own handwriting on! Such a lovely personal idea!
I love the notice board
I like the double photo frame!
Notice Boards, I am crazy about notes!
NOTICE BOARD IS GREAT
The egg and soldiers board is my favourite, how cute and unique, the kids would love it.
another vote for the notice board – would come in super handy to help us stay organised.
I really like the Engraved Hammer, the children would love to get Grandad this
childrens handwriting frames, so lovely
the notice boards are so lovely 🙂
I love the notice board as hubby has to live away from home during the week and this would be perfect to remind him how much we love and miss him
I love the Egg and Soldiers Board, it’s so unique.
The chopping boards are fab
The photo frames are lovely
I love the notice boards as they are so different and unique.
NOTICE BOARD
The notice board would look good in my new kitchen,
https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/chopping-boards very practical
I love the photo frames.. will definitely be ordering from you in the near future x
The notice boards are good. We like pinning up leaflets and places we want to visit.
I adore the chopping boards
Im a massive fan of the Engraved Hammers – what a fan DIY gift!
the notice boards, wonderful
the chopping boards are my favourite! I love them ?
Egg and soldiers board! Because it is really unusual and cute
love the eggs and soldiers board its genius and we eat them all the time so would be lovely
My favourite item has to be the egg & soldiers board as honestly i’ve never seen something like this before and i know the children would love this too.
I love the notice board
Egg and Soldiers board
love the chopping boards, what a great gift!
Love the personalized chopping board as it makes something that you use everyday special
https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/chopping-boards
A photo frame with a child’s handwriting would be my favourite. So unique and sentimental, something to treasure.
i really love the large notice boards, they are great in the kitchen to put reminders on!
I love the notice board 🙂
I love the egg soliders board! Never seen anything like it before, it’s great.
I like the notice boards best. So simple and beautiful
Love the notice board!
I like the egg and soldiers board as it would be fun when my nieces visit.
I love the egg and soldiers board its so lovely and unique
engraved hammers….are just awesome
I love the notice board – it would help me organise myself and not forget things.
Loving the double persomalised photo frames!
I love the childrens handwriting products. Such a lovely keepsake x
Love the egg and soliders chopping board so quirky
I love the notice board. Definitely something I need to be buying 🙂
I love the notice board, really unique gift idea.
I love the Children’s handwritten chopping boards. This would make a lovely Father’s Day present with our daughter’s writing on it.
Love the engraved hammers….awesome!
The frames are lovely:)
I like the notice board.
I love the Single Photo Frames – such simple designs – don’t detract from the photos
The chopping board with the children’s handwriting because it’s personal and the boards are beautiful
Love the chopping boards
I love the notice board. However, all the products are beautiful.
The chopping boards because I would use them every day.
Love the personalised chopping boards
I like the notice boards, look great and will be used everyday.
I love the photo frames, they’re so personal!
Really like the Notice board. Currently doing up the hallway in my house and I think this would make a great addition to the house…..once it gets finished…..its taking a very very long time.
https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/single-photo-frames
This frame!
The childrens handwriting writing frame, just a beautiful touch
Lots of wonderful unique gift ideas and my favourite are the personalised chopping boards they would look great.
Fab gift ideas here. Keep up the hard work. Lovely.
The chopping boards. They look solid and durable.
I love the children’s handwriting photo frames, so cute and heart warming!
I love the wooden photo frames and it’s so nice to have them engraved which makes them great gifts which are more personal and thoughtful
i love the notice boards very different to usual ones
I love the childrens handwriting photo frames, something different that can be kept forever x
https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/triple-photo-frames cos I am a sucker for things with my kids hand writing on.
I love the chopping boards, they are so adorable!!
The children’s handwriting products
the personailised shopping boards can never have enough lol
Love the childrens handwriting frames they are such an amazing gift for someone x
I love the the childrens handwriting chopping boards, would make the perfect present for the grandparents. Lovely memento of their handwriting.
I like the notice board the best!
I love the chopping boards as need a new one
i love the chopping boards personalised with childrens handwriting <3
Chopping board because it’s useful.
The egg and soldiers board is cute.
https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/chopping-boards
Love the chopping boards would love to win them for my Mom
Like the chopping boards – they look nice and sturdy x
i absolutely love the personalised frames i would love one to put the pic of me and my kids in it
SINGLE PHOTO FRAMES – Simple and elegant.
Would love a large notice board to stick all our appointments and important memory notes on as I can be forgetful!!
Love the Notice Board. Will definitely use it and it will be helpful.
I love the chopping boards. We use our chopping board every day & to have a personalised one would just make me smile every time I bought it out to use.
CHOPPING BOARD so I could put leave alone on it
I love the chopping boards with a child’s writing, they are such a lovely thing to own.
I absolutely love the childrens handwriting products!! It is so personal and perfect x
I love the personalised double photo frame!
The photo frames as I cash put a nice family pic in it x
I love the childrens handwriting photo frames <3
The photo frames are lovely
The single photo frames although simple are great for a variety of uses, as they offer five different sizes.
I love the children’s handwriting products
I absolutely love the photo frames; the quality and the personalisation make them a wonderful gift x
I love the chopping boards, perfect gift for my parents
The chopping boards with the children’s writing on are really sweet
I like the photo frames – simple but always useful!
I love the large personalised chopping board Rebecca did for my husband at Christmas.
I love the chopping boards they’ve brilliant presents!
Love the double photo frames – perfect for my 2 boys! x
would love the triple photo frame
NOTICE BOARD – It would say – Hawkes – Ledger – Fitzpatrick Family at the top – We would keep all our special and important things on it 🙂
My favourite is the photo frames where you can get your childrens handwriting engraved, what a lovely idea.
I love the double frames would be great to use these for baby scans too!
Love the engraved notice boards as they are useful yet gorgeous
I like the double photo frame. It would make a lovely gift.
i love Triple Photo Frames as id put my 3 most important people in them my 4 month old jacob my fiance and my mum
I like the double photo frame, because I could have a photo of each of my sons in it with their names at the top
Really love the Notice Board, it’s great way to pin up all your inspirational cuttings or family bits and bobs, plus it makes a great present too x
Personalised chopping board, would be a nice practical gift for my fiancé.
I love the notice boards, would be great for a family with lots of stuff going on like school slips and party invites. https://www.hugosworkshop.co.uk/shop/details/notice-board
I love the noticeboard, a great present idea.
The photo frames to put pictures of my kids in
I love the double photo frames – a lovely idea for pictures of the children x
love the personalised chopping boards
i like the Chopping Boards
I love the personalised chopping boards – lovely for a gift idea for a family member x
The egg and soldiers board is brilliant!
I live the children’s handwriting products! They’re a lovely way to remember something so special
Live the personalised children’s handwritten chopping boards
A beautiful selection of gifts