Mumpreneur Feature – Libby Thomas

The lovely Libby from Minimoki is on my blog today to tell you about herself and her brilliant business! She also has a fab give-away fro you 🙂Who are you?
Libby Thomas, mum to a 2.5 year old daughter and founder of www.minimoki.com – a website selling everything expectant parents could possibly need for labour. Also a fan of ice-cold white wine, vintage furniture, new dresses and to do lists.

What do you do?
When I was pregnant, my partner and I found ourselves trawling up and down the high street for hospital bag essentials. And I was walking for two. That’s when minimoki.com was born. We sell a selection of ready-made bundles (ranging from absolutely everything you could need for the big push in a beautiful bag to a labour-friendly food parcel) plus individual maternity and newborn products.

When did you establish your business?

We started thinking about minimoki in 2010, did a soft launch in 2011 and set our new website live in 2012. At the moment we’re just trying to sort out our SEO, PPC and various other marketing acronyms. And to sell stuff!

What made you start your own business?
I found it really tough going back to my job working in advertising for a large corporate company after maternity leave. Although they were a brilliant company to work for, I was really missing my daughter (I burst in to tears in two internal meetings, cringe) and the freedom of being off work! I started wondering whether that gap in the market I’d discovered when I was pregnant could be turned in to an actual business and give me the flexibility I was craving. Ta da!

What do you love about working for yourself?
The flexibility. The amazement of selling something. Being able to have a nap in the middle of the morning. Independence. Picking up my daughter early from nursery and taking her to the swings. Being creative. The joy of positive feedback, providing a service and being successful.

Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
Like all working mums, I find it stressful juggling business demands with being a good mum and partner and I have days where I feel like I’m being useless at all of it, but generally I flipping love working for myself and I think I’m a bit more confident and proud than if I hadn’t tried.

Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
I’d be more assertive with cowboy suppliers. I’d use social media to do more market research (there are lots of brilliant bloggers, facebookers and tweeters out there more than willing to review your offering). I wouldn’t waste energy on wondering whether this was going to work, and just go for it!

What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
I’ve learnt that I can’t do everything. Handing over total control of the kitchen to my wannabe chef partner was a brilliant move as it freed up the evening for me to work on minimoki (and meant nicer dinners all round). Hiring a decent accountant and web developer also allowed me to concentrate on building up my stock and brand and get the business launched. I found having a really thorough business plan with timelines and very detailed costings was essential to keep my focus. Lots of luck!

Libby would also like to giveaway one of her ‘Sooth-me Labour trio’ sets to one of my lucky readers. To enter just complete the rafflecopter below 🙂

Soothe -me Labour Trio £16.50

a Rafflecopter giveaway