The very lovely Danielle from Ella Bella Scarves is on the blog this morning, she’s here to tell us all about herself and her business so please make her feel welcome.
You can also find Danielle on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
At the end of the post you’ll find a lovely give-away too xx
Who are you?
I’m Danielle, a wife and mum of one three year old daughter. I work 4 days a week as a software tester as well as run Ella Bella Scarves.
What do you do?
I handpick beautiful, fashionable, fun and funky scarves which I love and sell them through my online shop www.ellabellascarves.com It’s more than just selling scarves for me though; I have built up a real relationship with my customer base through my Facebook page www.facebook.com/ellabellascarves which I love. I thrive on delivering first-class customer service and ensuring my customers are delighted with their scarves!
When did you establish your business?
October 2013
What made you start your own business?
I had returned to work after maternity leave, and was struggling. I suffered PND and realised that as much as I loved being a wife and mummy, as well as being back at work, there was little “Danielle” left over at the end of each day. I realised I needed to create a space in my life that was all mine, to remind myself that I was still a person in my own right!
I was inspired by a fellow mum-preneur friend who ran her own online business selling jewellery. She fitted it around being a SAHM and had a real passion for it. “Id like me some of that!” I thought! I have always been a scarf-o-holic, so I tentatively set up my Facebook page, bought a few scarves and put myself out there… and I sold out immediately! I was so warmly received, and continue to have a really close relationship with my customers – I am always willing to help and enjoy sharing little snippets of my life with them via my Facebook page.
I have found that space in my life I needed – I am so passionate about Ella Bella Scarves!
What do you love about working for yourself?
I can fit Ella Bella Scarves around me and my life. My family always come first, and running my own business means I can fit it around my other priorities.
I love that I am constantly learning and stretching myself. I am also able to really let my creativity loose and enjoy coming up with new promotions or campaigns or styles – Ive even done a few video tutorials! I’m not someone who likes myself in photos, and I’ve had to conquer that to be able to photograph and video myself in my scarves!
Is there anything you do not like about working for yourself?
When something goes wrong – and it does! – it upsets you so much more because it’s your baby. My husband would say that he dislikes the fact that I never switch myself off from Ella Bella Scarves – I’m always thinking about it, checking in on my page, looking at new designs, thinking of new directions – at all times of the day and night!
Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?
No – because it’s all been part of a journey, and I’ve learned so much. The lessons I’ve learned along the way (and continue to learn!) have bought me to where I am now, and I think make me offer an even better service and drive me forward.
What advice would you give to a Mum considering starting her own business?
Be passionate, and be brave. You have to take a leap of faith sometimes, and push yourself out of your comfort zone a little to take you to where you want to be. Also, try to be disciplined about the time you spend on your business, set aside set times perhaps and always remember to keep family #1!
Danielle is kindly giving away one of her scarves to one of my lucky readers! The winner can choose a scarf of their choose (subject to availability) all you need to do is complete the rafflecopter below 🙂
Good luck xxx
173 Comments
neon butterflies one 🙂
Love the black scarf with the roses – it would match my new floral DMs so well!
So many gorgeous scarves to choose from but my favourite is Beautiful Bugs. I love the colours 🙂
The Owls one is my favourite – http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/owls-in-love
I’d like the Pink Chevron
really difficult to choose but I think my favourite it ‘Lillies’
I love them all, but especially the Pastel Dragonflies Grey.
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/pastel-dragonflies-grey
it has to be the grey cats scarf as I have three of my own little darlings
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/grey-cats
Thank you!
Toadstools (but it says sold out 🙁 so I would choose Beautiful Bugs instead
They’re all lovely but I would choose the red Mini Owls one, thankyou http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/mini-owls
It’s a hard choice, but I’d choose the pink chevron.
This is lovely http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/spring-swallows
wow there so many nice ones i love the diamonte skull one or the blue skull one though 🙂 X
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/lillies
I love the penguins!
Tough one! I love the bug one, all the skulls but would probably go for the starburst grey
This one is gorgeous! I love all things green 🙂 http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/spring-swallows
birds on a wire
The bug/beetle scarf is gorgeous! They are all very pretty x
I love the navy scarf with the swallows
I love the Sketched Birds scarf <3 so pretty!
I would choose: http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/navy-swallows
I adore Spring Swallows x
Blossom and Birds
I love the Cute Foxes one 🙂
Toadstools
I love the pink chevron & we call our daughter Ella Bella!!
Summer sequins is fab. That would make even a vest a shorts look glam! Love it.
grey cats for my wife
Either Grey and pink stars, or birds on a wire
I love the Pretty Peonies scarf! great job. x
Birds on a wire x
I like the Navy swallows and the Umberella’s
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/sketched-birds
love the rose one its my favourite BUT they are all nice designs i would consider
I would choose Blossom and Birds.
Love this one or the mushroom one they are all so pretty – http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/starburst-grey
Summer sequins is lovely
Simply lovely pink
Love Abstract Leaves http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/abstract-leaves1
I’d choose the Umbrellas scarf.
I would choose Spring Swallows
I’m really liking the simply lovely dusky pink 🙂
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/spring-swallows …it is a lovely colour 🙂
I love the purple “lilies” scarf …. Gorgeous pattern and colours.
Some beautiful scarves but as an owlaholic I have to say ‘Owls in Love’ is my favourite 🙂
The starburst grey is my favourite; http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/starburst-grey
The scarves are really well priced would love the Candy Skull one
Deer Family
Beautiful bugs
I remember seeing these scarves at a fair in London. So many to choose from!
Birds on a wire
Simply lovely pink
I would choose pretty peonies, it’s lovely.
They are all lovely and Im a sucker for a scarf but if I had to choose I would go with Spring Swallows
I love the pastel dragonflies grey one (rebecca beesley)
Hi Rebecca! I’s so pleased you do! Thanks for entering x
SIMPLY LOVELY DUSKY PINK
Hi Emma! I LOVE this one, in fact I’m wearing it today! 🙂 Thanks for entering x
Summer Sequins http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/summer-sequins
Thanks for entering, Jackie! Summer Sequins is gorgeous! x
love the Diamante Skulls 🙂 http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/diamante-skulls
Hi Jodie oooh it’s a really cool scarf that one! Good luck and thanks for entering! x
Birds on a wire I think, but they all look great!
Good choice, Sarah, I have one of those 🙂 Thanks for entering! x
the gorgeous umbrellas design
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/umbrellas
Tammy I have that one too! 🙂 I wear it when it rains, so that’s a lot at the moment!! Thanks for entering x
The Umbrellas one is beautiful!
Hannah as Ive just replied to Tammy, I wear my Umbrellas scarf all the time at the moment! 🙂 Thanks for entering x
I would choose this black scarf
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/crinkled-black
Oooh a very classy choice Kat! Thanks for entering and good luck! x
Love the pastel dragonflies
Good luck Jackie and thanks for entering! x
Loving the chevron scarf. It would go with a vast amount of my wardrobe.
The chevron has been so popular! Good luck and thanks for entering! x
Bicycles! http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/bicycles
A great choice 🙂 thanks for entering and good luck x
ooh the purple crinkle
Michelle I love this simple purple scarf – great choice! Thanks for entering x
love the perky penguins
Lorraine that has been such a popular one, it’s so cheerful! 🙂 Thanks for entering x
Owls in love is gorgeous
Kim good luck and thanks for entering! x
PERKY PENGUINS great fun
Good luck Jill and thanks for entering! x
I love the Owls in Love
It is lovely Val – good luck! x
Deer family is lovely.
That’s one of my newest Suzanne! Thanks for entering x
I love them all… Really like the neon butterflies, but my absolute favourite (cute design, and good versatile colour way) is the deer family… http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/deer-family
That’s one of my newest designs Jessica! Good luck and thanks for entering x
The Umbrella scarf is my favourite xx
Debbie I am wearing my Umbrellas scarf a lot at the moment with all this rain! Good luck and thanks for entering! x
I know my Daughter would love purple crinkle
Aw that’s so sweet, good luck Anthony and thanks for entering! x
cute foxes 🙂
Winnie that’s a really popular one! Thanks for entering x
So many lovely designs I haven’t seen before but I would choose the Deer Family.
Caroline that is one of my newest designs! Thanks for entering x
I love the one with dragonflies
Thanks for entering Jennifer – good luck! x
I adore the diamante skull scarf!!
That is a very lovely scarf Laura – good luck! x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/spring-swallows for my mum 🙂 x
Laura that one is so lovely! I gave one to my sis and she wears it all the time 🙂 Good luck and thanks for entering! x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/summer-sequins. Love sequins.
Barbara – great choice! Good luck! x
French Leaves please
Hi! Thanks for entering and good luck! x
The dragonfly one is lovely!
Good luck Victoria! x
Grey and pink stars
Gemma I love that one 🙂 Thanks for entering and good luck x
Think i’d go for the Grey & Pink Stars 🙂
As I said above, I love that one! Good luck! x
I would have to choose the french leaves scarf – it looks gorgeous x
Lesley – good luck and thanks for entering! x
the lillies
Maureen that’s a really classy one – good luck! x
Owls in Love.
Good luck Heather! x
Spring swallows – Tis gorgeous!
It is Rebecca! 🙂 Good luck! x
Winter Butterflies is lovely
One of my bestsellers, that Susan! Thanks for entering and good luck! x
The Deer Family is my favourite x
Katie that’s one of my newest designs! Thanks for entering and good luck x
I love the simply lovely grey
Oh that’s such a nice one Sam! Good luck! x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/chevron Would love the Chevron one 🙂
Ah that is very popular! Good luck! x
I LOVE the mix of colours on this one http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/french-leaves
Good luck Elaine! x
DIAMANTÉ SKULLS for Mrs.R.
Aww that’s so nice of you! Good luck! x
That was difficult but it would have to be toadstools.
Karen that’s a personal favourite of mine! Good luck! x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/french-leaves
Good luck! x
Hard to choose, they are all so lovely. But i think it would have to be the swallow one 🙂
Kris – great choice! 🙂 good luck x
I really like the Abstract Leaves – beautiful!
Aw thanks Donna! Good luck! x
penguins
Good luck Kathryn! x
the lillies one – beautiful!
Ashleigh – thanks for entering and good luck! x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/simply-lovely-grey
Good luck Clair and thanks for entering! x
New neon butterflies, its lovely
Nicola thanks for entering! Good luck 🙂 x
SPRING SWALLOWS
A great choice Gillian! Good luck! x
I love the cute foxes scarf 🙂
It’s a very popular one 🙂 Good luck! x
I love Pretty peonies great scarfs lovely designs!
Aw thanks Hazel! Good luck, thanks for entering! x
Pastel Dragonflies Grey or Navy Swallows – lovely & such good value too!
Aw thanks Marissa! Good luck 🙂 x
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/spring-swallows I love this one! 🙂 X
Hazel great choice! Good luck 🙂 x
Lovely scarves, but love the New Neon Butterflies
They re all lovely but I would go for perky penguins.
So difficult to choose,there are a few I like! I would pick the Deer Family I think.
These are all so lovely, my favourite is the BEAUTIFUL BUGS.
Beautiful bugs
Dear family. Really good price for a nice scarf
I would choose the perky penguins one as a gift for my lovely mum!
http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/perky-penguins
I think my wife would like the Swallows one!
I would Liam! 🙂 clever thing xx
lve the chevron xx
OMG How can I choose because there are so many designs I would choose! But I think I might go for the grey cats as I love cats! http://www.ellabellascarves.bigcartel.com/product/grey-cats Thank you!
Wow lovely scarfs I love the bug one (can you tell I’ve got a little boy!)