Mums the Business: Robyn Hatley's Blog for Mums Working from Home, Mumpreneurs and Home Business; Inspirational Stories, Business Tips and Resources from Robyn Hatley, the Business Coach for Mumpreneurs

Back to School? Now back to Business....

Like me, I know many of you have little ones that have returned to Nursery or School over the past few days... So I'll keep this short & sweet!  Whether you are thinking of starting a business, have just taken the plunge or are a good few months into it, I'm quite sure you'll find this inspiring at the beginning of an exciting 2008!

There's a quote I am going to share with you that you may have heard before, but even if you have, I've read it many times and think it is just as powerful each time.

It's a quote written by Marianne Williamson in her book A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles.  (It is often incorrectly credited to Nelson Mandela).

Robyn Interviews... Lisa Houghton & Tracey Park - Talking Tots

Names: Lisa Houghton and Tracey Park

Business: Talking Tots

Business Website Address: Talking Tots

What do you do?

Talking Tots offers interactive & fun sessions to help pre school children develop: social confidence, listening and attention skills, sharing and turn taking skills, semantic knowledge (word meaning), narrative ability (storytelling), phonological awareness (to aid literacy).

What inspired you to set up your own business?

For several years we had been noticing a decline in the social & communication skills of the general pre-school population.  There are many pre-school classes that focus on music, movement, dance or messy play – there are NO other classes that focus on one of the most important, complex skills that we ever learn... communication.

We are both paediatric Speech & Language Therapists, with over 30 years experience between us, so it made sense for us to start classes.  The first classes that we started became so popular that we realised that we had something that parents wanted and that no other pre-school groups were offering.  So we’ve decided to now launch Talking Tots throughout the UK...

How old were your children when your business launched?

Lisa - 2 girls ( 7 & 4)  Tracey 3 girls ( 20, 16 & 7)

What was the most difficult aspect of starting up your home business?

Robyn Interviews... Dionne Graham - Beautiful Possibilities

Want to be inspired?  Then read on to hear the story of our latest mumpreneur, Dionne Graham.

Name: Dionne Graham

Business: Beautiful Possibilities

Business telephone number:  0777 1910167

What do you do? 

Host “Spa Cafes” either in groups at lovely venues or at clients home. I educate about skin care & make up application.  The group chooses an indulgent menu and we go through it from starters to main course!
And I also train other women (often mothers or women who always wanted to be in the beauty industry) to host their own events and create another income stream.

What inspired you to set up your own business?

I always wanted to and knew I would! I had beauty salons but when I had my third baby after a 10 yr gap I knew I didn’t want to go back to those long hours so explored taking an element of what I already knew how to do but without the overheads. 

How old were your children when your business launched?

I started my first business with no children, then had two 19months apart only 1yr 10 months after starting! I kept that going for 13yrs then recently started again Aug 07.

What was the most difficult aspect of starting up your home business?

Robyn Interviews... Liz Scott - Imagetastic

I recently caught up with Liz Scott to get the low-down on her Image Consultancy business, Imagetastic.

Name: Liz Scott

Business: Imagetastic

Business web address: www.imagetastic.co.uk

E-mail address: enquiries@imagetastic.co.uk

What do you do?     

I’m a Colour me Beautiful accredited Image Consultant who is passionate about helping others look and feel their best in the clothes they wear.

What inspired you to set up your own business?

I wanted a career where I felt fulfilled, but could also balance it with my family life.

How old were your children when your business launched?

One child, a daughter then aged 18 months.

What was the most difficult aspect of starting up your home business?