- Tell us a little about your business
My mission with Planet Tots is to help parents build a bright future for their little ones. Whether it be supporting your child’s development or helping look after their environment Planet Tots is the one stop shop for products, services, information and advice.
- What was your job before starting your business?
I’ve always known I’d start my own business I was just looking for the right idea so I deliberately chose jobs which would give me the right skill set for running my business. I started as a management consultant for 5 years. I then studied for my management accountancy qualification and moved into corporate finance.
- How did you go from your old career to your new business?
I started my business when I did because I had been inspired by my first child. I wanted to show my son that he should never be afraid to follow his dreams and as owning my own business had always been my dream I decided to lead by example! I found the corporate finance world just didn’t sit well with having a young family. I wanted more control and flexibility over my spread of work and family time. There are easier ways to make money than starting your own business from scratch but I knew in the long run it would be best for me and for my family.
- What were your reasons for starting a business?
My children are the inspiration for my business. As a parent I found I always worry about how I’m feeding them (are they getting the right nutrition); am I doing all I can to support their learning and help them reach their developmental milestones; am I caring for them in the best way and minimising their exposure to nasty chemicals and looking after the environment they’ll inherit. That’s why I decided to set up a one stop shop to answer all of those areas that concern parents. That’s why Planet Tots covers Feeding, Caring and Learning.
- Did you use any childcare?
I started my business with a 5 month old and a 2 year old. I found it very tough at first balancing childcare of an infant, a toddler and a start-up business. My husband has recently given up his job to help support me with the childcare and the business and it’s helped a lot, but it’s still a balancing act that we never get quite right!
- What were your challenges and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge is finding enough hours in the day to get everything done! The to do list is endless and the more successful you are the longer it gets! I can’t wait until Planet Tots is big enough for me to start hiring professionals to dedicate to things like PR and content management!
- If you could give one piece of advice to a mum of a baby or toddler starting a business, what would it be?
My piece of advice to a mum starting out in the world of business would be research your idea thoroughly to make sure you have a very clear picture of your value proposition. Then go for it and stick to your values.
For more, please visit planettots.com