PARENTS INSPIRING, EDUCATING AND CELEBRATING GRASSROOTS BUSINESSES
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Business.
SPRING-SUMMER 2023
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Also inside
Baby Whispers
Are You Allocating Enough Time for Your Mental Health? Innovation, Passion, and Perseverance: The Inspiring Journey of Sharesy Thriving As a Working Parent with Long-Term, Chronic Illness
Dani and Chris McFadden, the husband and wife team behind a global movement to improve family sleep.
Are you sitting comfortaly – see our top tips for working from home
Money talk – What is a finance function?
E D I T O R I AL M E S SAG E
Welcome to our Spring/Summer Issue
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SPRING/SUMMER 2023
ello there! Are you ready to delve into a world of business tips and small business success stories? Well, you’re in the right place! Our revamped magazine is back and better than ever, with even more fantastic content to help you on your business journey. In this issue, we’re excited to bring you a variety of practical tips and insightful interviews. Parental Coach Sandra Trew shares her valuable experience on how to teach children about money. We also share our 10-minute self-care habits that can make a big difference. If you’re struggling with parent guilt (who isn’t?), we’ve got you covered on page 23. But that’s not all – we’ve also shone the spotlight on small businesses like CRESS and heard from incredible founders like Maggie Bolger, who’s changing the game in childhood development. Not to mention, we’ve got amazing success stories from entrepreneurs like Felix Atkin, who candidly shares his journey in the startup world. And let’s not forget about our inspiring interviews with the likes of Jeanette Sklivonou, who built a family business from scratch during tough economic times, and Ruth Wrigley, a TV producer with a 30-year career full of celebrated productions. And don’t miss Rob Stone’s story – he went from selling his belongings at car boot sales to building a £14 million turnover empire in just 7 years, all while raising 9 children! Last but not least, we spoke with power couple Dani and Chris McFadden. They’re leading a global movement to improve family sleep and have a wealth of knowledge to share. So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy this issue – we guarantee it’ll be worth your while! Happy reading! Bridget Daley Editior and Founder
23 r 20 e b em Dec h t 4 ut ting ter o Educa n i & n/W tum brating u A le IT 3 ISS ring, Ce M T i sp ON’ n I D PS Contact me at: bridget@parentsinbiz.co.uk
co nt ri bu to rs . FELIX ATKIN FOUNDER OF SHARESY Felix is an entrepreneur, commercial strategist and partnerships executive with a passion for ethical and social causes. Over 18 years, he has launched new products & services for businesses ranging from multinationals to startups, including BT Infinity, innovation partnerships for PlayStation with Netflix, Amazon and Sky and start-up partnerships with Tesco and Walmart. Felix founded Sharesy to use ‘tech for good’ to impact communities across the UK. www.sharesy.com
MAGGIE BOLGER CEO & FOUNDER OF B_TOGETHER Maggie Bolger is a successful entrepreneur. Over the last decade, she has acted as an innovator in the childhood industry and challenged parenting and adolescent development issues in modern society. Maggie is currently CEO & Founder of b_together, a family member’s club with sites in London and Singapore. www.b-together.com
SHONA CHAMBERS MARKETING CONSULTANT Shona Chambers is a Marketing Consultant and owner of Shona Chambers Marketing, a Marketing Agency based in Nunhead near Peckham. Specialising in helping Small Business Owners and Freelancers with their Marketing.* www.shonachambersmarketing.co.uk
Meet the people who have taken part in the creation of this issue Our trusted panel of contributors give you essential advice on everything from PR to wellbeing and finance.
DR. ESTHER COLE FOUNDER & CLINICAL DIRECTOR Esther is the Founder & Clinical Director of Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice®, Prestige Award Specialist Therapy Provider of the Year, 2022. She works as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in London, UK, and internationally online with all ages: adults, children and families. She is a mother of three children under 10; and the first Black British Psychological Society Early Career Award winner for her role in initiating and co-editing: ‘Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury’ (Routledge). www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk
CATRIONA HARRISON-HARVEY SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Catriona is a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist with over 20 years experience. She specialises in disorders of sensory processing and completed in-depth training to become an Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. A mother of three, including twins, one of her children has sensory processing difficulties and ADHD, so she can empathise with parents navigating the path of special educational needs. www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk
*Photo credit Portrayed Photography
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PARENTS IN BUSINESS
F I NA N C E
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ou’re not alone – in today’s modern economy, knowledge of personal finance is essential as they start their lives and careers. But fear not - there are certain methods and strategies you can implement that will provide invaluable skills in managing money throughout each stage of your child’s life cycles. In this article, I will examine the importance of learning basic money management guidelines early on and offer insightful ideas on how to impart simple lessons with great impact in order for you to unlock the key to teaching your children about finances! When we talk about children and finance, exactly what do we mean? I was raised in the Windrush generation, where money was not spoken about within my household. Certainly not to children. So how do we learn about money? How do we learn how to respect and value money as children, let alone adults? Not sure what school, college or university you went to, but where I went, you learnt nothing like that. You did your basic subjects, you left school and see ya. I was never spoken to about money. How to spend, how to save, how to invest and how to give back. All I did was spend until debt started to mount up, so what do you do? Spend some more.
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Some of us, as adults, were never taught anything about money, so spending became a habit. In the society and environment that we are in now, what the children are seeing is tap tap tap with our cards. Children are not understanding we have to WORK to EARN that money which then goes into a bank account in which we can now tap tap tap. To empower the next generation with more financial literacy than past generations, it’s essential to make a shift in how we think and behave when regarding money. Let me explain... If a child sees you spending (even though you could still be saving secretly), the child will grow up thinking if they want something, they just tap tap tap. If money is a taboo conversation in your household, chances are your child will not have the full concept of how money works. Another thing I often see and, sure enough, have experienced it myself is emotional spending. When you are sad and want to cheer yourself up, down to the off-license you go, or here comes a new dress or suit because you think you deserve it, a relationship breakup, so now it’s out every weekend. These are emotional triggers to money as you don’t want to feel sad anymore, so you cheer yourself up by doing things to make yourself feel better. PARENTS IN BUSINESS
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body can take a toll on your well-being, causing you to fall short of your parenting and business goals. The good news is that self-care does not have to be time-consuming; we will share ten 10-minute self-care habits that can help you be a better parent and business owner.
children to pursue are days when work and family life of your life may temporarily see slightly their passions and are chaos. Children and staff might be less of you. off sick, to and there may be pandemics In my experience, the first few years find pathways or teacher strike days. This is where of running a business are the hardest, success.” I remind myself of the importance of and the demands on my time have
am Maggie Bolger, a working parent of four and a highly successful entrepreneur. Over the past decade, I have been an innovator in the childhood industry, challenging issues of parenting and adolescent continued even when my businesses development in modern society. After became more established. The juggle the huge success of co-founding is real, no matter what stage you’re at. and serving as the CEO and Creative How I spend my time has become the Director of members’ club, Maggie and most important lesson for me and has Rose, I have now set a new benchmark helped in getting that balance right. and opened my own exciting venture, Before I had children, I could spend b_together, which launched in 2021. hours working on creative projects, but Drawing on my years of experience now, that’s not an option. So, I work and success, I have created b_together smarter and more efficiently. I also to offer a broader range of services ensure that the way I spend time with to families across the capital and my children feels like quality time. Even beyond. My new mission is to create a if it’s only twenty minutes, they get my community hub that is welcoming and undivided attention. When I need to fully accessible to all, targeting ages from switch into work mode, they understand, we don’t have money for trainers right now Unfortunately, this is not what we want to be pre-school to adults. and I feel less of that “Mum guilt.” buthow home in on their skillset. are their teaching our children. We are role for parent, our Asmodels a working I know Of course, lifeWhat is messy, and things interests/hobbies? just the child’s, yours too. There children. They are looking andchallenging watching all it the can time. be to balance work don’tNot always fit into a neat little box. can you make additional legal income? What Even when we think they are not are juggleHow life watching, and home they life. The is real, are your watching and listening. and it can be even more intense whenstrengths? What do people need that you canisoffer them that they are willing to buy? There are you work for yourself, as there apps now for children (Go Henry is a good one) where Changing mindsets no “clocking off” time, and the lines they can spend money, save money, invest money and So how can we change our mindsets to work help prepare between and family can even pay taxes! So you put some money into their our children and get them on the rightblurred. pathway? We become However, account, and they are fully responsible, but you can first must change the way we think money. We I haveabout managed to find balance also see their decisions. This is a good tool to then don’t buy everything we want.some Buy things webetween need. the two hope open conversations. Wants can come later. Have a plan, setand goals, andtohave share someinofx my It’s important that we encourage our children a vision board of where you see yourself number knowledge withreview you. to pursue their passions and find pathways to of years. Start writing down these goals and I believe it’s success. While traditional education may not be for them regularly. Open different accounts and spread essential to recognise everyone, finding alternative solutions can lead to a your money around so you know you have a budget the stagebooks you’retoat, for personal spending. Read financial get you life of fulfilment - both personally and financially. whether it’stowith As parents, we must be proactive in teaching our in the right mindset about money. Stick the plan/ the business or the children the importance of money and equip them goals as best you can. If you fall off the wagon, it’s o.k. baby. Both require a with tools that will set them up for financial success. We all do. Just as long as you jump straight back on, significant amount By encouraging their entrepreneurial mindset, we you will be o.k. of time and energy in can open new doors to an unknown future; one where Now once you have these things in place, educate the early days, which they are empowered by knowledge and equipped for your child about money. Be transparent with your is the inescapable truth. any path life brings their way. Let’s work together to child so they learn to trust you. If you have lots of I suggest that you accept ensure a brighter tomorrow is within reach! ■ £000000 at the end of the number in your savings that your time will not be your account, explain to them it’s not the trainers’but trust own in latest the beginning, money; it’s your future, maybeme, a deposit for a house it will be worth it. Invest the time, or some kind of emergency funds they are with for thewhen acceptance that other aspects Sandra Trew old enough. If you show them your account and it’s Parental Coach Director & Founder £-000000 in the red, in the overdraft, let them know www.getrealparentalcoaching.com
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CLARE MORRIS FOUNDER OF CM RESOURCE Creating, refreshing, or enhancing your business model. Clare shares business growth ideas and strategies for new, developing, and established businesses. She can help you innovate, evolve and love what you do. www.cmresource.co.uk
TESSA POLLARD FINANCE FUNCTION EXPERT AND COACH Tessa is the owner and founder of Neon Consulting, and her passion is to help small business owners break free from their finance fears and build their numbers into an opportunity for discovery. Guiding and supporting businesses on how to approach their day-to dayfinances and how best to utilise their own powerful finance tool to survive and grow. www.neonconsulting.co.uk
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on your priority list. However, neglecting your mind and
10-minute self-care habits that can help you be a better parent and business owner
my children seeing me work hard and understanding that I have interests and passions outside of our family. Being a business owner is all my children have known, and while it comes with some compromise for all of us, I believe it helps to instil a strong work ethic in each of them. They see that there is so much more to life than getting great school grades, and if you work hard, you can work at something you love every single day. ■
Practice mindful breathing - Mindful breathing can help you reduce stress and increase focus. Take a deep breath in, hold for a few seconds, and breathe out slowly. Repeat this technique for 10 minutes in the morning, afternoon, or before bed.
Maggie Bolger CEO & Founder of b_together www.b-together.com
Take a walk - Walking is an easy way to get physical exercise, fresh air, and clear your head. Even a 10-minute walk can do wonders for your mood and energy levels.
Listen to music - Music has a unique ability to influence our moods and emotions. Pick a playlist with your favourite tunes, and take 10 minutes to listen and unwind. Read a book - Reading for pleasure can help you escape the stress of your busy life and stimulate your mind. Find a book that interests you and aim to read for at least 10 minutes a day. PARENTS IN BUSINESS
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Which brings me back t reason for my column.
Take a power nap - A short nap can boost your productivity, creativity, and alertness. Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow yourself to relax and recharge.
IT’S BUSINESS & IT’S PERSONAL
What’s your best busines approach? To give you a quick way o assessing where you are and if there’s any further r or conversation required t grow your business, I’ve o the four most important e in the business building p for you.
Write in a journal Journaling can help you process overwhelming thoughts and emotions,
leading to increased Hello, I’m Clare. The Business Coach for Parents In Business. Yes, self-awareness and stress this is business. But how we feel matters too. Don’t hide – you don’t reduction. Find a quiet grabyou a pendo andneed the will to go after need to be the smartest or place, richest, paper, and write for at what you want. Show you least – the qualities you hide could be just the 10 minutes a day. ones your customers want to see. Stay balanced – finding awe can nurture self-belief and reduce the mental chatter.
Enjoy a cup of tea Drinking tea can be a calming ritual that invites relaxation and mindfulness. Make a cup of your favourite tea, sit down and enjoy your drink mindfully for 10 minutes.
“Walking is an easy way to get physical exercise, fresh air, and clear your head.”
Connect with a loved one your suppliers and customers. most confident, most successful Social connections are Even during growth, you can keep and most happy, whether work, vital toat our well-being. the personal touch, vision and in your business or personally. Reach out to a friend, mission front and centre. Whereas It’s a gentle way of training familyyour member, or brain to experience pleasure a have the partner in and a bigger players may have lost key suppliers, be aggressive in tight spot. Turningmeaningful towards these conversation for 10 minutes. their purchasing and therefore feelings so that they become squeezing their suppliers out of normal, lean into emotions during business, or not showing enough times of anxiety or change. value to their customers. Right now (April 2023), Understanding and supermarkets are trying to acknowledging change and convince smaller growers to join resilience their supply chain, and these A couple of points worthy of smaller, healthier growers should consideration before we dive into WHAT’S YOUR BEST BUSINESS be cautious. These relationships my full article, are the impacts of APPROACH FOR THE SECOND start well (especially when change and the need for resilience HALF OF 2023? the need is high), and then the in business. A loaded question, if ever there finer points of many pages and Change is when your business was one,Practice becausegratitude we are all complicated contracts are used improves, restructures, or different,- Gratitude with varying sets, hasskill been to drop growers or refuse their transforms all or part of its time, and money. linked to increased StretchThis yourcan body product. happiness and well-beoperations. be-a Stretching can help 10 minutes Another issue is the workforce, stressful time. We have recently So how ing. can Take you grow your to relieve muscle tension, reflect on what something we took very much experienced a few years of business and work withyou’re intention improve flexibility, and thankful for and write or transformation for granted that students and with some to produce innovative products promote relaxation. it down in a gratitude overseas workers would be flowing expected and some unexpected services? Take a few minutes to journal. through our country regularly, winners. Honesty and bravery play a big stretch your body and One of the deeply. big wins has been the being able to stay as long as they part. Honesty in sharing the fears, breathe wished to fulfil farm, health, and sustainability of small businesses dreams, and frustrations of going retail positions. Building resilience and how they have become into or expanding your business. here means being a good champions during a global And bravery in expansion and employer, maybe B Corp Certified, pandemic where bigger similar growth that may make you feel Self-care is essential for all who want to be the best version of themselves. with flexible have struggled. out of your depth or unsure you’re By dedicating even 10 minutesbusinesses a day to self-care habits, you can improve your working hours, good and benefits. And this can of thisSo, I attribute making physical, the right decisions. emotional and mental Some well-being. whethertoyou choose pay, to take only be relationships. The smaller a for yourself One mental I like tomindful employ breathing, a walktrick or practice remember that caring is aachieved with good growth and sales. business, better you know is remembering the times felt a good fundamental part you of being parentthe and business owner.
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Envisioning, Assessing, E and Operating The following is a whiz ba through of what should ta hours to cover in enough for you to have the framew a good business model, w your stage or size. But thi great start point and wort considering against the information you already have about you and your business. Be honest. Be brave.
Envisioning This is my very favourite stage of business discove Talking about your motiva strengths, and weaknesse And how these play into y entrepreneurial spirit and you see yourself in 3-5 ye Bringing together your revolutionary business ide company name and vision This stage can often be area of innovation that yo uncertain about. It’s key th gain and show clarity and achieve your desired futur
Assessing Investigating what your b does and how you intend money is the natural follo from understanding your vision. Your opportunity to the market size, customer why they would buy from A SWOT analysis of stren weaknesses, opportunities threats is something I reco
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contributors.
Do you feel uncertain when it comes to teaching your children about money? You may be wishing for a way to help them understand how to make wise financial choices but don’t know where to begin.
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YO U R B U S I N E S S Q U E STI O N S A N SW E R E D
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, self-care can become low
n St
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Unlock the secret to teaching your children about money
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CO M M U N IT Y
o so The Great Juggling Act: How Maggie Bolger important that Masters Both Worlds “It’s we encourage our
TUTU POPOOLA FOUNDER & LEAD CONSULTANT OF SLEEK HR Tutu Popoola is the Founder & Lead Consultant of Sleek HR, an outsourced HR & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultancy for creative businesses in the UK. She is an Accredited Member of HR Independents and Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) www.sleekhr.co.uk
SANDRA TREW PARENTAL COACH DIRECTOR & FOUNDER Sandra Trew is a passionate and experienced professional, having dedicated herself to helping families for the past 30 years. As the founder and CEO of Get Real Parental Coaching, she utilises her extensive knowledge and hard-earned wisdom to empower working parents of young children to create strong, solid relationships with their kids. www.getrealparentalcoaching.com
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I N TE RV I EW
IN
Conversation WITH... 10
I N TE RV I EW
Jeanette
Sklivanou From humble beginnings in the UK, Jeanette Sklivonou has always had an ambitious spirit and been driven to make her mark. When life took her to Greece with two young daughters, she seized the moment - founding Safe ‘N’ Beautiful amidst a difficult economic climate back in 2011. Despite various challenges over time, this family business continues to be successful today, inspiring evidence of Jeanette’s hard work and unwavering determination!
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ell us about your journey. How did you get here? It’s a strange feeling, as if it was only yesterday that we registered our business, unsure if it would succeed, and yet at the same time, as if it happened in a different lifetime! The brand we have today is a curious product of chance and innovation. Before the crisis hit in 2011, we had another family business in real estate, and everything was going smoothly – until it wasn’t. Suddenly the value of the properties we were dealing with dropped dramatically, leaving us out of work and out of income. Around that same time, my daughters were at that age when they started playing around with my makeup, and I noticed that the ingredients were far from child-friendly. And Europe didn’t have alternatives that were safe and sustainable. Putting two and two together, I decided:
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I would start a business making and selling beauty products that are safe for children. At the time, I didn’t know it would take off so well, but I had tremendous faith, perseverance and love for the idea, not to mention that we were all driven since our previous family business was no longer operational. Fast-forward to 2023, and we have a beauty empire on our hands, still true to our core family values and still innovating as much as possible. Perhaps the crisis of 2011 wasn’t what any of us wanted, but it was, apparently, what some of us needed to build something new. What makes you proud? My family, most of all. Starting a business in the middle of economic turmoil in any country and with children to think of is no easy way to live a life, raise kids, build a marriage. The bonds we’ve
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I N CO N V E R S ATI O N W ITH . . .
forged during this time in our family remind me that it was all worth it, all the ups and downs. What’s been your most successful marketing strategy? We’ve done a number of different things over the years that have pushed our products to the forefront of the industry. Since we depended on selling through other retailers at first, we had to use a B2B model at first, turning to trustworthy distributors to get our products in front of the buyers – which was a great success. Add to that, given the amount of noise in the industry, working with celebrities and influencers that share your values is a beautiful way to reach customers directly and, at the same time, grow your brand’s credibility. One of our greatest moments was when Ralph Lauren decided to use Snails products at their Milan show in 2013 – a huge hit we never saw coming! So, perhaps the best marketing you can do is to build a brand people you admire will be happy to endorse even without you having to ask them.
What challenges did you face early on, and how did you overcome them? All of them? Think of a challenge, any challenge at all – we’ve had to cope with it. I didn’t know the first thing about running a business, let alone a beauty brand. I had to learn on the go, master everything from all the key components of branding (how on Earth do you name a business?), find out so much about chemicals in nail polish and what alternatives we can use to create safe products for kids (definitely something you don’t learn in school!), all the way to navigating the murky waters of business relationships. I had to learn how to get in touch with distributors, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and settle on the whole supply chain. I didn’t know how to determine the pricing for our products. We had no idea how to market and advertise. We had to figure out the funding. We had to find qualified
I see the two of them turning into two wonderful human beings and I feel inspired to build and leave them a legacy they will be proud of.” 12
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So, perhaps the best marketing you can do is to build a brand people you admire will be happy to endorse even without you having to ask them.” people to hire for our team after a while – a tremendous challenge. I’m sure I’m forgetting about a hundred additional things, too, but this sums it up nicely. What does a typical day look like for you? There is absolutely nothing typical about any of my days, but that’s what makes my life so wonderful and exciting. As any other mompreneur can confirm, there is never a dull moment when you have kids and a business to attend to! Slow days are a rarity, but my responsibilities do vary a lot. I spend a lot of time responding to emails and communicating with my core team, but I am also very involved with our network of distributors and partners. Always on the front lines. Sometimes I need to resolve an inventory mishap with a supplier that takes hours, but then I go home early to spend quality time with my lovely daughters and husband. Sometimes, nothing big happens, and I can focus on writing, thinking up new product ideas, and planning for the future. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I don’t have too many hobbies, but I do love reading, even though that is more likely to happen in short sprints given my lifestyle and spending time with my daughters – they’re growing up so fast; I feel thankful for every activity we get to share and every adventure we go on as a team.
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Who or what inspires you? Every roadblock I’ve ever encountered has become a huge source of inspiration and motivation for me – I’ve done my best to harness the power of those challenges to grow and ditch my comfort zone. As for people, I’d have to say my daughters inspire me more than I could have ever imagined possible. They are the reason Snails exist, as I wanted a safer world for them to play in and explore. Every decision we’ve made over the years was defined by answering the question: “What would be the best, healthiest option for my own daughters? What would they be happy with?” I see the two of them turning into two wonderful human beings, and I feel inspired to build and leave them a legacy they will be proud of. ■
Jeanette Sklivanou www.safe-nails.com www.naileditbook.com
Find Jeanette’s book at all the major book outlets
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S M A L L B U S I N E S S S P O TL I G HT
Sustainable From outgrown to thrown out, turning children’s clothes into a reselling business that gives back to the community. We talk to Carl Morris, Co-Founder of CRESS. What inspired you to start your business? Whilst shopping for my father’s funeral, I went to high street shops to get my children, then 1 and 3, some formal wear. I bought two outfits, dressing them from head to toe which cost over £150. These outfits were worn for one day, they got muddy halfway through the day as the children were playing outside (shoes scuffed etc.) and within 3 months, they no longer fit. These clothes were also made in Turkey and China. I felt a financial and environmental weight that this is how we are shopping for children’s clothes, and it isn’t right. We did some research and were shocked at how much children’s clothing, barely worn, ends up in a landfill. With the current economic climate, we wanted to create a platform for parents and carers to buy, shop and swap children’s clothing. We created Cress with the aim of extending the life of children’s clothing, enabling families to save and make money and shop sustainably and to create a community. The principles of Cress. The non-negotiables that guide our strategy for growth, our communication, and our commitment to our community. Pioneering change Our aim is to make pre-loved aspirational for all age groups. That means addressing and changing mindsets without patronising or preaching. We commit to understanding the things that hold people back from buying pre-loved, to removing barriers, and to encouraging and celebrating the rise of the circular economy. It’s the re-commerce revolution, and we stand right at the front.
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Building community We know we can’t do this alone, and that an empowered community will open up pre-loved buying and selling to more and more people. Our goal is to provide the platform for this to happen and to facilitate a culture of encouragement and individual success, as well as support, understanding and fun. Empowering people You can make money and do good. Cress puts an end to the bin bags in the attic, the pile-ups of hand-me downs, the never worn and the never wanted. There’s more life and adventure in the clothes our children wear. Through a seller’s profile, parents can easily create new household revenue streams through sorting and selling the pieces that could have ended up in landfill. PARENTS IN BUSINESS
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Making it happen Standing for something means more than talking about change. We are proactive in finding solutions for the problems (and disasters) created by fast fashion, particularly the impact of children’s clothes. We track and measure the impact of the work we do to support and educate changing attitudes towards shopping online. Every sale through Cress is a step towards changing the world. What does the future look like for Cress? What sets us apart is the community is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to be a resource for parents and carers and a ‘go to’ place for everything child related. We also are working with local schools and communities on some initiatives close to our heart, including reading and sports, to give back and ensure children have better opportunities across the country. Our first community initiative, which is already live, is our ‘Cress book club’. We thought of this after speaking to friends who are teachers who shared how many children are not confident readers and do not have access to books. 4 children from every class are going into secondary school, not being able to read confidently. This needs to change. We are sending out a free book, age appropriate (based on the age of children’s clothing ordered) with every sale made through our golden service. And we are encouraging our sellers to do the same. We all have books that are sitting gathering dust, well-loved but no longer read by our children. Children don’t mind if a book is a bit battered; they just want to dive into the world of a new character, fly through space on a rocket, sail the seas SPRING/SUMMER 2023
“Our vision is to become a one-stop shop and resource for all parents” on a pirate ship, or trek through the jungle, meeting animals along the way. We aim to keep these stories alive and keep their imaginations expanding. Whilst we are starting with children’s wear, we plan to grow. Soon we will be adding children’s accessories and toys to our platform, and in the future, we will add our own sustainable clothes to buy. Our vision is to become a one-stop shop and resource for all parents to find everything they may possibly need, be it clothes, toys, sportswear, presents, party wear, learning resources etc., from birth to teens. We want to improve childhood, with all kids having books and sportswear to participate in team sports and comfortable clothes they enjoy wearing. ■
www.wearecress.com
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Ergonomic Workspaces for Home: The Key to Combining Work and Physical Well-being
Are you sitting comfortably? W
hen running your business from home, creating an ergonomic workspace is more important than ever. This guide will walk you through the practical steps to achieve a specific goal: working from home comfortably and efficiently without compromising your physical well-being. Let’s dive into how to design a space that enhances your productivity!
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Step 1: Assess your needs
The first step in creating an ergonomic workspace is understanding your requirements. Consider factors like: ●T he nature of your work: Are you primarily on the computer, doing manual tasks, or making calls? ●S pace constraints: How much space do you have available for your workspace? ●B udget: What resources are you willing to invest in creating an ergonomic workspace? ●C hildcare responsibilities: Are you the primary or shared caregiver for your children while working from home? ●A nswering these questions will enable you to identify your specific needs and constraints, allowing you to create a customised ergonomic solution.
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aking regular breaks T throughout the day can help reduce stress and improve focus” Step 2: Choose the right furniture Investing in ergonomic furniture is an essential step in creating a healthy workspace. Here is a list of furniture items to consider:
1. A djustable chair: An ergonomic chair with adjustable height and lumbar support will help maintain proper posture and mitigate back pain. 2. Standing desk: A height-adjustable desk encourages movement throughout the day, promoting better circulation and preventing muscle stiffness. 3. Monitor riser: Placing your screen at the correct height will prevent neck and eye strain. 4. Footrest: A footrest helps to maintain proper alignment and increase overall comfort while sitting.
Step 3: Pay attention to lighting
A well-lit workspace reduces eye strain and improves your overall mood. Ensure your workspace has: ● Adequate natural light to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting. ● Task lighting in strategic locations to focus light where it’s needed most. ● Avoid direct sunlight exposure to prevent glare and overheating.
Step 4: Organise your space efficiently A clutter-free workspace helps maintain focus and productivity. Some tips for organising your home office: ●U se vertical storage solutions like shelves or filing cabinets. ●U se drawers and trays to store smaller items. ●C reate designated areas for different tasks and keep all materials for those tasks nearby.
Step 5: Incorporate breaks and exercise
aking regular breaks throughout the day T can help reduce stress and improve focus. Implement a simple routine that includes: ● Short breaks (5-10 minutes) every hour to stretch, walk around, or grab a healthy snack. ● Longer breaks (30 minutes) for lunch or outdoor activities. ● Simple exercises, like desk stretches or yoga poses, to promote physical wellbeing.
Step 6: Offer family support
Including your family in your ergonomic journey helps them understand the importance of a healthy workspace. Be sure to: ●E ducate them on proper ergonomic principles and considerations. ● I nvest in ergonomic furniture for your children’s study area as well. ●S et boundaries and expectations for when you’re working and when you’re available to engage with your family. By following these practical steps, you’ll be on your way to creating the perfect ergonomic workspace at home. Balancing work and physical well-being for parent business owners can be challenging, but an ergonomic workspace will ease the transition and improve your overall quality of life.■
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YO U R B U S I N E S S Q U E STI O N S A N SW E R E D
IT’S BUSINESS & IT’S PERSONAL Hello, I’m Clare. The Business Coach for Parents In Business. Yes, this is business. But how we feel matters too. Don’t hide – you don’t need to be the smartest or richest, you do need the will to go after what you want. Show you – the qualities you hide could be just the ones your customers want to see. Stay balanced – finding awe can nurture self-belief and reduce the mental chatter. most confident, most successful and most happy, whether at work, in your business or personally. It’s a gentle way of training your brain to experience pleasure in a tight spot. Turning towards these feelings so that they become normal, lean into emotions during times of anxiety or change.
WHAT’S YOUR BEST BUSINESS APPROACH FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2023? A loaded question, if ever there was one, because we are all different, with varying skill sets, time, and money. So how can you grow your business and work with intention to produce innovative products or services? Honesty and bravery play a big part. Honesty in sharing the fears, dreams, and frustrations of going into or expanding your business. And bravery in expansion and growth that may make you feel out of your depth or unsure you’re making the right decisions. One mental trick I like to employ is remembering the times you felt
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Understanding and acknowledging change and resilience A couple of points worthy of consideration before we dive into my full article, are the impacts of change and the need for resilience in business. Change is when your business improves, restructures, or transforms all or part of its operations. This can be a stressful time. We have recently experienced a few years of transformation with some expected and some unexpected winners. One of the big wins has been the sustainability of small businesses and how they have become champions during a global pandemic where bigger similar businesses have struggled. Some of this I attribute to relationships. The smaller a business, the better you know
your suppliers and customers. Even during growth, you can keep the personal touch, vision and mission front and centre. Whereas the bigger players may have lost key suppliers, be aggressive in their purchasing and therefore squeezing their suppliers out of business, or not showing enough value to their customers. Right now (April 2023), supermarkets are trying to convince smaller growers to join their supply chain, and these smaller, healthier growers should be cautious. These relationships start well (especially when the need is high), and then the finer points of many pages and complicated contracts are used to drop growers or refuse their product. Another issue is the workforce, something we took very much for granted that students and overseas workers would be flowing through our country regularly, being able to stay as long as they wished to fulfil farm, health, and retail positions. Building resilience here means being a good employer, maybe B Corp Certified, with flexible working hours, good pay, and benefits. And this can only be achieved with good growth and sales.
PARENTS IN BUSINESS
YO U R B U S I N E S S Q U E STI O N S A N SW E R E D Which brings me back to the reason for my column. What’s your best business approach? To give you a quick way of assessing where you are currently and if there’s any further research or conversation required to start or grow your business, I’ve outlined the four most important elements in the business building process for you. Envisioning, Assessing, Evolving and Operating The following is a whiz bang run through of what should take a few hours to cover in enough detail for you to have the framework of a good business model, whatever your stage or size. But this is a great start point and worth considering against the information you already have about you and your business. Be honest. Be brave.
you regularly undertake, as we know things change rapidly, and you need to have a plan when they do. When you have these answers, it then allows us to understand what skills/people you need – can you partner/collaborate to expand your reach – what money, facilities and equipment are essential, and do we need a strategy for marketing, finance etc. Evolving This is where everything connects. Your value proposition: the vision, mission, and goals to deliver your customer solving solution, the service or product importance to your customer and how your goals and mission drive this value. Your values are hugely important and should show differentiation between you and your competitors. These are your ideals, or principles, that people inside and outside of your business will associate you with and hold you to. Evolving also considers how you will operate in the next 1-3 years. From your financial, marketing and sales strategies – what are they and what do you need – and more importantly, who is going to do them? Most often, it’s you! So being clear from the start will make life much easier as the months go by and your involvement in the business deepens, and priorities change. Always be aware of the steps you need to take to guide your customer interactions to your products and ultimately to buy.
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Envisioning This is my very favourite stage of business discovery. Talking about your motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. And how these play into your entrepreneurial spirit and where you see yourself in 3-5 years’ time. Bringing together your revolutionary business idea, company name and vision. This stage can often be an area of innovation that you feel uncertain about. It’s key that you gain and show clarity and vision to achieve your desired future. Assessing Investigating what your business does and how you intend to make money is the natural follow on from understanding your idea and vision. Your opportunity to look at the market size, customers, and why they would buy from you. A SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is something I recommend
SPRING/SUMMER 2023
Operating There is a lot of analysis here, something that’s easily overlooked or sometimes not well understood in the set up or pivot stages of business. Therefore, it’s key to be clear about how you deliver your business offering, accomplish your goals and structure your day, week, and month around all of the already mentioned business essentials!
As part of this, you’ll be looking into your customers and their buying behaviours: who are most important, the channels you use to reach them, and how to serve, retain and develop repeat business from them. And finally, how you grow. How fast, why, and where. As I said at the beginning, it’s a whiz through what is a complex but thoroughly enjoyable (if you take regular breaks and reward yourself on a job well done after each segment is completed!) way of understanding your business now and moving it through the years and changes that both of you will experience. Never underestimate life, and what it will throw at you during your time in business. Remember you need to take a walk every day, a holiday (or two), to listen to and look after yourself. Be honest. Be brave! ■ Click here to send your questions to me https://forms.gle/LmrZVaPQhNMnWrvi8 or email Info@parentsinbiz.co.uk
Connect with Clare www.cmrfocusandgrowth.co.uk
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