Monday Mumpreneur with Victoria Dixon
Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives and their business to us.
They share with us their motivation, their challenges and their proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then our featured business mums show you what’s possible.
This week's featured mumpreneur inspires us with her story of how life and personal tragedy puts the really important things into perspective. I'm honoured to host her here on Mums Got a Business.
Your name: Victoria Dixon
Your website: www.enhance-me.com
www.enchantedphotoportraits.blogspot.co.uk/
Brief description:
A photograph portrait service that specialises in quality personalised enhancements, I can turn your ordinary photograph into anything – Imagine your child in the most magical of places!
Tell me about your children:
Milly, my eldest is 8 years old and is full of creativity! She loves nothing more to read or draw. She has a wonderful imagination and is an animal lover!
My son, Robbie is 5 years old. He is a bundle of energy and really enjoys playing outside, creating mess and baking!
Where do you live?
I live in Stenness in the beautiful islands of Orkney
PC or Mac? I use a PC
Tell us about your business
I offer a range of beautifully enchanting personalised Magical portraits. A very unique keepsake or a wonderful gift. My business was established in February 2006. Initially, as a hobby, I had played around with image-editing software on my computer. I created a few free portrait enhancements for friends, who had requested that photographs of their children be transformed into fairies. These friends had such a positive reaction at the final result that I decided to dip my toe in the water and put the service online.
Working with the skills I already had meant I was able to develop a service that required very little financial outlay. I was able to create and build my own website, with the assistance of a very helpful and patient husband who works in web design.
When my www.enhance-me.com went live I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I was surprised at just how quickly the orders came flooding in. I can’t even begin to describe how thrilling it is to find people who like and want the work that you do!
I also am now also offering graphic design services to other small businesses. If you are looking for something a little different for a leaflet, flyer, poster, catalogue, or simply tidying up of product stock photos – I offer very competitive rates!
What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?
I lost my baby boy Thomas, eight months into my pregnancy, I was advised not to work in my following pregnancy, I then realised I didn't want to leave my baby girl when she was born to return to full time work. I really didn't want to miss a moment. It wasn't until my daughter was 15 months old that I launched my business. Initially I worked while she napped and slept in the evening!
What's been your biggest challenge in business?
My most challenging period of time is always the approach to Christmas. In the two weeks leading up to the festive season I receive in the region of 200 to 300 orders! I always panic slightly at the prospect of trying to juggle so much work with caring for my children.
How have you overcome it?
With the help of my husband, and many late nights, I manage. My order intake increases every year in the approach to Christmas but I am gradually finding ways of coping with it.
What's been your proudest business moment?
Imagine coming off a flight and someone you know saying "Hey, I've just been reading about you! You were in the In-flight magazine!" What - really? WHO KNEW!! Not me anyway!
I was featured in the Flybe Uncovered magazine Sept-Oct issue!! The best bit was it’s an international circulation - potentially seen by millions!! It was a very surreal but proud moment!
What's your catchphrase or favourite quote?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Seuss
What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?
I love to garden! Not wonderfully relaxing I know but I find it really therapeutic. I also really enjoy photography!
What was the last treat you bought for yourself?
Some new plants for my garden!
Favourite colour
I always struggle with that question as I love colour full stop! I think it would have to be yellow though, nice and happy!
Favourite flowers
I really love wildflowers – but if I had to choose a specific flower it would have to be Aquilegia, particularly the Nora Barlow mix.
What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?
As far as advice goes I would say that patience is a HUGE virtue when setting up your own business - learning it takes time to build up your business.
Not only do you need to be patient with building it, but you need to be patient with your family. You now have to juggle more than what you are used to. With the added stress, it’s understandable to lose your patience. Being patient will help us to focus more and lessen the stress.
Most importantly if you run your own business, it’s important you love what you do – otherwise finding motivation for it will be difficult.
Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mumpreneurs? Drop me an email over on the contact page – and I’ll be in touch. Or let me know in a comment below.
