Monday Mumpreneur with Kim Scott
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. Our message is “If we can do it ~ then so can you!”
Come and meet this week's business mum and remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing. It's lovely to read how inspired she is by her beautiful family ...
Your name: Kim Scott
Your website: www.hatsmybaby.co.uk
Brief description: Hats my Baby is an online boutique for cute and funky baby hats and accessories.
How many children do you have? Lily May who is almost 3 and Mia Rose who is 8 months old
Where do you live? Cramlington, Northumberland UK
PC or Mac? PC
Tell us about your business
Hats my Baby is an online boutique for cute and funky baby hats and accessories. Our gorgeous little hats make the perfect gift for a newborn baby or a baby shower and I am proud of the fact that through many of the ranges I stock I am able to support our very own designers from the United Kingdom. I am continually adding to our ranges to ensure that our customers have a fantastic choice when it comes to choosing hats and accessories.
Hats my Baby was launched in January 2010 following the birth of our beautiful daughter Lily. Our family has grown over the last two years and we now have a second beautiful daughter Mia Rose. Alongside our family, Hats my Baby has also grown and from a DIY website we have now launched a brand new professionally designed website. The new website looks amazing and at last we are able to offer our customers a fantastic online shopping experience, without losing that personal aspect of the business which I think sets us apart.
I’ve grown the business not only as a business woman but also as a Mum and so my heart and soul really has gone into everything I’ve done. I want to ensure that each customer receives a very personal service from us and the feedback I'm getting so far is that we are achieving this! I hope Hats my Baby shows people just how much motherhood has inspired me.
What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?
I set the business up following the birth of our beautiful daughter Lily in 2009. Motherhood was and still is the inspiration for the business. I have to admit to having a slight obsession with baby hats and after searching the High Street for hats that were not only unique and funky but also durable, I always came away disappointed. From that moment on the idea for Hats my Baby was born!
Prior to the birth of Lily I had no previous business experience having worked within the public sector, but during my maternity leave and with both of my beautiful girls to inspire me I realised that my own business was within my reach.
Setting up a business and becoming a Mum for the first time are two very different and very demanding roles but with some forward planning, a lot of hard work and a lot of organisation both are possible. I am very dedicated and take pride in my work and it is such qualities that have kept me going through those days when it really feels as though there aren't enough hours in the day. There has been some late nights and neglected household chores but it has all been worth it.
What's been your biggest challenge in business?
The biggest challenge which I faced, and still face to a certain extent is the fact that I set the business up on a shoe string. I have had to grow the business day by day on a very tight budget and with very little experience.
How have you overcome it?
I have worked day and night just learning as much as I can about business, the internet, social media (the list is endless) Along the way, through networking both online and in person I have met some amazing Mums who have achieved fantastic things with their businesses and the support and amount of knowledge out there is just amazing. Also with an amazing husband and my daughters to inspire me the journey has been a good one and one I hope will continue for a long time
What's been your proudest business moment?
Did I mention we’ve just relaunched with a brand new website? No seriously, seeing the new website unveiled was an amazing and a very proud moment. It was the vision I had always had for the business and to see it as a reality within two years of setting up was just unbelievable.
We were also lucky enough to be one of Theo Paphitis’s selected Small Businesses on Twitter back in April 2011.
What's your catchphrase or favourite quote?
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."
What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?
Erm. Next question?
What was the last treat you bought for yourself?
A takeaway and a bottle of wine after 8 weeks on the Slimming World diet. It’s the simple things!
Favourite colour: Yellow
Favourite flowers: Orchids, my wedding flowers.
What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?
Go for it and believe, believe, believe!
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. And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.
