Monday Mumpreneur with Sarah Ade

Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives to us.  They share with us their motivation, challenges and proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves. It’s lovely to have them here at Mums Got A Business and we hope you enjoy connecting with them too.

I first met Sarah, not at a business networking event, but at a gig Zoe had been asked to sing at.  It was the first time Sarah had been on stage since becoming a mum.

Although a little nervous, she sang beautifully and when we went to tell her after the event, she was so sweet and kind.

It was then that we noticed she was wearing the most gorgeous and unusual jewellery and I later found out that she had designed and made it herself.

Your name: Sarah Ade

Your website: www.sarahade.co.uk and www.barenakedsoap.co.uk

Brief description:

I have a blog on www.sarahade.co.uk which I would love feedback on as I’m not a real reader of blogs so am always wondering if I’m doing it right. These are two of my hats (of which I have others, such as writer/designer and singer/songwriter also!) - the most recent being jewellery designer and maker, and the older (since 2004) running a handmade soap company with my mum (so a gran-preneur!). My jewellery site tells a bit about my jewellery, and the felt beads I create by hand which make it so unique. I use Shetland fleece from my mum’s little flock of Shetland sheep, as well as soft Merino wool and hand-dyed silk to create my felted beads, and then combine these with freshwater pearls, semi-precious stones, wood, shell and various metals to create fun and funky jewellery!

The BareNaked Soap Company my mum and I have been running on a small scale for some years now. We’re quite happy with it trickling along, and my mum does most of the soap making and general bits an pieces these days – since I had Laya really. We create handmade natural soap and body care, and our philosophy is to only put things in our soap that we would want on our skin – so no nasties at all. And also, just because it’s good for you doesn’t mean it has to be plain and boring – our soaps are moulded and stamped to look fun and pretty too.

How many children do you have? Laya, who turned two at the end of July.

Where do you live? Dalry, in the Glenkens, a rural part of Dumfries & Galloway about 16 miles outside Castle Douglas.

PC or Mac?  PC

Tell us about your business – I started felting when inspired by some needle-felted landscapes I saw at a craft fair last summer. I wanted to try hangings and big things like that as I loved the vibrant colours created by the felting process. However, stretches of time are fairly short when you have a wee one, as I’m sure everyone can understand, so I got as far as beads as this was something that could be completed and therefore provide a satisfying outcome in a fairly short time. And now I’m hooked on jewellery making! The aim of my business is to sell mainly online, although I do sell in some galleries and shops. I love doing commissions and would ideally like to make mainly one-off orders as this is so much fun!

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur? – After having Laya, I kind of felt like a new person, and felt the need to express myself in an entirely new way. I have always enjoyed creative activities, from making puzzles and juggling bags and Fimo necklaces when I was a child/teenager, to writing, and various things such as making yurt covers, shoe and clog making, and soap making too, so getting into felt and jewellery making was another creative challenge.

What’s been your biggest challenge in business? Conquering the online marketplace.

How have you overcome it? I am still working on it, but feel I’m finally getting to grips with it…

What’s been your proudest business moment? With the soap, when people you meet have heard of the company. With my jewellery, last year, at the first craft fair I went to, when I had only been making my beads and necklaces for a couple of months, and the response was so overwhelmingly positive and people were buying two or three at a time for xmas pressies!

What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote? Life is not a dress rehearsal.

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself? I looove long, hot, indulgent baths with a good book and a glass of red wine...

What was the last treat you bought for yourself? Indulgent bath soak.

Favourite colour: turquoise/blue-green

Favourite flowers:  orchids

What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?

Don’t be afraid to try new things, and don’t be shy to ask people their opinion (not that you should always listen to it, but it’s good to get a rounded view of your product/idea!).

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.