Monday Mumpreneur with Tracey Clayton

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.

This week I have the pleasure of introducing you to a lovely lady with a really inspiring business story.

You'll just love her innovative products and her passion for her art.  Please make her welcome.

Name: Tracey Clayton

Your website: www.bless-ewe-creations.co.uk

Brief description: I create photo books and photo videos with my clients own photographs

How many children do you have? Sam 15, Zoe 11

Where do you live? Linton, Cambridgeshire

PC or Mac? PC

Tell us about your business

I have always been in love with photographs and the memories that they conjure up. I discovered scrap booking in 1998 and made scrap books of all my photos and those belonging to my family.

I lost my mum in 2003 and the scrap book that I made of her life is a constant source of comfort. In 2006 I made my first photo book as a gift for my brother and his new wife of their wedding. They were overwhelmed and so happy with the book it encouraged me to make them for other friends and family too.

Each year I would collect our favourite family photos and make a photo book that was admired by everyone that viewed it. Several emotional wedding books later I decided to start my own business creating books for the public at large. I have also discovered photo videos and love to create them too as a less expensive way of sharing your memories.

This year I have started an additional website purely to attract wedding business. Whether brides are looking to supplement their photographers photos or co-ordinating their friends and families own shots I am confident that i can take their photos and turn them into a wonderful book that will help them re-live their wedding day again and again.

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?

Last year I bought a book called 'One month to Live' which essentially asks the question "What would you do if you only one month to live and what stops you doing that now". I was working part time for my husband as a convenience with the children but was not very interested in his business (He writes accounting software – yawn)So after much soul searching I decided to do what I love doing the most.

What's been your biggest challenge in business?

Money. Even the smallest amount of marketing costs and soon adds up. It doesn't take many shop windows at £1 per week and a few networking lunches to drain the finanaces. Everything I do I try and do with the minimal amount of outlay which is why I had to design my website, facebook page, logo, postcards, letters – everything actually. I am the queen of free because if it isn't free or virtually free I can't afford it. The downside is it takes me ages and always leaves me with a feeling of 'Could do better'

How have you overcome it?

I just try and chill and think everything will come right in its time. If I had of had an abundance of money no doubt I would have wasted a lot of it by now by being lazy and whimsical.

What's been your proudest business moment?

I feel proud every time I hand a book or DVD over. Actually I never want to give my customers their books, they feel like my babies.

What's your catchphrase or favourite quote?

Blessed to be a blessing

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?

I have a one year old Dobermann, Remy, she keeps me busy walking out in the woods

What was the last treat you bought for yourself? A solero ice cream

Favourite colour: Too difficult to choose, pastels mainly

Favourite flowers:  Lily's

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

I'm quite old fashioned and believe that I am still the head of the household duties, and my husband has to come first. I would never put my business before the children either. There are times when you have deadlines that need to be met and then the whole family can help out and pull together. If it becomes the normal then something is going to break in family life. No-one wants to turn work away but one day your kids will grow up and leave the nest. Peoples lives are represented on their gravestones by two dates held together by a dash. The dash represents your life and legacy which will be passed on through your children. Make sure you are living the dash not dashing the living.

Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mums? Drop me an email over on the contact page and I’ll be in touch.   And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.