Monday Mumpreneur with Victoria Lane

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!”

I'm delighted to introduce you to this week's featured mumpreneur.  She's a woman after my own heart - moving up from England up to the beautiful Dumfries & Galloway countryside.

I also love her passion for investing in her children's future.

Your name: Victoria Lane

Your website: www.solwayblankets.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SolwayBlankets

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/solwayblankets/

Brief description:

Solway Blankets retails beautifully designed, high quality blankets and throws made from natural sustainable fibres by expert craftsman in British woollen mills

Tell me about your children:
I have two beautiful, spirited children Robert aged 4¾ who is into all things tractors and farming and Erica 17 months who is just into all things!

Where do you live?
Country – my husband and I farm pigs, suckler cows and have a Jack Russell dog and a few chickens in Middlebie, Dumfriesshire.

PC or Mac? PC

Tell us about your business:

Solway Blankets is an exclusive online store brimming with beautiful, high quality blankets, throws, baby blankets, picnic blankets and fantastic gift ideas.  I believe that nothing more evokes nostalgia and comfort than the soft warmth given off from a blanket and that a coordinated throw offers the final attention to detail in a room, with its textures and richness of colour. Solway Blankets has an extensive selection of natural fibre blankets and throws in cashmere, merino, mohair, alpaca, bamboo and pure wool each offering unique, natural qualities and benefits. Perfect as gifts, there is something to suit all ages, interiors and pockets.

I value enormously the importance of buying British. Our country’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors are under huge economic pressure, so buying British means investing in Britain and more importantly our children’s futures. But whilst this ethos is important so too is careful product selection, after all the blankets and throws are what people will be snuggling up in and adorning their homes with so these must be luxuriously soft, beautifully designed and built for purpose.
We take pride in our excellent customer service and offer an optional hand gift wrapping service and free, fast postage throughout the UK mainland.

What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?

Before we moved to Scotland, married and had children I had my own business as a freelance Agricultural Administrator, my husband and I had a sheep and cattle farm in Leicestershire and a fencing business. After establishing a new farming business here and having the children my business brain needed more, a challenge and a new project but one that would give me flexibility so I could pick up from school, attend baby groups and be on hand to help on the farm.

What's been your biggest challenge in business?

TIME My son has recently started school and my daughter does have an afternoon nap but there are still not enough hours in the day. I get up early to work, snatch an hour or two in the afternoon while Erica sleeps and then work in the evening when the wee ones are in bed. It is hard especially when trying to make phone calls as suppliers work 9-5.

How have you overcome it?

By better managing my time and making lists but this is always an area I will struggle with as I imagine most mumpreneurs do. It is difficult not to feel guilty about not spending enough time with family and friends or helping out more on the farm. The success of Solway Blankets will hopefully be inspirational to the children and somehow the plates keep spinning!

What's been your proudest business moment?

Successfully writing all the content, taking and editing all the photo’s on my website and then getting great feedback from my web designers.

What's your catchphrase or favourite quote?

‘better to have a life full of oh well’s than one full of what if’s’ or ‘better to be born lucky than rich’

What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?

My children are my tonic – they amaze me, always make me laugh and bring me back down to earth. Second to that would be a glass of wine and my feet up in front of an open fire.

What was the last treat you bought for yourself?

A rather expensive pair of high heels for a party.

Favourite colour:

Difficult – I love all colours and their varying shades and hues but for all its variety and tones it would have to be green

Favourite flowers: Lily of the Valley and Snowdrops

What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur? Be prepared to give up your life, which although you have already done that by having children, a new business is like having another child it requires nurturing and time to develop and grow but it will reward if you dedicate enough to it, so I’m told!!! Also take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way even if it is out of your comfort zone.

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.