Tuesday 30 July 2013

Sponsored Blog Post: Brides of Culture’s Multicultural Bridal Exhibition




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Friday 26 July 2013

2Inspire Profile: Laura Morris, Founder of EducateBusiness

In today's instalment 2Inspire interviews Laura Morris, a Mumpreneur who has consistently set up businesses centred around mothers. She now also has a PR and Marketing company educatebusiness which supports small businesses. Read her story and be inspired.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you? 
A typical business day starts at 7am getting me and my daughter ready. In between breakfast I will catch up on emails. During school hours I am then normally out and about meeting with clients and then catching up on emails, Twitter and Facebook in between. At 3.15pm I collect my daughter and use the time until bedtime on doing stuff together and making dinner. When she goes to bed I will work 2-3 evenings a week too until my own bedtime.
What made you start the business and how did you get started?
7 years ago I fell pregnant with my daughter and went on maternity leave. I was lucky enough to not have to work but after suffering with a bad pregnancy I decided to set up a forum called Meet Mums where you could meet other mums in the area you lived and chat online. This went onto be a success and turned into a business but unfortunately the website got attacked by hackers and I lost everything. Around this time I set up a business called Rentabuggy where I started leasing out pushchairs on a long term basis and for holiday rentals which went on to be a huge success. During this time, I also started a networking group with a friend for mums in business called Networking Mummies where we supported mums in business or who were trying to start one in Bournemouth where I was currently living. In 2010 I moved back to Warwick to be closer to family and I started a branch of Networking Mummies there. My business partner at the time wanted out and my best friend bought into the business. We now have 16 branches across the UK and it is growing. I also now run my own PR and Marketing agency Educate Business Ltd helping small businesses to grow affordably and have also been doing this for the past two years.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
I would have to say winning the business awards I have won as it has been lovely to be recognised by someone else for all the hard work. I have won two awards and been shortlisted and finalist for many others.
What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Definitely juggling my daughter Ashleigh and work. The Summer holidays can be hard work but after 7 years of running my own businesses I think I can say I have just about got it right!
What are your future plans for the business?
I have got loads of plans to grow and adapt bringing out new services and ideas. I am really pleased that since last year, my income has risen by 50% but I would like to keep this going.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I can honestly say I wouldn’t do anything different. Owning your own business is about making mistakes and learning from them.
 Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
We all have peers or people we look up to whether it be a celebrity or someone normal. Following your dreams gives you aspiration to try harder and that is important in today’s world. Children should understand that if you want something hard enough that they can go get it.
What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
So many people I meet who have started their own business expect miracles overnight and expect a consistent income. It can take approximately 2 years to even start to build a sustainable business so my advice would be to stick at it and if something or someone knocks you down, pick yourself up and keep going.
What or who inspires you in business and why?
My daughter is my main one. But apart from that so many people inspire me. It tends to be the people I work with who are my clients, seeing them and their business grows gives me huge inspiration and pleasure.
   What is your favourite inspirational quote?
From the film ‘Pursuit of Happiness’
Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.
  Contact Details
Laura Morris 07909 53400

Tuesday 23 July 2013

2Inspire Network Member News: Exclusive Diva Choice Lingerie Preview Event Friday, August 9, 2013

 Register here to attend: http://divachoicewestfield.eventbrite.com/

2Inspire Business Profile: Tasneem Khilawala, Trousseau designer and supplier

Tasneem Khilawala designs and supplies Trousseaus for brides in India. Read her inspirational interview on how she converted her passion and talents into a profitable business.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?
Because my business has always focused on many different niche and personalities, my business day begins with research. While sticking to trends is not my style, it is still important for a creative business person to be aware of the on-going styles and trends. Next would be following up with my vendors, which is essential to ensure that all the projects process in an efficient manner. More so, if these follow ups are done in the start of the day, in case my clients call, I have substantial updates to give them. I need to keep a major portion of the day for my brainstorming. Designing trousseaus is an exclusive activity. My designs are beyond the trends. I can only do that because it is something I keep at all the time. I keep some time free to allow my mind to run wild. After all, that is where inspiration comes from. A clogged mind can never be inspired.
What made you start the business and how did you get started? I have always been creatively inclined. I am not from a very affluent family, but an extremely creative one. As such, I have been resourceful from a young age. Even after I started my own family, it was in my nature to design and make clothes for my daughters. I designed the interiors of my own house and created artefacts that would beautify it further. The compliments they all got made me feel more and more confident about my art. It started with designing clothes for family members. Then their contacts started contacting me and before I knew it, I had a market that was simply waiting for me to enter it. I have been blessed with ease on that front.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date? My biggest accomplishment would be every beautiful bride I see walking down the aisle. You see, when they get complimented, when others envy their clothes, it is a compliment to me. Seeing those brides truly feel confident and beautiful, is my biggest accomplishment.
What has been your biggest challenge in business so far? A few years back the trousseau and bridal wear industry started getting flooded. Vendors from other towns started offering bridal wear at lower rates. This really affected my business. However, due to that, my business niche got even more exclusive. The cheaper vendors offered run in the mill products. Their designs were common. I always designed clothes and patterns custom for the bride, in accordance to her taste, personality, the scale of the wedding, the weather and season and the nature of the attendees. This is something no one else could do. Yes, for some time, I felt my business suffer. But eventually, things balanced out.


What are your future plans for the business?
So far my designing has been very Indian in nature. Though there are many varieties that one can have in Indian weddings, and that is the creative challenge that has kept me going. But I would now want to venture out in the global market. It would be nice to explore new psyches and put new thoughts into material and weave clothes out of it. I would also want to design homes and take it to a whole new level that hasn’t yet been explored.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently? I wouldn’t change a thing!
Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?  I speak from an Indian perspective when I say that young women need to stop focusing their dreams on those of the society and their family. Dreams come with challenges. It will not be easy and it will come with hurdles. But that is the fun of it. If you take it in your stride, accept it confidently and simply keep going, even others will catch on and start believing in your dream. When that happens, you need to know that success isn’t very far away!


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?  I would suggest that don’t try to give cheap clothes. Yes, be cost effective. But don’t break your market by being run in the mill. Keep your creativity and be honest in your work. That honesty shows through. Money follows suit.
What or who inspires you in business and why?  It would be easy for me to say that it is my family. But in all honesty, it is my personal desire to do something that drives me. With that said, having the support of my family and having my children look up to me for that is what inspires me to keep going even when I have lesser motivation from within.
What is your favourite inspirational quote? It isn’t a popular quote by a famous person, but just the motto of my life that I put into words myself.
“Life is all about setting and fulfilling personal challenges - On a daily basis”
Contact Details
Address: A-12/15, Kubera Park, Lullanagar, Pune-411040, India
Mobile no.: +919371022920
Twitter: @tashneemk

Tuesday 16 July 2013

2Inspire Profile: Zoe Oakley, Founder of CrispWhiteSheets

2inspire interviews Zoe Oakley, an entrepreneur who used motherhood as an opportunity to change her career path. Her determination to succeed can be seen through her daring attitude, read on to see how she achieved her dream.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?
A typical business day for me consists of a lot of travel around the UK visiting hotels to ensure they have the qualities we need to be listed on CrispWhiteSheets.com. We need to experience the service, food and bedrooms in order to make a decision. Also my office time is sourcing new partnerships, hotels, blogging and generally promoting our business.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
I started the business, as I felt a gap in the market for a UK travel website covering all types of stays, yet keeping it high end. I had look in several different places to find a family break and then a couples retreat, but at CrispWhiteSheets, we have it all and standards are never compromised. 


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
My greatest accomplishment has been making a name for myself and my business in a tough industry and also creating a creative and happy work environment for my staff. I love that my staff love their job and enjoy coming to work each day.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
My biggest challenge has been growing my business as fast as possible, whilst juggling Motherhood. I could be on the road every day, however I always wanted to have both and so far I am achieving that.


What are your future plans for the business?
I plan to have the best and most trusted collection of hotels listed with CrispWhiteSheets.com and then maybe take things into Europe.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Definitely not. I haven’t done it too fast and borrowed lots of money. I have taken it one step at a time, which seems to have gained the trust of all my customers that we will be around for a long time to come.
 

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
It is a man’s world out there, however more and more we see women rising to the top. Sometimes women can take on the Mother role, which makes them feel their career is over. I saw that as an opportunity to change direction and make things happen. Entrepreneurs are often the bread winners, which is deemed a man’s role. Running your own business allows flexibility that would never be allowed in a full time 9 – 5. Anything is achievable if you believe in yourself.
 

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
I would say don’t be afraid of the big boys out there. Travel is a fabulous industry with creative and forward thinking people and I would encourage anyone to get involved. I would also say be specialist in order to stand out. 


What or who inspires you in business and why?
My partner James inspires me. He built a business in terrible economic times from zero to a huge multimillion turnover in just 4 years. He drives me every day and advises me when I need to make tough decisions.
What is your favourite inspirational quote?
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. She who dares, wins. Life is short, so make the most of every day.


Contact Details

Zoe Oakley
Snapes Heights Barn
Oakmere Avenue
Withnell
Chorley
PR6 8AX
07775 427538 

Twitter @CrispWhiteSheet

Friday 12 July 2013

2Inspire Profile: Claire Mitchell, founder of Chillipeeps

Today, The 2Inspire Network interviews Claire Mitchell, a mother and entrepreneur who encourages us to never give up. Read her interview to witness how perseverance and clarity can turn your business dream into a reality.
Please tell us what is a typical business day for you? As we are trading globally, our typical day isn’t typical, we are on the end of the phone /email whenever we are awake. I have been known to respond from iPhone whilst in bed to urgent requests. Not healthy, but better than wondering all night if the customer has replied or needs another response. I spend most of my day on the phone, emailing, progressing projects, liaising with customers and suppliers. Cuppa time is for creating awareness through social media.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
My daughter made me start my business. We were going to a family party one Sunday to introduce our new baby to all the extended family. We were late setting off as we needed to change our daughter before we left. We had just set off driving and knowing I had ready-made formula cartons in the car, I couldn’t remember if I’d picked up the clean sterilised bottle. I asked my husband if he had, he tried to reassure me I would have, but knowing she would need a feed whilst we were there, I insisted my husband checked for it. So as he rummaged through the baby bag, I ranted ‘Why hasn’t anyone invented a teat that attaches directly to the carton!’ My husband found the bottle, I had picked up and off we went. Six hours later we got back in the car to come home and I said ‘I can’t stop thinking about why no-one has invented a teat to attach to the carton’. We talked about it all the way home and researched the internet that night, there was nothing. So we wrote reams on how we would change the world with this concept and contacted Peter Jones from Dragons Den telling him I had the next big thing and to call me. His automated response included advice that sent us to the Patent Office the next day for a free half hour session with a Patent Attorney and Chillipeeps was born.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
To actually get the concept to market is a HUGE achievement, many concepts never become products and many products never make it to market. Then to gain industry awards is just incredible and makes the crazy development journey all worth while.


What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Credibility – proving yourself as a new entrepreneur, a new brand and a new concept all at the same time is a big challenge.

Hurdles – every business has hurdles that they find on their journey, find your hurdles and learn from them.
What are your future plans for the business?
We are selling in 14 countries today, aiming to make Chillipeeps a truly global brand and household name. Developing our concept into new markets and industries.


If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would definitely do it again, but I’d know this time round that timescales required and investment required is way longer and more than you imagine.


Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
Because they have some fantastic dreams, they can multi-skill and they will be bringing up our future generations, so we need to inspire them to the best they can so that they can pass that on to their children. They need to be able to believe that they really can do anything they dream of, with hard work and determination.


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
Don’t do it… no only joking, definitely go for it, you only have one life and this is yours to make a difference. However research and be totally aware of costs and timescales required for all stages of the project before you start. If in doubt, contact me, I share my knowledge with many aspiring inventors / entrepreneurs in the industry and I am proud that quite a few of the products have made it to market. That’s Genius!


What or who inspires you in business and why?
I am totally inspired by every hard working entrepreneur, it is tough out there today and you have to find your something special that makes you stand out from the crowd. If you are asking who I would love to meet, that would have to the Queen, who I would love to spend the day with probably Richard Branson and Oprah.


What is your favourite inspirational quote?
One I have said since school ‘Enjoy it while you are here, as there is no place like here there’


Contact Details

Claire Mitchell

hello@chillipeeps.com

www.chillipeeps.com

www.facebook.com/ChillipeepsTeats

www.twitter.com/chillipeeps


Wednesday 10 July 2013

2Inspire Profile: Gaby Lixton and Caroline Sparks - Founders of Turtle Tots


Gaby Lixton and Caroline Sparks converted their love for swimming into a successful baby swimming programme -Turtle Tots. Their business story illustrates the importance of working in an area you are passionate about.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

I don’t think Gaby and I have typical days! Every day is different. For example last week we had our monthly meeting with our finance manager, we attended a High Growth workshop on managing teams, we attended the Accelerate 2013 conference in Liverpool on Thursday and then on Friday we had a meeting about a new CRM system and visited our new office that we are leasing from September. We love the fact that our days and weeks are so varied.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
Gaby and I founded Turtle Tots Ltd in 2011.

Having run and sold a very successful baby swimming business before launching Turtle Tots, Gaby had seen numerous new mums struggle when they came swimming with their newborn the first time, because they lacked confidence in and around the pool with their precious new baby.

We both have young children ourselves and therefore knew the importance of a healthy lifestyle and pre and postnatal exercise, but also how it can be a struggle to find the time to exercise when you have a baby or toddler.

Using her knowledge and experience Gaby wrote the innovative Turtle Tots programme, which starts with Turtle Tums - aqua-natal yoga for mums-to-be. The Turtle Tums course is an aqua yoga course that provides a relaxing and supportive method of exercise during pregnancy, and also teaches the mums-to-be safe holds and methods to use in the pool with their baby once he or she is born.

The programme continues with Turtle Tots baby and toddler swimming classes. First and foremost the classes are to introduce babies and toddlers to swimming in a fun and safe way, but every movement mum makes in the water, also contributes to her post-natal fitness. A personal trainer has endorsed these lesson plans and mums (and dads!) can burn up to 250 calories in a 30-minute class.

Having launched Turtle Tots as a sole trader in Bristol, Gaby’s classes quickly grew and after a year she was teaching 100 babies. At this point she realised what a lucrative and flexible business model Turtle Tots was. Gaby knew that she wanted to offer others the opportunity to run a Turtle Tots business, but without using a restrictive and expensive franchise model. At this point Gaby approached Caroline about launching Turtle Tots as a licencing business. Caroline could see the huge potential and together they formed Turtle Tots Ltd.


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the
business world to date?

In May we had were invited to join the Accelerate 250. The Accelerate 250 is the UK’s so-called “vital six per cent’, the businesses that create more than half of the nation’s new jobs by disrupting industries and creating new markets.

Turtle Tots was one of the first members to be announced of the 250-strong group, hand-picked by former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy and the prime minister’s enterprise adviser Lord Young. And we were thrilled and delighted to have been recognised and included.



The inaugural meeting of the Accelerate 250 took place in Liverpool on the 27th June and Gaby and I travelled up to Liverpool, looking forward to an interesting and informative day. In fact, it was far more than we’d ever expected!

Throughout the day we listened to an inspiring selection of speeches, panel discussions and debates from (amongst others) Jimmy Wales, - the founder of Wikipedia, Martha Lane Fox CBE – the co-founder of lastminute.com, Lord Bilimoria – Chairman of Cobra Beer and a very amusing Doug Richard – the founder of School for Startups. Dr. Pippa Malmgren, former special assistant to the president, was insightful and made macro economics sound refreshingly simply and interesting!

We came away from the day completely inspired, motivated and excited, not just about Turtle Tots as it is today, but about the future growth of Turtle Tots.


What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Time management is a constant challenge. Both Gaby and I have young families and busy husbands! It can be a juggling act, especially when we need to be away overnight to attend a conference or exhibition. Luckily our husbands and families are very supportive, and modern technology such as smart phones and Skype helps enormously.

What are your future plans for the business?
We want to continue to build the Turtle Tots brand in the UK, and help our existing and new licencees continue to grow successful businesses. This will involve continuing to develop our Turtle Tots merchandise so that licencees will have additional revenue streams, and investing in products such as woggles, towels, water toys etc.

We have just trademarked in Australia and will be launching there in 2014, and we are also trade marking in several other countries too, so we see internationalisation as a key part of our strategy.



If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I don’t think we’d do anything differently. Every positive AND negative experience over the last two years has helped us to grow our business to where it is today.


Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?Life is short, and before we know it we can all be on a treadmill, doing a job we’ve just fallen in to doing. Even in 2013 there are still many stereotypes and many young women leave school or college with limited aspirations and self esteem. It’s important for young women to follow their dream and realise nothing is impossible, to ensure they live fulfilled and happy lives, and also contribute to society as a whole.


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Don’t be afraid to ask advice from people that already run successful businesses and do as much research as possible, and more, before writing a really thorough business plan. Investigate what resources are available in your area to help people start businesses – in Bristol, where we are based, there’s an organisation called Business West, which are hugely helpful, and they also run lots of free and low cost training courses and networking events.


What or who inspires you in business and why?
The Co-founders of Innocent – Richard Reed, Adam Balon and Jon Wright inspire us. We love the Innocent brand, and have just read their book about how they got started. They have a refreshing, personable and non-corporate approach to their business, and have overcome huge obstacles. They also had no prior knowledge of their industry. We also love the fact that they have set up the Innocent Foundation – a grant giving foundation. This is something we would like to emulate in the future.
They are also great believers in the saying “Just Do It” – which we are too!

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius
Contact Details  
Turtle Tots Ltd
Railway House
Station Close
Backwell
Bristol BS48 1TJ
Tel. 01275 857805
Email info@turtletots.com
Web www.turtletots.com
Twitter @turtle_tots
Facebook www.facebook.com/TurtleTotsUK