Have you ever wondered how much mums who own their own businesses contribute to the economy, or what makes them so successful?
Choose from:
Mum Magnates - 2008 Research
Yell Ltd
Queens WalkReading, Berkshire
RG1 7PT
United Kingdom
Finalist: Nadine Lewis, Bury, Lancashire
Nadine now sells her wristbands and medical jewellery - hand-crafted and unobtrusive emergency ID tags for those with medical conditions - in more than 1,500 stores nationwide.
www.identify-me.co.uk
Nadine’s tips:
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Accept that you won’t do everything right all the time and that you will experience guilt for working so hard. Prepare to make the occasional compromise
- Find out what you can delegate in your life. Personally, I would rather spend time working than cleaning the house, so I have someone who comes in to do it for me
- Promote yourself and your business every day. This could take the form of a major project like a press release, or posting a special offer on a forum/during a sales call. I won’t go to bed without making sure I have done at least one thing to promote myself every day
Tip on filling out the application form:
- Think about it like you are writing about someone else. It can be hard to write these things without getting embarrassed!
Quick links to the top ten Yell.com classifications recommended by Sarah Steel and other finalists of the 2007 Prowess Awards. Because mums know best…
Advertise your basic business details on Yell.com, Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and in Yellow Pages - for free!
I've been in business for a year now, running Generation One magazine - a local parenting magazine in Hull and East Yorkshire. I started the magazine because I had no support network after the birth of my son, Charlie and I realised lots of other Mums are like me - in their 30s, away from their families and with their friends working full time.
My advice would be to not be afraid of being yourself, warts and all. I started off thinking I had to wear a suit and act like a candidate for The Apprentice. I've learned that respect for others and good relationships lead to good sales - not any magic hard sell formula. The magazine has gone from strength to strength because other people recognise what I feel. Sometimes you need to stand up and be counted. It's scary, but it's not all about numbers, running a people business is incredibly valuable too.
Claire Boynton, Hull