Today I would like to introduce you tonot one but two mumpreneurs journeying through the online business world. Meet Melissa and Vicky, directors of Your Kids. Please take the time to read their story and visit their site which is filled with interesting articles, online retail links and fabulous monthly competitions.
Tell us about Your Kids
Your Kids is an online parenting resource. It has everything you need for “your kids”, from pregnancy to teens. Our directory lists Australia’s leading suppliers of children’s products and services. So whether you are organising a birthday party, looking for after school activities in your area, or wondering how to keep the kids amused in the holidays, Your Kids is the place to visit.
We features a fabulous range of on-line retailers, so it doesn’t matter if you need baby or kid’s clothes, shoes and accessories, bedroom furniture and décor, or toys, Your Kids will have it. We also have recipes to keep hungry tummies satisfied, specials, practical information on parenting issues and monthly competitions where you can win fabulous kid-related prizes (and sometimes even something for Mum!).
What prompted you to start Your Kids?
We are long-time friends who both started families at about the same time and found that we were both looking for the same things online. We were wanting a one-stop shop for Mums to find everything they needed for their kids. With our backgrounds in IT and Education, we wanted a resource for parents that was easy to use and great to look at.
We wanted to make it easier to find activities, products and services for our kids and ourselves. In our busy lives, it’s so much easier to do research online, especially when a single website has everything you’re looking for.
What did you do in your previous working life?
Prior to starting Your Kids, Vicky ran her own web design business. Previously, she worked for large corporations in both Information Technology and Marketing. Most importantly, Vicky is Mum to Danielle, 9, and Ryan, 7.
Melissa has been a secondary teacher for 10 years. Before the joy of motherhood changed her life and career choices, she held administrative roles in large corporate organisations. Melissa is Mum to Jarrod, 12, and Andrew, 8.
What were the main challenges associated with setting up your own web based business?
The main challenge is getting your name out there. We know we have a great product and we want everyone to know about it!
How many hours a day/week do you work on Your Kids?
Between the two of us, Your Kids is a full time job.
How do you draw the line between managing a household and managing your own business?
We work mostly school hours, but also lots of evenings after the kids have gone to bed and on the weekends when our husbands are home.
It is difficult to draw the line and I’m sad to say that my house has never been more disorganised. Everytime I think about house work, I decide to “just check my emails” and before I know it a couple of hours have slipped by!
Do you employ any staff?
Not at this stage, but as we continue to grow we will certainly need to look at employing some WAHM’s.
What start up costs were associated with launching Your Kids?
Initial start up costs were quite small, only a few thousand dollars.
What do you wish you knew before you began?
That I would never have a spare moment to just stop and smell the roses!
What would you say are the 5 most essential skills for starting your own web based business?
1. Have a passion for what you are pursuing. Despite the long hours we love what we are achieving with Your Kids.
2. Never give up. Even when you aren’t making much money, have faith in what you are doing and just keep going.
3. Set your goals and work towards them. Never lose sight of the fact that you are doing this for your kids and your family.
4. Have faith in yourself and your business.
5. Be flexible. Not everything will happen as you anticipate and be willing to accept that.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, Your Kids is running two fantastic competitions just for Mum’s in April.
Sign up for our newsletter and go into the draw to win one of 10 Double Movie Passes to see Letters to Juliet, or
win one of 4 [A’kin] Cellular Brightening & Radiance Duo prize packs.
Visit www.yourkids.com.au for more details.
I really appreciate Melissa and Vicky supporting Childhood 101 through their sponsorship and I would ask readers to please take a moment to visit Your Kids.
Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.
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