Last Friday I introduced a new series called “Mama + Biz Owner” and I have loved reading your comments and seeing the interaction on Twitter or Facebook. Sometimes it seems so impossible to make all of it work, raising children but wanting to work a few {or a lot} of hours each week. But one thing I’ve learned is anything is possible. What helps is surrounding yourself with people that believe in you. And learning from others, that helps immensely, too.
So let’s keep learning together! Today’s feature is another dear friend, Jessica of Allora Handmade. I know you’ll love reading more about her start-up story and how she came to be “the rosette girl”. For years I’ve been amazed at how beautifully Jess runs her business yet has hours with her kids every day. She is definitely an inspiration for me as I enter mama-hood :) And now that I’ll be living just a couple of hours from her I plan to soak up as much wisdom from her as I can, face-to-face.
My name is Jessica and my boys are Owen (almost 5) and Henry (3 1/2). I am the owner/designer of Allora Handmade — a little online shop full of rosies and pretty things and a blog where I share about my life as a mom and small business owner.
Before having kids, I worked a 9 to 5 job and was only ever creative when I had time away from work. My jobs were always exciting and dynamic and enjoyable, but never exactly what I wanted to do. I never imagined I’d own my own business one day, nor did I think I was cut out for that! I sought out creative outlets, and while I felt like I had some talent, I never would have believed anyone would pay for anything I made.
I started my own business out of necessity. We decided to go back to school so my husband could finish his degree and by the time baby boy #2 came along, I had to find a way to contribute to the family and stay at home with my boys. I don’t know that I would have thought to start a shop had our situation been different, but in the end, I’m so glad it turned out the way it did.
From the get-go my kids were always in the picture, so the only adjustment has been with the growth of my business and the growth of my kids. Each phase of growth has required adjustment. During the baby stage it was easier to get things done during the day, naptime etc. Now that my boys are growing up and want to be entertained all day, I play all day and mostly work after they go to bed. I have learned to be flexible with what they need and am always seeking balance with the constant changes in our family dynamics and in my business. I am so grateful to have work that allows me to do that!
As I mentioned before, the kids were always part of the perspective of my business, and actually the reason for the business! My priority from the beginning was to stay home with them, and I knew I had to make that work somehow. As our expenses have grown, I have found ways to grow the business to make up the difference, which is such a huge blessing. I know I won’t always be able to live this crazy mom/business owner life, so we do our best to make it fun and functional for us and count our blessings along the way.
My best piece of advice is to do what works for you. The balancing act of mom/business-owner is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done! I have come to learn that I can only do what works in my situation and I am the only one who knows what that looks like. Comparing to others doesn’t do any good, but knowing your own limitations and the needs of your family will always help you to be happier and more productive in all aspects of your life!
SHARE WITH US: Did you start your business out of necessity or want? Did you have children when your business was birthed, or did they come later? What kind of challenges do you face with running your business, and how do you push past those? Leave a comment below + let’s discuss!
This is encouraging to read. I quit my full time desk job in November (After the birth of my 2nd daughter) to run Gingiber full time. Working from home and taking care of 2 girls has been incredibly challenging. I am still trying to find the balance. Due to several things that were out of my control, I became the bread winner of the family. It is amazing how my business has grown enough to pay the bills. I love what I am doing and wouldn’t have it any other way.
@Stacie Bloomfield, Congrats on quitting your desk job Stacie! I know that’s both exciting and terrifying :) I too was the bread winner for almost 3 years while my husband was in school and somehow, someway we made it work. I always knew that in the end we would be ok and tried to keep that perspective even when things were incredibly stressful. I loved that through it all God was there to show me that He had not left me alone and that I was stronger than even I knew. I know He will show you the same and bless your business for it! Best of luck to you!
What a positive and joyous post! I thought it was insightful that her business changed as her boys and business grew.
Catherine Denton
Wow, I really loved reading this post. I have a little girl, she just turned 3, I became unemployed when I got pregnant,and I started doing things, but just for family and friends. I never pictured myself as a stay at home mom, but when I held my baby girl in my arms, I knew that I would do anything for her..
End of last year beggining of this year I started working to reach people out of my comfort zone, and slowly its starting to build up, its not easy, and I know more hard times are on the way, but I wont give up, and after reading these stories, it gives me hope. Keep up the good work
@tania, That’s right, Tania! It certainly will not be easy and definitely will not be within your comfort zone, but you will grow so much and be a better mom because of it! I just know it! Best to you!
This is so great! I just love that last paragraph! I am 21 weeks pregnant with my first, and hope to be quitting my day job and become a stay at home mom + photographer ( I already do photography as a side job) I am so excited to start this journey! And I think seeing/reading/hearing that last paragraph will really be crucial for me in the near future!
@Tara, Thanks Tara! There will be times, trust me, that you will need to repeat those things to yourself over and over again… “do not compare, only I know what is best for me and my family.” And I’m totally jealous that you’re a photographer… the perfect SAHM job in my opinion!
I started my blog because I was running out of space in my own jewelry box- I wanted to share with others! I love making jewelry, but can only wear and enjoy so much. What started out as a hobby (and a way to finance my hobby) has become, in the last few months, a way to provide for my family. We are welcoming out first child in October and I’m staying at home now. I am trying to take steps toward taking my shop/blog more seriously and using it to bless our growing little family.
I agree that the last paragraph is the most important. I quit my job after the birth of my little girl a year ago, and it has not been easy getting started. Not only adjusting to life as a new mom, but also adjusting to life as a new business owner (and trying to fine tune the direction I wanted the business to head), was very challenging, and I am still not fully adjusted. That being said, I love my little girl, and I love my Whitehall Shop, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It does et easier each day as we all learn what we need from each other a little better.
Several years after we got married, I graduated from university and my baby was one year old. I wanted to stay home with him and my future kids. My degree was in Fashion Design/ Apparel Production. I started a little studio right in my home where I did alterations for people and created custom designs in clothing, costumes and home decor items. It helped pay the bills, along with my husband’s jobs and him finishing his schooling full time. It was super busy times but I loved all of it. I developed a clientele and have had many and more of these clients for 14 years now. I now have 6 children and have gone through all of the phases of some in school, some still home, with my work schedule ebbing and flowing the whole time. I now have 200+ clients and am also teaching sewing lessons in my studio as well. I love that I can work right inside my home and balance the life of my family while still bringing in income and creating! I love my clients and being able to do what I love! I blog about this at http://LoveItSewMuch.blogspot.com. This has been fun to read these stories about “mama + business owner”s.
@Julie Snow, What a cool story! I love it!
I love Jess…have loved watching her business grow and I agree it always seems like she is out and doing fun things with the boys while maintaining a wildly successful and busy handmade shop!
Love it, so inspiring!
My shop also bloomed from a need to stay home with my kids AND pull in money. And it worked great! 4
Ellarye Boutique pays our bills, but I need, as a mom and business owner, to constantly challenge myself to keep the inspiration fresh- while being kind to myself … and also show gratitude to God for the blessing of being able to do this.
I know it might not last for forever, so I am grateful for it now!!
@Emily @ Ellarye Boutique, Awww, thanks Emily! I love what you said- we must always challenge ourselves, be kind to ourselves, and show gratitude to God for all He has given us! Such wise words…
I’m in the process of figuring out what work I want to do from home. I love staying home fulltime with my 2 year old son. But I’ve found that if I don’t have structure to my day and contact with the outside world, I’m not the best person/wife/mom that I can be. I am generally a major perfectionist and apprehensive of new endeavors, so this “figuring out” phase is taking longer than I’d like. But I’m starting to realize that I definitely won’t succeed until I start!
@Summer, Oh Summer– yes, yes, yes. The advantage I had was I HAD to start and HAD to make money- so there was no over-analyzing it to death. If you are worried about making mistakes, don’t be. We all do! The great thing with this business is we are all constantly changing and reinventing ourselves. It is the nature of the beast! So don’t be scared to jump in and get both feet wet and learn as you go. It will be a fun ride!
Congrats on quitting your desk job Stacie! I know that’s both exciting and terrifying :) I too was the bread winner for almost 3 years while my husband was in school and somehow, someway we made it work. I always knew that in the end we would be ok and tried to keep that perspective even when things were incredibly stressful. I loved that through it all God was there to show me that He had not left me alone and that I was stronger than even I knew. I know He will show you the same and bless your business for it! Best of luck to you!
So happy to read about how you make it work. I’ve got two little boys, as you know.
I really am curious about how to determine my turn around time with orders. As my shop grows there is just no way for me to handle everything at night and have a short turn around time like 3 business days.
Any recommendations?
@Lindsay Girl, Lindsey!! Oh girl. I’ve been there. First of all, be realistic with yourself and with your customers. When I was working made to order (which I don’t do anymore- everything is pre-made and ready to ship when I list it. Gussy has a great post on this: http://www.gussysews.com/2012/07/pre-made-or-made-to-order/) I made my turn-around time 2 weeks +shipping. It didn’t always take 2 weeks to be up to date on my queue, but I knew that life was bound to get in the way somehow, and that some days I might just want to be mom for a day and not see a single stitch of work. I found that if I was up front with customers about that, their expectations were still met as long as they knew when they purchased that their order wouldn’t come right away. I did offer rush orders for an additional charge – $10 minimum for anyone who wanted extra quick processing. Otherwise it wasn’t worth it for me to drop everything to make sure their order got their in their timeframe. I think most people who order handmade understand that we are trying to do a lot — most of us moms wearing a lot of hats.
And yes, working at night takes it’s toll for sure. When I started to grow to the point that I couldn’t keep up and couldn’t sleep, that’s when I knew it was time to hire someone. Even a HS student just to do packaging. Just something to think about!
Hope this helps! Love to hear that your business is growing. I for one think you are the bee’s knees!!! XO
Jess! i have always admired how you’ve just kept on going. even when you were overwhelmed or tired or thought you might go crazy ;) you have always been my handmade hero!
i think it’s so important how you said you have to be flexible as your kids grow. i totally agree, and i think that’s why my business and products have evolved so much over the years. it’s okay to change and adapt. sure, the transition might be painful or rough, but it eventually smooths out!
my biggest thing, that i need to get over, is that i fear growth. yes, i actually fear it. because i fear getting too busy again, like what happened the first time, and then i fear how in the world i would ever hire someone if it came to that, and then i fear big opportunities. i know, that sounds ludicrous. i just do. it feels like a lot of responsibility for one person, i guess. and i know i need to get over that because honestly, i would love for this to be my full-time-pays-the-bills job!
@aly @ blossom and vine, Aly, I have to tell you- when you first told me you were quitting the labor-intensive part of your business, you gave me permission to make my own cuts. Honestly. I remember thinking you were so talented and sooooo good at what you do and knowing your business could be HUGE… and you had the where-with-all to see that your girls and your family and your sanity were more important. At that time in my life, I didn’t have much flexibility to pare down my business, but I have kept that with me and have to remind myself of what matters most to me. In the end, my family always comes first. It has to. And someday when I don’t have littles at my feet, I can rule the world ;) but for now, their happiness and safety and childhood is most precious.
I understand the fear of growth. There were seasons when I felt like if I grew anymore or any quicker I just might die. And so I learned how to say no. And what to say yes to. And again, I think at this point in our lives- maybe HUGE success isn’t what we need right now. Because our kids need us more than the handmade world does!
Love to you mama. You are awesome at all of your responsibilities :) XO
@jess, wow. thank you for saying all of that :) you are so so encouraging. i’m a little teary, to be honest. i am honored to have made a little impact in your life.
and here’s to ruling the world when our kids are in school ;)
xo
Gussy, can I call you gussy? I just want to thank you and Jessica. I have a three month old at home and when she was born I quit my job. I knew I wanted to stay at home and I just wasn’t making enough to make putting her in daycare feasible. I saved my butt off while I was pregnant and gave myself a nice little nest egg that I can sit on for a few months while I stay home. However, that nest egg is going to run out and I’d been contemplating what to do when it did. I’ve worked mostly in retail so the obvious choice seemed to be to go back there. I planned to work while my husband was home with my daughter. It wasn’t the perfect solution, or even a great one, but I thought it was what I needed to do to make money. Then I read your post and a lightbulb went off in my head. I don’t have to go out into the “normal” working world. I can do something creative and work from home. This would not only allow me to stay home with my daughter but also have time with my husband. I’m excited to see where I go from here. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
jessica, i have admired you from afar for a LONG time. i am so needing to make money. like really bad. can you tell me more about this: “My priority from the beginning was to stay home with them, and I knew I had to make that work somehow. As our expenses have grown, I have found ways to grow the business to make up the difference, which is such a huge blessing. ”
That is what I need help with. Just had my blog revamped hoping that would help but ad sales are not increasing. Had an Etsy but closed it to sell in a brick/mortar here in town but could reopen!
This is exactly what I needed to read today! My husband is going back to graduate school for the next three years and I’m just praying that my recently opened handmade shop can support us and allow me to continue to also be a SAHM!
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Jess, I am so proud of you for all you’ve accomplished. I know that I could not support my family on my handmade biz at this point. You must feel so strong to have done this! A lot of support and love had to have helped as well! We push through and get out there as much as us Mama Biz Owners can do. We do it with the support of others who are in our shoes, other Mama Biz Owners.
Thanks for sharing your insight and know that you are such an inspiration to so many, myself included!
xo Tara