Tell us a bit about yourself and about your current profession. What were you doing before you started out on your own?
I’m a mom to a 25month old boy, Drayden, and I run a home-based business StubbornSnails, that I started since my third trimester, making diaper cakes for newborns as well as toddlers celebrating their birthdays. Besides diaper cakes, I also make towel cakes as gifts for weddings, birthdays and housewarmings, and party favors for events such as baby showers and children’s birthdays.
Before I started by business, I worked at Bar None, handling marketing and PR matters as well as events. I decided to call it quits after a little over a year – I just have had enough of the night life and wanted to slow down a little! Three months later, I learned that I was pregnant, so my husband and I both agreed I would not work until after the baby’s birth.
When did you start your company? Where? And what motivated you to start it? What was your initial investment?
To be honest, I did not actually "set out" to start a business. It all began as a hobby, mainly creating diaper cakes for girlfriends that were giving birth, and for "friends of friends" that saw my work. It was only after much encouragement from these girlfriends that I decided to give my “business” some serious thought. I was in my third trimester then, and was still deciding which industry to re-join after I’ve had my baby, but the prospect of becoming my own boss sure was an exciting thought!
The utmost motivating factor for me was the brilliant fact that I would be able to work from home, and thus be the primary caregiver for my baby. When my husband surprised me with the gift of my own URL, www.stubbornsnails.com, it sealed the deal! I decided then to go full swing and turn my hobby into an online business.
Since I was going to have a baby of my own, going into a baby-related business felt very natural. Building my online gallery to showcase my creations, as well as a detailed website that my clients would have ease navigating through, was the biggest part of starting my company – it was a time consuming process! Thankfully, though, I did not have to commit a substantial monetary investment. I build the website on my own, and as for my online gallery, I relied mostly on
pictures of the creations I had made previously for friends, and slowly added on to the gallery as more orders came in.
What have been your achievements, accolades and upturns in your career?
Since StubbornSnails was created in 2007, the response has been awesome, because I believe gift-givers here are always looking for something new and unique to give. Reaching my 500th order just one and half year after I started the business was one of my biggest and proudest achievements. I would never have imagined being as successful as I am now, and I have never stopped feeling blessed that it has all fallen into place beautifully.
Also, being given opportunities to be interviewed and recognized as a successful “mompreneur” by magazines and newspapers such as Mother & Baby, Mediacorp’s Baby Care, and My Paper is also one of my proudest achievements. And now, being featured as a “SuperMomPreneur”, definitely adds to the awesome mix! =)
Any downturns, unusual circumstances, hardships, you have had to face in your profession/business?
Definitely! The biggest and most unfortunate downturn, I must say, are customers that abscond from their orders. Normally, I only begin work after payment is received, but I still try to be flexible and make exceptions when potential clients explain to me that paying cash on delivery is more convenient for them, especially when they are referred by a friend or a previous client.
It is a huge risk on my part, purchasing the items to be used in the order without first receiving payment, but sometimes, you just feel like these potential clients seem genuine, or that they can be trusted, because they really go out of their way to assure you…or maybe I am just too nice sometimes, as my husband would say!
Having these clients abscond from their orders, or cancel them at the last minute, especially when I have been nice enough to make an exception for them is certainly one of the unfortunate instances I have faced. It makes me feel like it doesn’t pay to be nice!
I am doing my best to avoid being in any more of these situations, of course, but I also risk “looking” inflexible to other clients who genuinely have inconveniences in making payments prior to delivery. It’s tough to determine who’s sincere and who’s not.
How do you balance your personal and professional life? How many kids do you have? What are your usual activities with them?
Being a work-from-home mom allows me to be a full-time caregiver to my son and therefore not miss all his momentous "first"s. At the same time, it also means I have to learn to divide my time and plan my days smartly to maintain a balance between being a mother and a business owner.
Drayden - my 2-year old - followed me on all of my shopping trips when he was smaller. I love always having a shopping companion, and that we can still spend time together even though I am technically "working", i.e. shopping for my orders! He still follows me on my shopping trips now, and I dare say he enjoys it, too, because my shopping trips are usually to kids’ stores so he gets to occupy himself with the toys in stores, and he gets rewarded with little treats like ice-cream at the end of each shopping trip if he's been a good boy!
When I am not shopping for my work orders, we spend time at the beach – Drayden loves the water! – or at the park kicking the football around, another of Drayden’s favorite past time. On weekends when I am not too busy, we bring Drayden to our favorite nightspot, Timbre at the Substation, to catch some live music and catch up with friends. Drayden loves watching the band in action!
Drayden is also attending playschool twice a week now, and because it is a parent and child programme, his school is yet another way we get to spend quality time together, while learning at the same time.
How do you spend your “alone” time? Any hobbies, activities, or groups you are associated with.
Outside of my business, I am also a Fresh Air for Women Ambassador with the Health Promotion Board (since 2008), and I participate in their talks, workshops and other events whenever I can, to encourage and inspire other women to quit smoking through sharing my story on how I have given up smoking after I became a mom.
Recently, I have also come on board as a Drypers Mom, where I actively discuss and share parenting topics and my everyday mommy experiences that other mommies can relate to, exchange useful and helpful parenting tips other parents can benefit from, and also highlight upcoming events and click-worthy links, on the Drypers official Facebook page and microsite.
What’s the secret to your being a SuperMomPreneur? And what’s the best compliment you have received about your career or being a self-professional.
Behind every SuperMomPreneur is a supportive spouse! =)
In my opinion, having a supportive spouse is the key "ingredient" to a successful business - especially if you have kids.
I used to think it'll get easier when Drayden is older, but boy, was I wrong! Instead, the older he gets, the more attention he demands! So I am thankful for my husband (he has his own business as well, so his time is equally flexible!) who babysits Drayden and keeps the mini man entertained when I am busy in the "StubbornSnails workshop" working on my cake orders!
The most meaningful compliments, I would say, come from friends – as they are the ones that have honestly seen me start out from scratch, and build my business to what it is now. So their compliments mean the most to me, and make me feel truly proud of what I have accomplished so far.
However, I would say the BEST compliment I have received thus far, is to be labeled and recognized as a “SuperMomPreneur”, because not only does it make me feel successful and accomplished in my business, but as a mother and wife as well.
