NuMum Gifts

www.numumgifts.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

Making and selling baby shower and welcome new baby gift bags. Gorgeous gift bags fill with great practical products from well known brands or choose from the organic range. Products are suitable for the nursery, travelling, or at grandma's. Products are placed in a re-usable calico bag which is great for the library, swimming or sleepovers.

2. When and why did you start your business?

I started the business in Feb 08 when my son was only 5 months old. I was the first to have a baby amongst my friends, then of course my friends started having them as well. So the baby showers started and I wanted to give my friends a practical product for the baby as well as mum. I packed up a couple of hampers full of different products the New Mum could use and found the response was terrific, hence NuMum Gifts was born :) All of my friends were delighted with the gift bags and were soon telling their other friends what they had received.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with of your business?

When i started the business, I was in a stable and secure relationship of 11 years, in July 08, we separated. I have gained confidence, determination, and independence. I have learnt to "have a go" at the business and found there is a definite market out there, and the response from family and friends has been quite encouraging to keep the business alive and marketing it on limited funds.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

Some of the challenges I have faced thus far, is limited funds to promote the business, I want to advertise everywhere!! As a single Mum on the pension payments, it is quite frustrating to know I have a great unique business idea and I can't really promote to the capacity I want to. Everyone I speak to ends up knowing about it, as word of mouth is the best way of advertising. I have created my own magnetic car signs, business cards and flyers, just with the home office computer!! I feel you don't need to spend big bucks on advertising, you just need to advertise and market to the right people. (which I am trying to do) :)

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

I think leaving a sample bag at my son's childcare is opening people's eyes to my business, it's been sitting on the counter at reception for 2 weeks awaiting orders, but no bites yet, but at least it's out there, gaining exposure. I think talking to friends and giving them flyers to give to their friends is working, as i said, a lot of my friends have now had babies and now in their own mum's group, so i approached those friends first, even though they have just had a baby, human nature is that their friends will soon follow suit!!

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

I think trying to contact the "bigger people", radio stations, newspaper groups etc, don't work, they don't really care for the little people, it's true that small businesses look after other small businesses. I had sent a few flyers and business cards to the bigger people, but most were sent back to me, so a fair indication they weren't interested in helping me out.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

Talking to people about my business and their responses, everyone loves the idea, they think it's practical and that's what New Mums need, practicality and things that make life that little bit easier!

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Other new business people inspire me, i am dealing with Vana from BabyScent, she is my distributor of my organic range and she has been very welcoming to help me with a website and given me ideas on how to promote my business and told me what has or hasn't helped her along the way, she is a new business woman. Also Brenda, she makes my gift cards for Mum (free with every gift bag), she has had several businesses and has also been quite generous with her knowledge of what has and hasn't worked for her. I am quite open to other's idea's and suggestions.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

I hope to see my products on sale in the hospitals, in the gift shop as it is my target market! But I would like to aim my business at the corporate market and encourage them to purchase my products for their clients or staff.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

Talk about your business to everyone. If you don't believe in your product why should others!! Give a little something for free, everyone loves a freebie!! Enjoy what you do, once you don't, give it away.

Visit us at: www.numumgifts.com.au