Mums in Business featuring Mums Back
Career

Mums in Business featuring Mums Back

 

This week for my Mums in Business series I’m delighted to be featuring Sally who created and set-up Mums Back; who provide hampers to mums containing all the things that they are denied in pregnancy. I love this business. As someone who is currently pregnant myself, I know all too well how hard it is to avoid all that tasty wine and delicious cheeses.

Sally has an amazing business idea here that will benefit and make so many ladies happy after they have given birth. Plus the hampers make a brilliant gift to buy for a new mum too!

And if you’re pregnant, just enjoy being hangover free for now, but soon you’ll be able to have a tasty glass red (or white).

Tell me a little bit about you, your background and Mums Back?

Mum’s Back is a business that provides luxury hamper gifts for new mums, focussing on the yummy stuff they’re denied in pregnancy. We also raise awareness of perinatal mental health issues (via blogs, interviews, articles and features) and £1 from every hamper goes to PANDAS Foundation. I began the business in March last year, so it’s nearly our 1 year birthday! I’m a mum of 2 little girls, who are now 2.5 and 3.5. Them, their Dad and I live in Brighton.

Mums Back Logo

What were your drivers and motivations for setting up Mums Back?

The concept for Mum’s Back was born (no pun intended) during my first pregnancy with Daisy. I really noticed how much food and rink I wasn’t allowed and really missed it. My NCT pals and I would joke about how the first thing we’d do after having the baby would be to order a large glass of red wine, or go and have a rare steak. It dawned on me that this kind of stuff would make a fab new mum gift. All the stuff I got at the time, though lovely, was all very baby focussed. I thought their was a gap in the market for something that focussed purely on mums. I really struggled with my identity becoming a mum, and what I really wanted was something that said to me “It’s ok! We know you are still you!”. For me, that kind of gift would definitely have encompassed wine and cheese, so it fitted with my idea for the “breaking the abstinence” celebration style gift.

I didn’t get much chance to indulge in these types of foods following the birth of my first baby, because I became pregnant again when she was just 3 months old, which was a bit of a shock! So I was flung into another 9 months abstinence period, which helped to solidify the concept. It was really annoying having 2 Christmases and birthdays on the trot not being able to drink and eat yummy foods like cheese and pate!

The products you can get in your Mums Back hamper

Sadly, following the birth of my second daughter, I was hit with a bad bout of PND. I didn’t realise I had the condition for far too long and it took me ages to seek help. Once I’d got my diagnosis things started to improve. I wished I’d sought help sooner, and I realised loads of other mums go through exactly the same thing. That’s when I realised that perhaps the business could have a social angle too. I’d used some of the PANDAS Foundation’s services when I was poorly, so it made sense to try and raise funds for them with the business too. I’m so pleased we have the social aim too. It’s led to me speaking out a lot about mental health issues and it’s actually had a really positive effect for me. Turning a negative experience into something positive has been really empowering, and it really helps me to get up every day and work on the business. I know the more success I have with it, the more successful the social aim in terms of awareness raising will be too, which gives me real strength and focus.

How do you balance the business around family and childcare?

It’s really tricky! They are in pre school for 2 and a half days a week so they’re my main working days. I also work pretty much every weekend and evening. It’s hard fitting it in, but I do what I can. The kids will always come first, so if they are poorly or something the business just has to wait. My main focus is fulfilling orders during those periods, and all the other stuff is temporarily put on hold. On the plus side at least I don’t have to make excuses to an employer. My husband’s job is also very flexible and he works from home mainly, so we do get to share a lot of the childcare responsibilities, so I’m lucky in that regard too.

Sally; the founder of Mums Back

Since setting up the business what’s been your biggest success to date?

Oooh that’s a tricky one. I’d have to say speaking out so openly about perinatal mental health, especially the stuff with stigma attached, like self harm. I have been on live BBC and Channel 5 television talking about it, which was pretty crazy, but felt great afterwards. I’ve also had features about the business in the Nationals like The Independent (in a “Top 10 Hampers” feature), The Guardian, The Metro and The Sun, which felt amazing. It was also great when NOTHS asked me to be a partner with them (we sell via there too). Sorry, it’s hard to pinpoint one!

What’s your top tip for Mums who are thinking about setting up their own business?

It would have to be to do something you feel really passionate about. You will be living and breathing it every day, so if you don’t absolutely LOVE it, it will be tough. For me, incorporating a social aim has been great too. It’s given me that extra motivation to just get on with it on the days I’m flagging a bit. 

You can see more and find out more by visiting the Mums Back website, or visiting the Mums Back social channels – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you so much Sally for taking part in my series, it was lovely to interview you, and I wish you the best of luck in the future.

If you would like to be part of my Mums in Business then just drop me an email: thepramshedblog@gmail.com. Or have a nose at some of the other businesses I have featured in my series: Naturelly, Les Petit Tigres, and Trotting Dog.

Claire x

Mums in Business featuring Mums Back

 

 

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