Feature Interview with Elizabeth Walters of Jellybox
Believe in yourself and have a go. Keep your eye on the finances but don’t over think it or you may never start.!
“To try and fail is better that to have never tried at all”
Your name: Elizabeth Walters
Names and ages of children: Charlie Aged 3
Name of Business: Jellybox
Geographical Location: Monmouthshire, South Wales
Website: www.jellyboxuk.co.uk
Tell us your background
After leaving school in 1989 with good grades, I studied at Art college for several years before embarking on the world of work. Using none of my qualifications gained at school or college I decided on a career in Sales and have been doing various Sales related roles ever since.
I have worked for large London organisations and for some Key luxury brands. It was whilst working for a luxury cosmetic company in London that I met my husband and decided that it was time to settle down some roots and return to rural Monmouthshire in South Wales. I was able to get another Sales position elsewhere which although still in London allowed me to be based at home several days a week. Even after Charlie was born in December 2008 this proved to be a workable solution as it allowed me to drop off and collect him from Nursery at least 3 times a week.
It is now December 2011 and my husband and I are expecting our second little boy in just two weeks time on Christmas Eve 2011. It was when I discovered I was pregnant back in April of this year that I knew I needed to set the wheels in motion for my business idea. I knew it was “now or never” as I needed the funds from my current job to help to make my plans a reality.
How & why did you start JellyboxUK
When Charlie was born in December 2008 I received lots of gifts, as every new Mum to be does & a gift is always lovely to receive but I found I had received many gifts that I would simply not use for various reasons. I wanted to provide an easy & affordable way for friends & family to buy a gift that both Mum and baby would be delighted with. I wanted the gifts to be functional, practical & beautiful.
The JellyboxUK Service allows you to mix and match a range of quality clothing & soft toys into a beautiful Keepsake box and can be posted directly to the recipient in striking packaging. This keepsake box is designed to be re- used for many years to come storing all the child’s early memories and photo’s. All outer packaging is fully biodegradable.
All our clothing products are 100% cotton and 90% of the range is organic jersey cotton . Clothes at this young age should be comfy and soft as all babies skin is delicate as it has not yet been exposed to the environment & for my little boy who suffered with eczema , as many children do ,is was made all the worse. I have found Organic Cotton clothing to be a godsend for his skin and although he is now 3 and his condition has considerably improved we continue to use Organic cotton products as they are incredibly soft and kind to his skin.
Our comforters, blankets, rattles & books make lovely additions to the gift box and provide a nice balance for the gift to be part toy and part clothing.
Were there any Challenges? Either now or when starting up?
Making the decision to start was hard as I knew it was going to be tough to balance a full time job & a toddler with starting a new business , as well as being pregnant. However,I really believed in the concept of what I was doing & decided that it was better to have a go that always look back wishing I had tried and wondering what If?
Once I got started I quickly realised how much I didn’t know about the internet and the world of IT. I brought a book about running an on line business and although it did not have all the answers it did guide me to questions I should be asking and what I should be researching. I took this as my guide and then I took as much advice as I could from every person I came into contact with. This is still the case. I welcome feedback good and bad from customers, suppliers and the general public as it is only by asking other’s opinions that you can make improvements.
My other challenge both now and when starting up is lack of time. During both the set up time and once we began trading dividing my time between all that needed to be done and making sure Charlie did not suffer has been a challenge & has meant many long evening’s working into the early hours. I would be lying if I said I did not have the odd day when I get extremely tired!
Do you use Freelancers?
The business started trading on line on October 1st this year & we have been lucky enough to have had the benefit of good sales because of the run up to Christmas. Although it has been busy, I am the only one currently working within the business although I have enlisted the help of Family and Friends for the “Post office run’s” and Various “Christmas Market’s”
How did you fund your business
The business has been funded from Savings and also from my salary from my main job until I went on maternity leave on November 1st
What advice would you give to others about funding?
Not to invest anything you can not afford to loose if the worst should happen. Also to keep a clear eye on what you spend money on. Is it necessary at this moment in your business or could it perhaps come with time?
How do you manage your business around your childcare arrangements
Charlie goes to a private Nursery 3 days a week and is now home with me 2 days a week. Before my maternity leave started I also had significant help from both sets of grandparents without whom I could not be doing what I am doing.
Once the new little one arrives shortly we will need to re group and find a new workable solution but for the next few months I am looking forward to my new baby as a priority and am expecting many a late night working to stay on top of the business as I am passionate about JellyboxUK and am determined that I can work through the next few months successfully
What projects are you working on now?
We have achieved stage one of our plans by getting the website up and functional and getting trading in time for Christmas. Plans for the immediate future involve pushing for a Corporate gifting Market and also to work on our SEO to promote our site within the google rankings. We are working on marketing in the right places & becoming the place to go for Luxury Newborn gifts at affordable prices.
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by a desire to provide the very best for my children . I also hope that they will be inspired by my work ethic and will themselves always strive to be the very best they can be.
What do you hope to be doing in five year’s time
I would hope that within 5 years JellyboxUK is going to be synonymous with the perfect Children’s luxury gift. I would like to be running a successful profitable business.
What advice would you give to other mums thinking of starting a business?
Believe in yourself and have a go. Keep your eye on the finances but don’t over think it or you may never start.!
“To try and fail is better that to have never tried at all”
