Starting a creative business when you have young children

Kerri Hollingsworth with her daughter

5 min read

Whether you start a side hustle at night after the kids go to bed or launch a business during maternity leave, choosing the freedom of a business or freelancing is an increasingly popular choice for women who have young children. But there are questions. A lot of them. How, exactly, does it work? When do you work, how do you work, how do you decide what type of business to start? 

To answer some of these questions, we interviewed three Creative Women’s Circle members who have forged this path for themselves. They give us some behind the scenes insights into the process of starting their businesses, and how, exactly, it all works. 

Our interviewees

Nadine Nethery, based in Sydney with three children, runs Can Do Content. She is a copywriter who works with female entrepreneurs, helping them to find their brand persona and their ‘why’. A lot of these women are also juggling their business with family life, and it is Nadine’s mission to help them find their voice. 

Nadine Nethery. Image: Sister Scout Studio

Kerri Hollingsworth runs antiquate from her home in Gippsland, Victoria .  Combining two passions, one for upholstery and weaving and the other for sustainability, she uses recycled materials to create one-of-a-kind armchairs, each piece telling its own story. Kerri runs her business alongside being a mum to her three year old daughter. 

Kerri Hollingsworth

Melbourne-based Tess McCabe is a familiar name in CWC circles. The previous president of the Creative Women’s Circle board runs Creative Minds Publishing, a boutique publishing company that produces and sells high-quality books and resources that provide practical advice and inspiration for creative professionals­. She juggles this alongside part time work and caring for her two kids.

Tess McCabe

What prompted you to start your business?

Image: Kerri Hollingsworth

Kerri: I started out doing standard upholstery before my daughter was born, while I was working as a flight attendant. But I was getting frustrated with the amount of waste I was producing in my home and my business. I was looking at the fabric scraps— my business of upholstery art, Antiquate Artistry, came from wanting to be less wasteful. The idea just evolved. If you let it evolve then its amazing where it goes.

Image: Tess McCabe

Tess: I could say that wanted to diversify my income to incorporate products, but really I just wanted to design nice books and make all the decisions! Plus publishing is not a big money-earner (at least the way I do it!)

Nadine: The flexibility, and being able to do what I love. Corporate life isn’t for me. 

How did you get started?

Image: Sister Scout Studio

Nadine: Like many female business owners I started my business as a side gig, around my day job in corporate events in communications. One of those boring days in the office I decided to give it a go. At the time I had two kids and was working full time. I thought, no pressure, and see how it goes. Then I got to the point where I almost had too much work, and went on maternity leave with my third child and have been working on Can Do Content since then.

Kerri: I was on maternity leave from my job as a flight attendant and when I was waiting to get the call to go back for retraining, I thought I would just give the upholstery business a go. Qantas called a few months later, but by then I had got into a magazine and had a front cover feature, had held an exhibition and I had three orders – one for eight chairs. I decided to leave flying. It was a really hard decision, but I couldn’t ignore the feeling, it was like my heart was bursting. And I knew I couldn’t combine flying and being away with motherhood.

Tess: It started unofficially through self-publishing Conversations with Creative Women in 2011, and was formalised into a company in 2014.

Image: Tess McCabe

What obstacles and challenges have you faced?

Tess: Books need marketing to sell, so once the book is produced, while there is no more ‘making’, you have to find time to keep on top of marketing. Finding time is always a challenge!

Nadine: Probably confidence – imposter syndrome. I know I can write, I have a background in marketing, I know there is a need for my services but I still questioned myself. The self doubt and wondering if I’m good enough.

Kerri: I think the biggest challenge was probably my mindset. I’ve always been a really positive person, but you can’t help the fears that come up where you wonder if people think it’ll be silly, I’m constantly working to quiet those little voices that say ‘you’re stepping outside the norm’. A lot of us a fear of success because then people might react in a certain way.

What are the pros and cons to running a business vs having a job when you have a family?

Nadine: As a mum the paid sick days are a pro of a job. Whereas in your business everything stops and comes to a halt. You need a big support network if you have a deadline, partner, family and friends that can help. But the flexibility and the reward for finding a passion that you happen to get paid for, rather than showing up to an office everyday to get paid for something that you don’t want to do are the highlights of having your own business. And I love that no day is the same, no client ever has the same story.

Kerri: Financially having your own business there is more pressure. With a job you turn up and do your job and you go home and you know you’ll be paid. There was so much I loved about flying, but I know not being in the job I remember the good and not the hard parts – like the 23rd hour you’ve been awake and you still have to drive home.

Tess: I was running my own business as a graphic designer for various clients before having kids, so working for myself on my own books meant that I didn’t have external deadlines, only my own. But the money is different when you have a product-based business vs a service-based business. Time is not the only outlay and there is more financial risk.

How do you structure your business around your family?

Image: Tess McCabe

Tess: Because I’m mostly the primary carer (and I have a p/t job) and my husband works full time, I use one weekend day when he is home to concentrate on my business. Outside of that, it’s night times.

Nadine: Before going on maternity leave, I worked on my lunchbreak, and then also in the evenings. I tried to keep the weekends free. At the moment its during naptime and the evenings and I still try not to work on the weekend.

Kerri: It looks different everyday – when my daughter was younger, it was a bit easier, because I would go into my workshop and work while she was sleeping. Nowadays when I’m working, if she wants to stay with me and I have to keep going, then she loves to help so I’ll give her something to do alongside me. I’ll set up a little loom and she’ll weave alongside me. I try and include her in everything so she doesn’t feel like she’s excluded. I hope that she sees it more as we’re playing together rather than ‘mummy’s at work’. We go on walks around our property if need be to reset. The two days she’s in daycare I do the things that I need to do that I can’t be interrupted for.

Final words of advice

Image: Sister Scout Studio

Kerri: The main thing is to remember who you are. It’s so easy for mums to lose touch with yourself. If you’ve got a bit of an idea, don’t say its silly, because the voices that say that are just trying to keep you safe. Push through that because its really worth it. Your children and family fill your heart in one way but having your own purpose – they don’t take from each other if you give each their space. 

Nadine: Don’t wait for the perfect moment, if I waited for the perfect moment it wouldn’t have happened. If you have that underlying passion and desire for something, just do it. If you think too much then you can always find a reason not to do it. Just give it a go and the worst that can happen is it doesn’t work out. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Don’t listen to the mum guilt, something has to give, if the dishes aren’t done, whatever, its going to be ok.”

Tess: It takes a village! Utilise and ask for help. And don’t be too hard on yourself – businesses can evolve as your kids grow.

Connect with Nadine, Kerri and Tess on Instagram:

@candocontent

@antiquate_artistry

@creativemindshq

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Bec Mackey is a freelance feature writer who has worked in the media industry for over fifteen years. She writes about wellbeing, work, personal development and parenting, and when she can muster the energy and courage, she writes about Things That Matter. Connect with Bec via Instagram or at www.becmackey.com

Business plans for creatives: what mistakes to avoid

To give you a push in the right direction we’ve put together a list of the most common mistakes startups make during the initial planning phase. Here are some things you should know:

Undervaluing the products you create

If you create something beautiful and then sell it to the lowest bidder then you’re doing yourself a disservice. Your work is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, so don’t make the mistake of selling for what you feel you should sell for. Test the market and see what people are willing to part with in exchange for your work.

Leaving the hard tasks until the last moment

One of the most common mistakes is putting off hard and uncomfortable tasks. If you want to turn your creative talents into a lucrative new business, you’re going to want to tackle them head-on and embrace the challenge.

Being ridiculously over-ambitious

If you want to keep your motivation up, you’re going to want to be able to achieve the targets you set for yourself. No matter how successful you are, if your targets still seem miles out of reach you’re going to feel like you’re a failure. The best approach is to have a variety of tasks and deliverables that gradually increase in difficulty. It will allow you to build your confidence and take pride in what you’re building.

Not factoring in any possible delays

No list of common startup mistakes would be complete without some mention of being overly optimistic. Whether you are part of an online creative studio, or you’re importing new craft materials to use with your next big project, there will always be unforeseen delays. Even if you can’t identify what they are right now, you need to build some leeway into your business plan.

Ignoring the tools and services that are already out there

There are so many different tools and services out there you can utilize that we simply can’t fit them all into a simple 3-minute read. Here are a few you need to know about:

TrustMyPaper allows you to have a professional fine-tune your plan for flow and structure.

GrabMyEssay specializes in quick turnarounds when you want to make some last-minute alterations.  

Grammarly is ideal for using during the drafting process so you can create precise sentences that mean exactly what you intend.

Google Docs is a great collaborative tool if you’re partnering with a fellow creative to get your new joint venture off the ground.

Hemingway will prove useful if you want assistance with getting your plan concise and to the point.

Not quantifying any of your goals

It’s not enough to say you want to be the leader in your industry. Set yourself a quantifiable goal that you can actually measure your progress against if you want to give your business clear direction from day one.

Lucy Canner, Content Specialist at Studicus writing service says:

“I’ve sat through far too many meetings with talented creatives who make this mistake. Their work is inspirational, but they don’t seem to know the first thing about how to direct their efforts in a way that will make them money. My answer is always the same: be quantitative”  

Trying to offer far too many services

Last but not least, you simply must avoid having too much in your plan. If you want to offer half a dozen services from day one, you’re going to get burned out. And if you’re not exhausted from all the extra work, you’ll certainly be priced out of the market by specialists who focus on one or two key niches.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article has given you plenty of direction and motivation to really push things forward. Don’t worry, you’re still going to get plenty of time to be creative every single day, it’s just that you need that additional structure and direction that running a business demands. Take your time to familiarize yourself with the mistakes above, and you’ll be able to ensure you learn from them without having to make them yourself.

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About the Author

Angela Baker is a self-driven specialist who is currently working as a freelance writer at BestEssay writing services. She is always seeking to discover new ways for personal and professional growth and is convinced that it’s always important to broaden her horizons. That's why Angela develops and improves her skills throughout the writing process to help inspire people.

To blog, or what to blog? 50 ideas for creative businesses

Over the past several years blogging has evolved from personal journal to marketing platform, given the rise of social media. While platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook may come and go in popularity, a blog is home to all your platforms. A directory for your portfolio, podcasts, products, services, and information while creating additional online visibility.

Given that blogging is slower and more expensive than social media, the key is quality over quantity. Below is a list of 50 blog topics to inspire you to create original, authentic content for your client base, while building community. Whatever your creative business or niche, you will find inspiration for your blogging content.

Ok, here we go!

Image: Christina Lowry

1. Restate your brand vision. Your why.

2. Q&A - They ask, you answer. Comb through your client emails for your most commonly asked questions, or use social media to put a call out for client questions, then answer them in this post. Invite readers to leave further questions in the comments.

3. Create a library of free training – a one stop post for any tutorials, how to’s, lists of tips etc

4. Include client testimonials and photos of clients using your products – the more creative the better

5. Share behind the scenes of look books or photoshoots – shout out to the team, the location, relay stories from the day

6. Create a mosaic of your nine favourite images from Instagram with a call to action to follow you on Instagram

7. Share your successes – awards, features, published work, do a recap on your/ your businesses achievements

8. Travel diary – going away for the weekend, heading overseas on a holiday or buying trip? Create a travel diary with tips from your experience

9. Summer reads – books that fit your niche that they may not have heard of and will thank you for

10. Curated gift ideas – Create a collection of products from your range that would be perfect for a special occasion, like Mother’s Day. Or, inspire with a selection of local makers products for a Christmas wish list

11. ‘Meet the Maker’ interviews – take five with a crafter you employ or represent, interview a staff member

12. Recipes – whether your brand is food related or not, recipes often add a sense of connection

13. Seasons – from seasonal products, to imagery of the seasons, nature is always a great starting point

14. Tips or advice – your favourite apps, the best way to do something, how to get a job in your industry, share your knowledge

15. Behind the scenes – everyone loves to take a peek behind the exterior and see the details of how things are made

16. Insider’s guide – share the secretes of your niche, your hometown, styling etc.

17. A studio/ workshop/ shop/ office tour – allow the audience to connect with and be inspired by your spaces and what they say about you or your brand

18. How To – use a product, make something, fix something. People love to learn.

19. The making of – a step by step visual of how something is made

20. Sneak peeks – create excitement about an upcoming collection

21. For the love of – share beautiful images relating to your audience. For the love of linen, gardens, lipstick, stationary

22. Highlights from the previous year, season or market – create a round up of images and info

23. Launch details – whether it is a book, product, event, share share share

24. Half yearly check-up – open up on how you working towards your goals, or encourage others to make plans for the next half of the year

25. Summer bucket list – things to do this Summer

26. Brand history – what has changed, what has stayed the same. When and where did you start out and where are you now?

27. Personal or funny stories – what you wanted to be when you grew up, how you thought Tasmania wasn’t a part of Australia, how you got a nick name

28. Create a regular feature – you can create a monthly challenge, feature a maker each week, a weekly editorial, a collection of inspiring images and quotes

29. Future plans – what are your big dreams? What direction do you see the business going in? If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?

30. Write a list of your favourite accounts to follow on Instagram/ podcasts

31. Travel essentials – what do you pack when you go away overnight, overseas, with children?

32. A ‘day in the life' post – people are always fascinated by a day in the life of an entrepreneur or business owner.

33. Your routine – morning/night – do you wake at 5 am to do yoga and write your diary, or are you a night owl?

34. Share videos – video content is getting bigger and bigger. You can make a video out of most of the topics in this list.

35. Celebrate your businesses birthday – do a giveaway, celebrate your achievements, thank your customers

36. Your must-haves – what’s on your rider? Is it kombucha and lip balm? Coffee and a great bag? A certain pen, organiser or night cream?

37. Overcoming a creative funk – how do you find inspiration? What is your go to for self-care?

38. Explain one of your services – imagine a client came across your page for the first time and you were explaining what you do, or how a product works.

39. Your road to success – the path to overnight success is usually a long one.

40. Overcoming failure – think of a time when you used a failure to achieve a bigger goal, or to motivate you to do even better.

41. Things you won’t ever do – perhaps you won’t sell your originals, perhaps you will never buy caged eggs, we are as much what we do as what we don’t do.

42. Organisation hacks – do you batch production, are you a compulsive list keeper, are you terrible and being organised and have found ways to make it easier?

43. Create a roundup of your best content – save them from reading the whole blog and create a post that has the best of the best in one place.

44. Staying motivated – what keeps you motivated when business is slow, or you haven’t reached goal, or someone has copied you

45. Charity – do you support an organisation, do you fund raise, do you work with a company that pays living wages in third world countries?

46. How to style – a dress, a cushion, an office

47. Which _____ is the right one for you? This is great if you offer several similar products

48. Re-publish your email newsletter with a call to subscribe

49. Share something new – a product, team member, idea, business cards. People are attracted to new things.

50. Steps you have taking to have less environmental impact – recycled packaging, non-toxic dye, compostable mailers, timeless style.

Now, it’s time to get writing! Grab a cuppa and a notebook and brain storm some of the ideas on this list to create blog posts of value, with personality, that connect with your audience. Use you blog to inform, entertain and ultimately, give them the details that help them decide to work with you.

Working with a Business Mentor

Ever wondered what it’s like to work with a business mentor? We ask Jane Vandemeer, CWC treasurer and board member for her advice.

Jane Vandermeer is a creative & entrepreneurial thinker who doesn’t thrive under red tape or lots of rules. Having worked within the Fashion industry for 30 years, you can definitely say that fashion and small business is in her blood! Her strengths are to problem solve, particularly with a small budget, and to look into a small business to see what areas need help and guidance. Read Jane’s advice on working with a business mentor, and what you can get out of it.  

Part of my story

Not sure about you but I often found it challenging to cost up my garments. There was also the difficult task of promoting myself. Whether I was producing a range, making one-off pieces or providing a service (they were harder actually!), there was always the conundrum:

How do you price something when you are not sure how long it might take?

Perspective customers need a price or price range. So many times, I wanted the sale so I guessed the price, hoping that I was close to right. But it can be hard to remain competitive, cover your time, costs & make a profit!

Having a professional mentor can help

A professional mentor will look at your business from a different perspective. It is so hard to do that yourself when you are in the thick of small business.

Life gets in the way. It can be hard to keep yourself accountable. It is easy to push things to ‘next week’, particularly the things you don’t love doing.

One of the benefits is that having regular meetings with a mentor creates accountability and deadlines. It is one big way that can help propel your business forward, and significantly quicker.

Who is mentoring suited to?

• You are at the start up stage and not sure where to start. This includes important things like where to focus or spend money first.

• You have been in business for a while, feeling like you are working around the clock but can’t seem to get ahead and not sure why.

• You are looking at an exit plan but not sure how to do that

• You are passionate about so many things

• Those who are willing to take advise & learn

• Those who are brave to grow

• Many creatives’ are multi-dimensional but this can be overwhelming. Then comes paralysis…so you do nothing! A mentor can keep you going.

Tips when selecting your mentor

I often describe selecting a mentor as like selecting a councillor. Working one-on-one with a mentor is such a personal experience. If you are going to invest in a mentor, you need to connect and align with the right person.

A good place to start is to spend time at an initial meeting to ‘get a feel’ about a perspective mentor before diving in. If after the first meeting you don’t think you’re the right fit, that’s totally ok. Be upfront - they might also be able to recommend someone who is. 

Do you want your perspective mentor to be someone you admire?

Are they someone who has achieved or brings experience within the areas you need help & support?

Considerations for offerings/packages

In the initial meeting together, whether that is online, on the phone or in person, ask lots of questions. Make sure you are both clear on things like fees and what the mentoring service involves. 

Mentors might have different fee structures depending on the type of service you require. Here are some examples:

• An hourly rate. This is good for casual mentoring where something is project/problem based. 

• A program with a set number of modules. This type of structure gives perspective clients an idea of prices up front, so there are no surprises.

Some areas to consider:

• Appointment/meeting duration

• Frequency of meetings

• Does it include support such as emails, resources, phone calls outside of meetings?

• Are there certain days you can communicate?

• How is the payment system structured?

• Many do offer payment plans. This is often great for cash flow for small businesses.

Don’t be afraid to ask for clarity if you are not sure and get everything in writing. 

Expectations

It is good to set some expectations between yourself and your mentor too. Do you want someone to ‘teach you’ how to do various tasks/aspects of your business? Or do you want someone to ‘do it for you’?

Different mentors will have different approaches. For me, I have always come from the space of teaching & sharing knowledge, so that you are empowered to know, understand & grow. Everyone works in their particular way and there will be a mentor which will suit your style. 

Here is an example of what a mentor does…. 

A beautiful client of mine had been in business for over 5 years (so not a start up). She was working very hard yet not making enough at the end of each month.

After spending the time to understand her costs and sales. I discovered that she was only making 2% profit margin on many of her services!

We worked on a solution which gave her four options/strategies to increase profit within those existing services. The important thing was that they were all practical & easy to implement.

Her services were back up to 75-90% profit margin and best of all, it didn’t require that business owner to work any harder. 

A final note…

Different ideas can provide a different perspective to a business. Professional assistance can help set up ways to attract prospective clients who happily and joyfully pay for your beautiful and considered work!

Jane is the owner of Finesse Business and Style which provides services in business mentoring and styling. She is also the founder of Intuitive Whispers which provides intuitive products for the heart and soul.

Meet Jenny Brown of Melbournalia

Wander down the northern end of Bourke St and you will find a colourful store filled with all things Melbourne. We chat to owner Jenny Brown, owner and founder about work, life and that wonderful pocket of the city known affectionately as Bourke Hill.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Growing up in the 70s in the big, flat, treeless north, before cafes, avocados or even colour TV, let alone the wonders of computer technology, mobile phones or Netflix was like watching repeats of a long Moomba Parade on a black and white TV with the sound turned down; uneventful, predictable but sort of quaint. I was the last of a huge family of 8, my parents were from the pre-war generation, the house held a multitude of memories and physical objects from a 30 year period. It was like living in a mysterious museum where a party had happened, but just before you arrived.

School was 12 years of looking sweet and pressed in my hand-me-down catholic schoolgirl uniforms. Straight after school, I discovered hair product, ripped stockings, coffee, pubs and boys. It was the 1980s. I studied art history and cinema studies.

Tell us about your career

My Career is in shopkeeping! My business is located at the top end of Bourke St, Melbourne, we like to call the area Bourke Hill.

How did you get into this industry?

Attrition! I wanted to be an academic, a curator or an arts manager, but I kept finding myself behind a counter. Eventually I gave in and embraced it.

On a typical workday, I have coffee (my partner kindly delivers) check emails, the news and plan the work day before getting up. I then exercise a little. On days when I’m not opening the shop I tackle some accounts and answer emails at home, head into the shop before lunch, assist my highly capable staff, who are better at running things than me with whatever needs doing. I serve a few customers, tidy a few shelves, have more coffee, maybe plan some new stock lines, or do some ordering… I talk talk, talk to customers and suppliers, lock up late, head home, have wine. Finally I shower and do some stretches, sometimes I read, but mostly I pour over Instagram & Pinterest for ideas... I sleep and get ready to do it all again tomorrow!

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

Probably coming to the realisation that I’m a terrific shopkeeper and being completely OK with that.

Best creative memory?

Heading up the rickety warehouse stairs in one of the old Munro buildings behind the Queen Vic Markets to our first a Melbournalia pop-up opening in late 2011, which had been planned in mere months, put together on hope, many favours and a shoestring budget... seeing that the place was full of friends, family and well wishers!

What’s on the horizon for the future?

I’m happy. I’d like to see the neighbourhood of Bourke Hill develop further. There are some terrific new businesses around us, and the old Job Warehouse and Palace Theatre sites are being redeveloped, which will be great for the area. There are of course some fabulous established and iconic Melbourne businesses in our neighbourhood such as Pellegrini’s, The Paperback Bookshop, Hill of Content and Gallery Funaki. I’d like Melbournalia (still a newcomer at just 5 years old) to be counted among them one day.

If you had any creative business advice what would it be?

Probably...take advice from those you trust, but listen to yourself and follow your heart as well as your head. Also, learn to delegate. You can’t excel at everything, but you can excel at finding the right person for the job!

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

My mum in 1953 (10 years before I was born). She had a whole bunch of kids, no car, the most basic appliances, a handsome, hard working but troubled war veteran husband, few outfits in her wardrobe, a jar of Ponds Cream and a lipstick on the dresser. Yet her house and her family were her pride and joy, both were always spotless, nothing went to waste, there was always good food on the table and fresh smelling washing on the Hills Hoist. One day in her shoes and I would never be complacent again.

In conversation with Kip&Co

Kate Heppell is one of the Co-founders and Co-Creative Directors of Kip&Co. She grew up in Upwey in the Dandenong Ranges and Caulfield and went to St Margarets in Berwick.  Straight after school she went to Melbourne University for the next 6 years, where she did Commerce / Arts.  Kip&Co began 7 years ago and is been based in Collingwood / Abbotsford.

Tell us about how you got into this industry…

After Uni I worked as an accountant for 2 years. After that, Hayley (another Kip&Co Co-founder and my sister) opened an awesome little health food store, café and yoga studio called Sprout Health Store & Organic Grocer in Hawthorn which we ran for 5 years. I then worked as the Business Manager of the Melbourne fashion label, Obus.  A few years later I had my first son, Hayley and I were ready for another business, and alongside Alex, we loved homewares and felt the industry was prepared for a bit of colour disruption.  And so, Kip&Co was born.

What does a typical work day look like for you? 

I work 2 full days (with no kids – all are at school or with a nanny); 1 from our Melbourne office and 1 from Barwon Heads at Hayley’s home.  The day is Barwon Heads is devoted purely to design.  This is essential.  My day in Melbourne with the team is more about what’s going on that week, what’s coming up, strategizing over all types of business ideas we have brewing, meetings with collab partners, but primarily we spend a chunk of time with each senior staff member and go over exactly what’s happening in their area of the business. It’s an enjoyable day each week.  We love our team of ladies. 

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?   

Hands down the juggle between work and family.  The hard bit comes when I actually love my job (!!) but also love multiple days a week with my little kids and don’t like them going into too much care.  Sometimes work is bottlenecking but my days with the kids are just so precious to me, and so I have to work late at night after they crash out.  I know that I am only in the thick of it with 3 young kids, and it is getting a little bit easier every year.  Eventually, I hope to not work at night (too much). 

Best creative memory? 

We absolutely loved our collaboration with Desert Designs where we got to work with original artworks by Jimmy Pike.  And our multiple collaborations with May Gibbs as her mass of art is just heaven to look through and of course, play with and recreate.

What do you love best about your job? 

Doing collaborations like those just mentioned and working alongside my 2 best friends! 

What do you get up to when not working? 

All types of family activities and we love-love-love travelling with the kids.  Whether it be in Australia or overseas, it is these pockets of time with our little people that my husband and I just crave and enjoy so intensely.  

What’s on the horizon for the future? 

We have a couple of collabs in the pipe-works that have us all really inspired at the moment.  And as for travel, I am off to Borneo with my husband and kids for 2 weeks late June, so we are all counting down the sleeps until that moment. 

If you had any creative business advice, what would it be?   

Say YES – to everything.  Kip&Co was really founded on this mantra, and I really stand by it.  We don’t say Yes to absolutely everything anymore, but honestly, we do most of the time. 

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why? 

I have wracked my brain, but I really am just so happy in my own skin.  No one comes to mind.  I think it would be suitable for all people to walk in the shoes of someone from a real minority group for a day. I guess I’d do that.  Empathy is a hard thing to teach, but maybe this would help us all have it within in a more profound way.

Social media check-up for your business

What exactly had happened? I had been so inspired, so committed, so diligent! An active social media user, a devotee to producing beautiful content and engaging with my audience. I suppose the romance wore off, or I burnt myself out? Over time my enthusiasm lessened, my focus shifted elsewhere and I realised I was simply taking social media for granted. Accounts that once received daily attention were now gathering virtual dust. I had fallen out of love with my businesses social media accounts. 

When was the last time you gave your social media accounts a check up? Are you guilty of a set and forget approach too? I couldn’t remember when I had last fine tuned each platform. Yet these platforms had grown my email list, brought me numerous clients, made most of my sales and offered up unexpected opportunities like collaborations and speaking events. All rather good reasons to reengage with the online corners of my business. The only thing for it was to make myself a to do list and make it a priority.

Whatever your platform/s of choice, use these steps to service your online presence and refresh your virtual image. My online business presence consists of a website with a shop and blog, a Facebook page and Instagram feed. I generally access these from my phone or tablet, however I find a tune up is best achieved with a laptop, a cuppa, notepaper and pen. 

1. Update 

Whatever platforms you use and whatever your device of choice, ensure your software is updated to the latest version so you aren’t missing out on any functionality or resolved glitches.

2. Compare 

Open all your sites in tabs and compare them. Are the aesthetics consistent across each site?  Are they speaking the same visual language? Is your branding strong? Make note - what do you like, what do you want to change?

3. Delete

Be ruthless and give your sites a good pruning. Old sales posts on IG, images that don’t fit in with your look, items that flopped. Delete, delete, delete. Give new customers the very best impression by letting go of anything you wouldn’t happily repost. 

4. Refresh 

An updated bio, a new head shot, seasonal banners, there are lots of simple ways to refresh your social media feeds to reengage interest and generate more clicks. Perhaps a new blog theme or some professional product shots will get you excited about spending time in your online spaces.

5. Check links

Click around on each site and check for broken or outdated links. Ask a friend to send you a message on your Contact form. Test your mailing list sign up forms.

6. Research

Take a look at your competition, are they doing anything new or interesting? Choose a few of your current customers and see what hashtags they are using. Use google to check the top hashtags in your niche. Fall down the rabbit hole and make note of new hashtags to trial.

7. Plan

Create a realistic plan going forward so as to keep the cobwebs at bay. One Instagram post a day shared to Facebook? One blog post a week? Two newsletters a month? Then schedule days to create content to fulfil your plan. Batch photography, editing and writing, then schedule your posts. 

8. Engage

Remember, it isn’t social media if you’re not being social! Engage with your audience. Like, follow, comment. Leave meaningful comments. Reply to direct messages in a timely way. I have found it to be true that the number of followers are not as important as the kind of followers you have. 100 genuinely engaged supporters of your business are more important than 1,000 luke-warm followers, or 10,000 purchased followers.

Christina Lowry is a designer and jeweller who makes fine jewellery for creatives. Her work is featured in several Australian galleries, as well as in her online store. Christina fell in love with jewellery making while studying a Bachelor of Fine Art/Visual Art. Each piece is lovingly made by hand in her Brisbane workshop, incorporating precious metals and gemstones, using traditional metalworking techniques.