Continue reading »]]> Happy New Year ladies!

For the start of 2011, we have an exciting new event … “Time to Treasure”.

Do you struggle to juggle your work life balance? Would you benefit from a Time Management workshop, with experienced life coach, and amongst other like minded mums, with a bit of fun added into the mix?

Date & Venue
Monday, February 7 · 11:00am – 2:00pm
Birmingham Central Library, Birmingham City Centre

Timings
10.30am – Registration, tea and coffee.
11.00am – Welcome & Treasure Hunt Networking
Midday  - Session 1 – Debbie Assinder – How to market your business on a shoestring
12.30pm – Lunch
1.30pm – Session 2 – Juliet Robinson – Time Management
2.30pm – Informal networking

Mini Exhibition
As we always try to we'll have a mini exhibition so please bring along your wares/leaflets etc to show off. BUT please let us know as soon as you can so we know how many tables to prepare!

As always, our events will have a unique twist and we will, of course, be bringing our infamous goody bags!!

Hope to see you there ….

Book here! Just £15 for the day includes lunch…
(When you click the button it'll add it to your basket so check it over on the right!)

So what's in the Goody Bag?

www.collinsbigcat.com
Love Reading with the award-winning reading series for 3-11 year olds!
With over 300 book-banded titles, 50% fiction and 50% non-fiction, from a wide variety of top children's authors and illustrators, Collins Big Cat readers are bursting with child appeal, providing a REAL reading experience to ensure all children become life-long readers.

http://www.facebook.com/fireflytoothbrush 
Fun. Flash. Firefly. Those three "F"s are the ABC's of good oral hygiene for kids and a lifetime of healthy smiles. And that's why Dr. Fresh – with the help of his young daughter – invented FireFly® …the colorful light up toothbrush that flashes for 60 seconds, the length of time dentists say is required to thoroughly brush each arch.

www.caboodle.co.uk 
On-line office store, Caboodle has launched their ultimate on-trend accessories this season – The Green Office. Re-vamp your desk, stationary cupboard or whole department this autumn with Green stationary that has a fashionista twist.

www.pearlmason.co.uk 
Pearl Mason offer a wide range of finger puppets from fruit and vegetables to Queen Victoria and an almost infinite number of characters in between. Customers can choose from the range or have puppets produced to your own specification.

www.saycarevouchers.co.uk and www.sodexomotivationsolutions.co.uk
SayCare Pass is a leading provider of childcare vouchers under a Government scheme to help parents pay for their childcare.  Childcare vouchers are exempt from tax and National Insurance. For each parent this can mean savings of up to £1,195 per year.

We have Sodexo bears and trolley coins as well as parent information on childcare vouchers and childcare vouchers for businesses and how they set up.

www.sarah-smith.co.uk & www.twitter.com/sarah_smith
Sarah Smith ultra-absorbent cleaning cloths are fabulous; washable; anti-bacterial, long-lasting and very cute!

www.douwe-egberts.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
All delegates will received (big!) samples of the Smoky Blend from the Douwe Egberts Etienne range

Continue reading »]]> Bring the kids it's Christmas!

Child friendly networking at Wacky Warehouse

PLUS! Get your children’s Christmas Photos too…

Local photographer mum, Rachel from Bennetts the photographers has offered to do free sittings for you and your children.

 You will be able to have photos printed on the day for just £10.

The Fort Jester are giving us the venue for free so please come along for some pre-Christmas networking.

Lunch not included although it is 2 for one

Goody bags will be coming too!

Monday 6th December 11-2pm

VENUE: The Fort Jester

Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, B35 7AF. Tel: 0121 747 2908

Hope to see you there! Please register to let us know how many goody bags to bring

Continue reading »]]> From Russell Grant

Reproduced with permission from The Business Mums Journal. Get your free copy today!

Aries

You’ve never been short of inspiration or ideas. Acting on them helps you make use of all your skills, ability &  strength to make a better life for your family. Better still running your own business means you are in control which appeals to the natural leader within! Arians are the pioneers of the zodiac so your ideas will be original, innovative and a huge success. Once you’ve got your business up and running, you will be one of those inspirational guest speakers at seminars who can share your experiences on how to juggle family commitments with running a successful business with other mums. Great business ideas: Event planning services, advertising consulting or other consulting services, making and selling jewellery.

Taurus

You’ve always had good money sense and you might turn a handsome profit by cashing in on some past investments. This could leave you free to start your own business. Anything you undertake will be carefully researched and it won’t be until you know all the ins and outs and all the possible risks before you take a cautious step forward. You won’t find it difficult to organise your family life around your job or vice-versa. Good planning happens to be one of your strengths. Being overly cautious however could miss you a good opportunity. Once you’ve done your homework and you know your stuff, how can you possibly fail? Great business ideas: Beauty treatment, pet grooming, publishing.

Gemini

You’re the type of person who has a finger in every pie. Deciding to set up in business for yourself is the easy part. What’s difficult is making a firm choice on what it is you’re going to do. Writing and communication are the areas you should focus on. Identify what you are good at and put these skills to use by starting a web based business. Protect your interests by getting written instructions or a clear agreement before undertaking all new projects. There’s a good chance you could be a successful mumpreneur provided you surround yourself with stable, reliable associates who can keep you grounded. Great business ideas: Writing articles for newspapers, magazines and online writing sites, proof reading, create an online shop, printing, advertising and leaflet distribution.

Cancer

Home has always been where your heart is and the idea of being a stay-at-home mum running your own business has always appealed to you. Use your family for inspiration and elaborate on skills that come naturally to you and how they might be utilised in business. You’ve always loved cooking so why not look into starting your own catering business? You might like the sound of offering a wide range of products and services connected to the home or family such as buying and selling kids clothes or baby equipment. Or starting up your own day nursery. Great business ideas: Selling arts and crafts, starting up your own house cleaning service, child minding, baking, cooking, house or office cleaning.

Leo

You’ve always been an expressive person and you don’t mind performing to large crowds. Offering a pamper party or make-up and beauty party service is a great way to exploit your innate creativity. Setting up your own business will also keep you in touch with the world at large. Networking connects you with other mumpreneurs and motivated people like yourself. Extravagant ideas could cause some difficulty where finances are concerned. It won’t always be easy, so stay hopeful but don’t set your sights too high. While building up your business expect to sacrifice fun times with family and friends when work takes priority. Even so, the long-term rewards will outweigh the early troubles. Great business ideas: Beauty therapist, nail technician, face painter or party planner.

Virgo

If you’re not self employed, you feel you should be. You would never shy away from hard work and you’d put one-hundred-and-ten per cent effort into making your business successful. Working from home will mean you get to watch your family grow while enjoying a fulfilling career. You’d never rush into anything and the fact that pay cheques could initially be few and far between is a serious consideration. The independence of working from home is a big pull but insecurity also comes with the turf. Consider all the pros and cons before setting up on your own. Great business ideas: Proofreading, accounting, pet minding, graphic and web design, writing, book keeping.

Libra

As a Venus ruled Libran you’re likely to enjoy many creative interests and this is a great start towards your becoming a successful mumpreneur. If you think you’d be better off opening your own business consider converting a hobby into a money-making venture and get the ball rolling. Don’t just choose anything. To safeguard your freelancing future, check there is a market for your ideas and offer a service people might want.  Due to your dislike of arguments and being pushed into making decisions it would be better that you chose a line of business where you might mix with people you get on well with. Should you need to employ staff or work with other mumpreneurs, choose with care! Great business ideas: Beautician, photographer, knitting, needlework, clothes alteration services.

Scorpio

You have the passion, energy and stamina to go far once you decide to set up business for yourself. You could achieve amazing things because you will keep going when the going gets tough and you aren’t discouraged very easily. You have a searching mind and like to delve into mysteries. Writing a thriller, launching a research project, or shopping for hidden treasures in second-hand stores are all positive ways to satisfy your urge to dig beneath life’s surface. You will be well organised from the start and this will help you achieve an excellent balance between work and family. Great business ideas: Proofreading, geneaology, photography, writing and research and selling antiques

Sagittarius

Running your own business has many advantages and suits your personality perfectly. Here’s your chance to escape the confines of a nine-to-five job. You have control over when you work, when you take time off and what you do. The only person you answer to is yourself! You’ve always been ambitious and you are a born leader. You love to travel and if you can make money out of a hobby you would never look back. When making plans to start up a business, pull in ideas and inspiration from a variety of sources. You might get a greater measure of freedom through further education if new qualifications might help you progress and there is no reason why you can’t study while running your own business. Great business ideas: Pet Grooming or pet minding, start your own travel service or internet shop.

Capricorn

You are as cautious as you are ambitious. Careful with your cash you might tend to keep money in the bank rather than invest it in needed gear or equipment to run your business. Sometimes you need to spend money to make money, and when you start down the mumpreneur line, this is one of those times. Don’t let nagging fears about upsetting the apple cart prevent you from realising a cherished dream. It’s always daunting to realise your goals, but consider the alternatives and you may decide being a mumpreneur is the best one for you. Once you’ve set yourself a goal, you will reach it. You are destined for success. Great business ideas: Child Care, teaching, tutoring, bookkeeping.

Aquarius

Once you’re ready to set up business on your own, whatever line of work you are looking at, be realistic about your prospects. You have a fantastic imagination, so find a market to tap into and you’re likely to come up with some unique business ideas. Expect the early days to be hard-going and budget accordingly. Be sensible about your monthly outgoings and how much you will need to live on. If you already have your own business, think about expanding into a different area that has always interested you. Any ventures using your knowledge of the internet could be profitable. Great business ideas: Starting a web design business, advertising, leaflet distribution, consultancy services.

Pisces

You have a sensitive nature and usually have trouble putting yourself first and great difficulties saying no to people. Starting your own business will mean you must get tough. You can’t give your services away and you must demand good recompense for what you offer. Your one problem is an inability to focus on one work or art project. You’re more inclined to pour your energy and talent into several projects that bring you a small amount of success while ignoring other plans that could well be more profitable. Great business ideas: Pottery, painting and other craft work, running craft classes, catering, an online shop, wedding planning.

Continue reading »]]>

Donna Pinnell loves shopping for gorgeous gifts…

The Little Lilypad Co was founded as a result of Donna’s love for gorgeous gifts! When Donna had her daughter and subsequently found herself in a baby boom with her friends, she started looking everywhere to find wonderful little gifts for babies but not the usual high street presents… She wanted beautiful and unique little gifts but found a lot of these came at a price.

She didn’t want mass produced plastic toys, she wanted to find handmade and maybe even unusually old fashioned gifts that have been painted, glued and lovingly crafted by real people! So the Little Lilypad Co was born!

The name is derived from her daughter’s name who takes an active interest in helping Donna find new goodies! The business is only in its infancy but steadily growing with repeat customers and fit’s around Donna’s family and other work commitments.

Building the business further is obviously Donna’s aim but also maintaining the quirky boutique style shopping experience is essential to retaining the appeal. www.littlelilypad.co.uk

Continue reading »]]> 'Pamper your positivity' Monday 15th November 2010

The Arden Hotel | Coventry Road | Bickenhill | Solihull | Birmingham | B92 0EH

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A whole day of workshops, pampering, and a mini exhibition.

Morning WORKSHOP: Lisa Baker, life coach
Life coach Lisa Baker  presented an informative and interactive workshop on confidence boosting, which addressed our confidence issues. Lisa will be returning next year with more workshops.

MIDDAY – Lunch & Pampering
Beauticians Spa-Kels, Shropshire Therapies and Kizzy Bass Mobile Beauty are coming along to give us all complimentary mini manicures over lunch! 

Afternoon WORKSHOP: "Stunningly Simple Yet Sexy SEO"

  Jean Maund of  Just Ask Jean pre sented a workshop on to dispell much of the mystique surrounding getting on to the first page of Google.

She provided simple, quick and above all inexpensive ways to improve websites rankings and left the presentation with lots of ideas and a clear action plan that delegates were immediately able to  implement into their businesses. Look out for further visits from Jean.

FREE MINI EXHIBITION
Most of our delegates promoted their products & services; from pc repairing services and business card printing to cup cakes, miracle lotions, dermalogica and cookery equipment. 

GOODY BAG
Thank you to all our goody bag suppliers, the products were fabulous…

 Diaries from Dodo Pad - Woven bags from Seasalt - Thermos from Energy Rethinking - Jabra blue-tooth headset – Security software – Mouse mats from Cafe Press - Family planners from Phoenix Trading

For more photos see our flickr account here.

Continue reading »]]> Capture & Canapes – Wow what a day!

Thank you to everyone who came to our first midlands meet up, at the beautiful 15th century mansion Blakesely Hall in Yardley. It certainly is a hidden Gem in the suburbs of Birmingham! We loved meeting you all and hope you had a great day too.

We arranged a photography day for our local mums in business to have professional images taken of both them and their products, the kids came too and received a history lesson as well as face painting and lots of playing! I'm sure you'll agree the photos are all fabulous and we hope you get some great use of them.

And thank you very much also because we raised £50 for Acorns children's hospice too.

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If you had photography taken on the day you will have been sent the link to retrieve your images. Feel free to use them on your own website but please always credit: www.bennettsthephotographers.co.uk   

( …no need to credit the general shots taken by us – I'm not sure Bennetts would want the credit for them!)

See you at the next one!

Thanks also to www.buffets2go.co.uk for providing the canapes free of charge. They were scrumptious and the kids enjoyed them too so must be good!

     …and to our goody bag providers;