Reflections
Looking back, I am amazed how far I came when my children were still so small. It wasn’t always easy – I can remember boxing up lights for a shop in Norway at midnight between feeds for my newborn daughter. But am a so glad that I did it, and now my children are older (five and three) I have a business which I can grow as they grow. If I can do it – with zero experience in product design, sales or the baby industry – then you can too. Go for it!
ANNA’S TOP TIPS
- Find an idea which no one else is doing yet and test it in a small way at a market or a fair to see how it goes down.
- Get help, you need someone to look after your children whilst you work. You might want someone to look after you too from time to time!
- Be brave. Always ask. The worst anyone is going to say is: ‘No thanks’.
- Be realistic. You will not make £20,000 per year in the first year. Or the second. New businesses need investment.
- And enjoy it! If you don’t enjoy it, shut up shop and go and do something else you’ll love.
Key milestones in the Buggi Lights journey:
- Winter 2012 – Our son Samuel is born and we have our light bulb moment.
- Summer 2013 – The first Buggi Light samples arrive in the post from China. We love them!
- Spring 2014 – Meeting Hippychick and agreeing a contract to have them represent us in the UK.
- Christmas 2014 – Buggi Lights begin to sell in shops all over the UK including Boots, John Lewis and Jo Jo Maman Bebe
- December 2014 – Our daughter Florence is born.
- Winter 2015 – Buggi Lights begin to sell in Europe through Amazon and we sign a contract with our first international distributor in South Korea.
- Autumn 2017 – We sign with our second international distributor, Little Prince, in Israel
- Christmas 2017 – Buggi Lights win the coveted Gold at the Mother&Baby Awards for best pushchair accessory under £25.