Fab Women

Name: Sarah Matthews



Age: 31

Family Members: Sofia age 7, Sienna age 4, Jayson-daddy, Sarah-mummy

Previous Career: Being a mum

What is the Name and Nature of your Business?

My business is called Bambizi. I design and maunfactuer luxury nursery furniture and accesories here in the UK.



What Inspired You to Start It?

When I was pregnant with my first daughter Sofia I was disappointed with the quality and design of nursery furniture available in the shops. I designed sofia's furniture myself and found a local cabinet maker to make it for me. The furniture was stunning and the idea for Bambizi was born.

How Did you Get Everything Up and Running?

I bought a house and re-developed it, to raise the funds for the initial prototypes. My mum also stepped in to help with the website and testing of the furniture to British standards when I ran out of money.

How Does it Fit in With Family Life?

Everything I do work wise is fit in around the girls. Early morning e-mails and late nights sat at the computer. Running my own business gives me the freedom to pick them up from school and take them on play dates. Even though I'm constantly checking my iphone, for updates.

Biggest Learning Curve So Far?

Don't panic! when we first launched we were only getting 10 hits a day on the website and sales were slow at Harrods, even though I sold a complete range of furniture on the first day of being in store. I worried about everything. But now I realise everything has a organic growth. No matter how hard you can try and push things. Stay focused on what you want to achieve and watch cash flow. Paying the bills and making sure customers are happy.



Most Positive Experience?

Realising that everything can be overcome and that there is a solution for everything. There's many things I am not, but when you run your own business you suddenly have to become everything. I've learnt things about myself I would never of had the opportunity to learn if I wasn't running my own business.

Where Would You Like to Be in Five Years Time?

I want Bambizi to be a global success. Already we have interest from buyers in China and American. I want to continue to develop new and exciting products for the nursery. When people think of luxury nursery furniture, I want there first thought to be Bambizi.

What Advice Would You Like to Give to Other Mothers Hoping to Combine Motherhood with a New Business Idea?

If you have a dream, or you really feel there is a gap in the market and with your skills and ideas you can fill that gap, then do it. The most scary thing in life is getting to the end of it and realising you didn't do something rather then taking the risk and doing it.

www.bambizi.co.uk/

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