Spotlight on ‘Mums in business’: Meet the Jeweller.
Here we have the second Mum-trepreneur in our series of Kick Ass mums in business. Today we have a chat with mum of two Jennie; Founder of Zuri jewellery. We can’t wait to find out more!
· How did you start your business?
I started my business in lockdown and while on maternity leave. I managed to get a bit of money together, so I decided to invest my savings and just take the plunge and go for it. I was in quite a bad place mentally at the time as I had 2 children under the age of two (one born in lockdown) and I was struggling to find myself again. I started Zuri as more of a hobby and something that I could do for myself as I felt a bit lost! The intention was never for it to be my full time business really!
· How do you balance being a mum and owning a business?
In all honesty, this is where I have struggled most. Running your own small business comes with a price. I constantly live in guilt that I'm not spending enough time with the children and when I do, I'm constantly feeling guilty that I'm not working on the business. My little boy started school in September and my little girl started her 30 hours at nursery, so I currently fit work in and around them being out of the house and when they are in bed, oh and around the 50,000 school emails I now receive weekly!
Zuri founder Jennie pictured with children Holly (3) and James (5)
· Did you get any government / outside help to get started?
No, I've not had any financial help whatsoever. I barely pay myself as most of the money made goes straight back into the business to invest in new designs,website development and marketing. My husband would call it a very expensive hobby!
· How did you start up financially, did you borrow or save to get started?
The start up cost wasn't huge really. I started with very limited pieces and my husband helped me build the website. Everytime I made a bit of money, I put it straight back into the business to grow the stock and pay for photo shoots and packaging etc.
· Have you any entertaining stories relating to life as a business owning mum?
I'm not sure how entertaining this may be but two occasions spring to mind.
Black Friday 2022 when we were so busy, I managed to train my three year old to pack necklaces into gift bags for me! Is this slave labour? haha! I'm not sure but he was having the time of his life and has asked several times since if he can help me!
Oh and also, myself and my husband were on a google call to the ads agency and the kids were on half term, so they were home. My little girl was sat on the toilet shouting 'I'VE DONE A POO, CAN SOMEONE WIPE MY BUM PLEASE?' We tried to ignore her until they asked if we wanted to pause to attend to the situation! Ooops!
· Do you ever feel that being a mum impacts your ability to work to your full potential?
Yes I do! There's no beating around the bush with this one. I could be the most organised person in the world, but if in the morning I wake up and one of my little ones are ill, my whole day changes. Ultimately, they are my priority and that's ok! I'm learning everyday that my business may not grow as fast as the girl I'm comparing myself to who gets up at 5am every morning to go to her pilates class and work on being her best self! I'm a mom and I have two very small humans who need me. My business will grow and it will be all I want it to be and more... it just may take me a little longer!
· What’s been your career high?
I managed to BEG my way into one of the best jewellery manufacturers out there! They're used by some of the biggest jewellery brands I know of and they are expensive to work with, but I wanted to make sure that my designs were of the highest quality, long lasting and durable.
Another career high was definitely Black Friday 2023. I honestly thought it was going to be a huge fail and to my disbelief it was incredible. I had so many loyal customers choosing to spend their money on Zuri pieces that it just made me so, so proud and I think it was the first time in 2 and a half years of Zuri that I was like 'Wow! I own a business!' I have a brand!
· What’s been your lowest point with your business?
My lowest point was just before black friday actually. I thought I would have to close my doors. I took on an ad's agency to help me promote the business and quite frankly, I lost my entire budget and business cash flow that I had spent all year saving. I spent all year creating new designs with my manufacturer and then when they arrived, I couldn't afford to have them professionally photographed. I decided to hold back the designs this year and launch them in the new year once I have saved the money up to give them the marketing that they deserve. They are beautiful by the way, so watch this space! Anyway, I thought ad's would be the right move for the business but it just wasn't.
· Do you have any advice for our mums who might feel like they want to take the plunge and start a business?
My advice would be to go for it! The biggest lesson that I have learned this year is to just enjoy the journey. I still haven't told some of my closest friends and family about Zuri and it's been hard building the business without their support, so I would also say to be proud of what you do. Don't fear failure and don't worry about what others think as ultimately, they don't pay your bills and your dreams are YOURS for a reason! Go and live them!
Take messy action instead of no action. In mum language, just do what we do best and wing it! What could go wrong? At least you can say you went for it! I'm so glad I did!
