To celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, we got in touch with two of our business sellers who juggle running their business on eBay with the most important job of all - being amazing mums! We spoke to the owners of Fashion Flair and Head Over Heels to unpack how they balance running a successful business on eBay alongside family duties, and share advice to any other mothers looking to (or already doing) the same thing.
Meet the mothers
Twin sisters, Lydia and Charlotte, jointly founded and run accessories boutique, Head Over Heels. The business was born after the pair found a gap in the market whilst searching for bridesmaid accessories for Charlotte’s wedding. With Lydia made redundant whilst on maternity leave, and Charlotte having just finished a Speech and Language Therapy degree, the pair both had young families and dreamed of being able to build a remote business which they could operate alongside family life.
Adewumi’s business Fashion Flair is a pre-loved clothing business that she runs alongside husband Samuel. What started as a way to make extra money after the couple had their first baby and struggled to find work, soon became a popular second-hand fashion business - and won the 2021 eBay Family Business Award.
Flexibility to work whenever, wherever
We asked Lydia, Charlotte and Ade what the best thing about running their business on eBay as a mother was, and both businesses emphasised flexibility as being crucial.
Lydia and Charlotte told us “it means we are able to work around the kids, are always available for the school runs, school plays, sports days, and can be there if they are off school unwell.” The ability to work whenever, wherever appeals to the pair, as much of their work can be done on the go or at a time more convenient if something disturbs their regular schedule, - like the summer holidays. This flexibility is what inspired the sisters to start Head Over Heels, as they were able to meet the demands of motherhood by working late nights or early mornings if they had to.
Ade agreed, responding that the best thing about running a business on eBay as a mother was “the opportunity I have to plan my schedule around my family needs.” She also said it’s important to her that she has the time to attend the things that matter most in the lives of her children, and be present in their lives - this is only achievable by being in control of her time like she is now.
Ade added that ultimately, the biggest inspiration for her business is knowing the satisfaction she can give buyers when they purchase one of her products - and this drive led to her eBay for Business Award win last year.
Getting it done
Ade told us that one of the biggest challenges she faced when running her business alongside family duties was distraction. With children surrounding you during the day, it can be difficult to concentrate on business - but she works around this by ensuring she’s got at least half of her daily work done in the morning before her three boys have even opened their eyes.
But Mum guilt is also a real thing, and the biggest challenge for Lydia and Charlotte as they shared how so much flexibility can at times be a double-edged sword. “Sometimes, because it's so easy to work on eBay on the go, we are constantly able to carry on doing jobs when not in the office. Although this has advantages such as responding to customers whilst sitting waiting at after school clubs, it sometimes has its negatives because it feels impossible to switch off and you might have just missed the best cartwheel ever because you were too busy replying to a customer!”
But they do their best to strike a balance which keeps every part of their life happy. They know running their business on eBay isn’t like a normal 9-5 where you can leave work at the office, but they “wouldn’t have it any other way”.
Managing motherhood and making money
We asked the sellers to give some practical tips for any mothers currently finding it difficult to manage being a mother alongside their business. Here’s what they had to say…
- Cut out any time-wasting activities whilst you’re at work
Ade said, “A good example of this is to get rid of non-business related notifications on your phone during your working hours and you will be amazed at the amount of work you can get done in an hour!”
- Learn to switch off and make the most of family time at set times in the week
Lydia and Charlotte shared, “It's easy to feel guilty that either you're not spending enough time with the kids, or knowing you should be doing work when you’re with them. Although it's hard, we try to strike a balance between the two and make sure we take some time out for ourselves. Although you may feel guilty sometimes, the majority of mums are doing what they are doing to support their families.”
If the words of Lydia, Charlotte and Ade have inspired you to start your own selling journey, visit our eBay Academy for more help and advice every step of the way.
How do you manage parenting alongside your business? What advice would you give to a mum looking to take the plunge and start her own business on eBay? Comment your thoughts below!
