I’m Jennifer Robertson and my sister and I created www.scampbabygifts.co.uk in 2010. Everything sold by Scamp Baby Gifts is handmade by either myself or my sister – the product range consists mainly of personalised keepsakes for children including personalised appliquéd pictures, blankets, cushions, baby-grows, bibs and cards.
I used to work in a creative role for the BBC and my sister is a physiotherapist. Although we have both been very keen makers (of many things!) since childhood neither of us has specific training in what we are now doing. However, we both have a good eye for product ideas that we think are a bit different – not so easy to spot in the pink and blue world of children’s interiors! Scamp’s products are the antithesis of this and are quirky, bold and colourful making sure they brighten up and individualise children’s bedrooms in the most stylish kind of way!
1. What inspired you to start you own business?
Motivation to work for myself stemmed from my increasing frustration in my once enjoyable full time role to maternity leave 3 days per week was not nearly as satisfying at the BBC. Most of my salary was spent on childcare which can somehow be justified as ‘payment’ for keeping hold of a job but if you have stopped enjoying what you are doing that is not easy to reconcile. So, early in 2010 I decided to give doing something for myself a fair shot. With one child in full time school and the other in reasonably priced day care the timing felt right. With five young children between us my sister and I saw a gap in the market for a range of lovely, distinct and affordable items for children’s rooms having struggled to easily find what we wanted for our own kids. My sisters and I have always been interested in making things since childhood and combining the idea of handmade children’s products with my experience in a marketing & creative field seemed to make for good business sense.
2. What advice would you give to mums who are thinking of starting their own business?
Starting my own business has been at times a steep learning curve and challenge, but one I have no regrets taking on! My main advice would be to do your research to make sure your idea can fly in the first place. Assuming it can, another very useful area I have worked on is social networking – it is worth investing time in following related organisations, mums doing similar things, other small companies etc on Twitter and Facebook. They are often very useful for help on issues, finding out about relevant events that might be going on and sometimes just nice to know you aren’t the only one trying to do what you are doing!
3. What tips do you have on managing your time between family and work?
My working hours tend to be straight after school/nursery drop off until 2 minutes before I need to dash out the door to pick them up again. I try to only work four days per week so I still have a day on my own with my youngest. This often means some evening working which isn’t ideal but I have a very tolerant husband who is now used to me padding off to the studio after dinner to make or work on the computer. I don’t tend to work over a weekend unless I am having a stall at a fair in which case the whole family are roped in to help build stands and move boxes of products around the city! Having my iPhone is also a big help in the juggle as I can quickly check emails as I wait for my kids at a ballet class or gymnastics so no kid free seconds are wasted!
5. What do you like doing with the family at the weekend?
I love being out for the whole day with the family. Being indoors can sometimes feel a bit claustrophobic so any weekend that involves getting on a train and having an adventure is perfect for me. Some of our best days have been trips out to Broadstairs or Brighton – grabbing a 9am train and adding in some sun, pebbly beaches, picnic, ice-cream, fresh air, sandcastles, fish and chips and that feeling of relaxed tiredness on the way home that only comes if you’ve had a brilliant day.
6. Apart from Scamp Baby Gifts (!), what is your favourite children’s shop?
A shop I love (and so do my whole family!) is TK Maxx – I am always amazed at what I can find there. It may be a bit like a jumble sale at times but if you have the stamina it is really worth persevering to root out hidden gems always at a fraction of the price – wooden toys, beautiful clothes, gro-bags, books have all been bought over the last few years.
7. If you had the chance to self-indulge for a whole day, what would you do?
Apart from wandering around Soho and central London with my husband (I love feeling part of the city) one of my favourite London treats is sitting on a couch at the Everyman Cinema in Hampstead with a glass of wine and a great film. I could do that for a whole day easily!
