Mum’s can have the best of both worlds.
Working from home means Jane Rudd can have the best of both worlds – a fulfiling career and a family life. Jane is in the fashion business, with her home as her base. She is a self-employed consultant, selling the exclusive French designer childrenswear, Captain Tortue (Captain Tortoise in English).
She can pretty much dictate her own hours – which means she is there for her children, 11 year old Lucy and Matthew, eight.
Her job mainly involves fashion party-planning and organising and training her team of 7 Midlands-based and 6 Scotland-based consultants and managers. Jane holds shows in customers' houses or at gatherings such as toddler groups and school fairs. A show can be held in a 90-minute coffee morning or at a fun evening in with friends.
Jane started her business in August 2006. "When I saw the clothes I fell in love with them and really wanted to buy them for my children. As there was not yet a Captain Tortue consultant in my area I decided to give it a go. The set up costs are low and the training and support from my manager and the family run head office is excellent."
"Our clothes are for boys and girls from six months to 14 years. They are in bright, vibrant colours and very funky. We really try hard to keep the range exclusive for both our customers and our consultants and we are also planning to introduce a ladies range in the future."
Jane has built up a solid customer base in the past 18 months, through sheer hard work and good old-fashioned business networking. "I've been able to tap into my own network of friends and contacts who are mums, aunties or grannies. It was a case of getting a big long list of contacts and working my way through them in the beginning," she recalls. "I was prepared to ask people for help and I think when you are a bit humble and say 'can you help me?', people will respond. Networking is a part of my business and I'm a member of a couple of ladies' business groups. I'm a great believer in the fact that, being self-employed you do need to put time and effort into your business and when you do you will reap the rewards. At the same time though it is important to have a healthy work,
family and social life balance, so I ensure that my business revolves around the children and my husband Phil. I can work and still fit in with what's happening at home."
"I absolutely love the freedom of being my own boss and I love the clothes I'm selling. I like my children to look nice in clothes and so I'm committed to making this a success."
Jane reckons she's finally cracked the home-work balance that so many struggle with, though she admits she hasn't always got it right. "I went back to work for a year. The whole family hated it, myself, the kids and Phil. I never seemed to be around and it just wasn't working out. I do need to have a career but I also want to be a full-time mother. Lucy has a pony and I have a horse and they are time-consuming hobbies. Homeworking certainly works for me.
Your children grow up all too quickly and that year I spent going out to work really showed me how much I would be missing if I didn't change. It's great being able to juggle motherhood with a career based at home. I certainly think I have the best of both worlds."
If you'd like to find out more about Captain Tortue and it's opportunities, be it hosting a party or our consultant opportunity please contact Jane on 07941 724649 or office@accentz.co.uk or visit www.accentz.co.uk
