No matter how small the space, you can still put your own stamp on it with a few personalised touches. Danielle North of Minitoffle makes this possible with her gorgeous products, and this week she gives us an insight to her family and business, and the beauty of name bunting.
Tell us a bit about you:
I grew up on the South Coast of NSW as part of a large family where you made your own fun inside, outside, wherever! So long as we weren’t annoying mum and our jobs were done, life was ours to be lived. I’ve been in Sydney, though, for the past 12 years-pretty much since I met my husband. We have one beautiful, curious and very independent almost 2-year-old.
How did you get started with your biz?
When Michaela was born I wanted something simple but personal to decorate her room. I’m not big on ‘things’ and since it was a rental, I couldn’t really go nuts on the wall decor, anyway.
After much researching and sifting I came across fabric letters used for literacy learning. I thought that I could turn the letters into a name, attach to some string and voila, have my simple but stylish addition to her room.
A few friends’ newborns received the name garland as a gift and it dawned on me that perhaps this could be a small business project. So here we are!
What (or who) are your biggest influences?
What I make is mostly decided by my personal taste so as clichéd as it sounds, probably my mum when it all boils down – she is all class without the fuss.
Do you experience mum guilt and how do you tackle that?
A big factor in starting my biz was that it could fit in with mummy life, not the other way around. I do experience minor mummy guilt when I drop the toddler off at day care one day a week so I can work a day job (primary teacher by trade) but to be honest, I think we both need that day around other people!
If you could sum up your day in three words what would those words be?
Mood driven (both the toddlers and mine!), spontaneous and productive.
What does your workstation look like?
Home office, sewing area, dining table – it’s a real multipurpose space! I do have everything neatly organised in boxes and on shelves so I can easily access but also so the toddler cannot!
Give me your best kid distraction strategy:
This kid loves nothing better than cleaning! Give her a wipe or a cloth and she’s a busy little bee for ages.
What are you most proud of achieving biz wise?
I’m super stoked to get sales from people I don’t know! Don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful for my friends supporting my biz but knowing that a total stranger wants MY product when there are so many options for displaying a name, well it makes me glow with pride.
What are your big goals for the next 12 months?
I’m working on a ready-made range of decorative garlands. It’s currently just in the ‘manufacturing’ stage i.e. I’m sewing my little heart out! I still have to working out pricing, take the photos, create the listing etc.
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