Tell me a bit about what you were doing before you got in contact with Business Jump?
I was a stay at home mum, which I loved. Our twins had just started their first year of school. I did a lot of volunteer work for our local multiple birth association and helped at the school a lot. I was also busy running the kids around to their various activities and appointments.
Why did you want to start your own business, what is your why?
We did 8 soul destroying rounds of IVF to get our twins, and suffered one twin miscarriage along the way. When our twins turned two, I did go back to “work” for two years. I was then lucky enough to be able to take a redundancy from my corporate travel job in the city. Dave and I decided I would ‘stay home’ until our twins had finished their first year of school. This would enable me to pick them up each day, to help in the classroom and so forth. Additionally, twins had quite a lot of medical appointments. Working in a “regular” job in the city made it very stressful trying to juggle them all to be at convenient times for my employer.
I was lamenting to another twin mum friend that I needed to find an online business that allowed me to work while the kids were at school and be able to take them to their various appointments when needed. We both agreed that we had no idea where to start though, and that is sounded all too hard. Two days later I signed up with Business Jump.
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How long had you wanted to start a business before you actually took action and took the
jump?
I can honestly say I had no plans to actively look for a business. I didn’t even realise that there were companies out there like Business Jump who could set up businesses for you. Two days after having the above mentioned conversation with my friend another friend tagged me in a Facebook Post about a business from Business Jump that was for sale. It was a business idea for parents of multiples and ironically was a concept I had lamented that multiple birth parents needed! It had never crossed my mind that I could be the person to do it.
24 hours later I signed up!!!
If you hadn’t of started your own business what do you think you’d be doing right now?
I honestly have no idea. I would have had to have gone back to work, but I don’t know what I would be doing. I loved my old industry (travel industry). However I had been really lucky to have a really interesting job and worked with a great team. There would be no way I could replicate this.
What have you done differently because of Business Jump that you wouldn’t have done if
DIY’ing?
Everything. I literally would have had no idea about how to set up a business. I’m sure it would have taken me several years to get my site to the stage it was at when Business Jump handed it over to me.
Tell us about your business?
Twinfo was developed to provide the connection between service providers and parents, plus acting as a resource hub for information, knowledge and advice.
Giving birth is naturally a little scary and suddenly your world is turned upside down with the news that you are expecting more than one baby. All of a sudden your plans have changed, and whilst your happiness has doubled or tripled, so has your concern, fear and anxiety.
Twinfo provides parents of multiples with information and resources to help ease the natural anxiety that is part of multiple births.
How did it feel when you got the reins to your business to take out into the world?
Very scary, yet exhilarating! Having gone from not even thinking about running my own business to having one handed to me was almost surreal. However, I just broke it down, asked questions and got on with it.
How many hours a week do you work on your business?
Approximately 30 hours a week. It just depends on what else is happening at the time. It is set up so it can just coast along with minimal effort if I am on holidays, or the kids are sick etc. Obviously the more effort I put into it, the more I will get out of it.
What are some of your most special ‘business wins’ you’ve had to date?
Having parents of multiples message me to say how grateful they are for my page. Maybe they have managed to find a sleep consultant and have finally had their first uninterrupted nights sleep in three years, or maybe they have had concerns about their babies and had other parents validate their thoughts etc.
Having business come on board that are owned by parents of multiples, and to have those people tell me what a great concept Twinfo is really makes me confident that I am on the right track.
Having major parenting sites, such as Kidspot, Essential Kids, Essential Baby, Families Magazine, Mumma Mag and Nurture Natural Parenting magazine pick up and run with some of my articles has been amazing.
Where do you want to be in 5 years?
I would love to have providers from all different backgrounds in every major town. Additionally I am very passionate about developing a comprehensive skype support network available for rural families. I want every multiple birth parent to have access to multiple birth products and services, regardless of their location.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone thinking about starting their business?
You need to be totally passionate about your business idea and be prepared to work hard. I don’t resent the time I spend on my business, as I know that I am helping people. And the more time and effort I put into it, the more people I will be able to eventually help.
Where can we find you?
Website – www.twinfo.com.au
Facebook – www.facebook.com/TwinfoAustralia/
Instagram – www.instagram.com/twinfoaustralia
Facebook group – www.facebook.com/groups/ParentsofMultiplesAustralia
Podcast: www.facebook.com/talkingtwinsandmore
