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MumsClub Name: Mary@antecell
Real Name: Mary Cummings
Age (or age range): 43
Children’s ages: 7 and 3 (and one on the way)
Business Name: Antecell Business Services
Business Contact:Tel: 020 8690 7228; Fax: 020 8150 7854; email: info@antecell.co.uk
What are the key features of the products or services that your business offers:
I provide affordable business support, marketing design and copywriting for start-ups and small businesses.
Why should customers and clients use your services? Because we are affordable, imaginative and creative.
When & how did you start up in business? I set up in 2006 shortly after the birth of my second child, using redundancy from my last job.
How did you decide what business to go into, and what was your motivation? I started my career as a marketing secretary and gradually worked my way up to Marketing Assistant, so felt it made sense to stick to what I knew best.
What were the most challenging aspects to setting up? The most challenging aspects of starting-up were being taken seriously by my friends and family, so I unfortunately didn’t get much support. No-one took me seriously because I had two young children and it was said that the “sensible” thing to have done would have been to find a local part-time job like everyone else. Dogged determination and not shutting up about it convinced everyone I was serious.
What has been your biggest business achievement? My biggest achievement would have to be my first cheque from my first “real-paying” customer for a design piece (a 20 page catalogue)… which I very promptly took round to everyone to show it off! Up to that point, I had provided quite a few design assignments for free in the hope of free advertising and it finally paid off. My second achievement would have to be my first cheque for some sales copy for another customer. I hadn’t realised my writing potential until someone (she knows who she is) commended me for my writing style, so I took a short-course on copywriting (and am in the middle of another one) and the rest, as they say, is history.
Have, or do you do anything out of the ordinary to benefit your business? Nothing out of the ordinary, but I do put in a tremendous amount of effort networking both offline and online. I love networking and am used to it from my marketing days at work. For on-line networking, I usually introduce myself to the owner of a website I particularly like and keep in touch. I also keep a look out for award or competition winners and introduce myself to the winner, keep in touch, and network that way too. Offline networking is planned well in advance (babysitter’s permitting – usually husband or mum) and usually via Chamber of Commerce or FSB, of which I am a member. I also network at annual networking events put on for free by my local Business Advisory Service.
What stage is your business at now & what are your plans for the future? Am getting regular pay cheques each week from approx 10 clients, providing them a range of services from straightforward transcription, to copywriting, to desk top publishing. Currently working hard on getting more custom from medium-sized commercial businesses.
How do you manage to juggle your business with family life? Has it been challenging?I wake at 6/7ish to complete work before the school run, then after the school run, work until 3pm. 3pm to 8pm “belong” to the kids. I then work from 8pm until 11pm. I try to cram my work into three days, make sure I have one day for my husband’s work (quotations/invoices/bookkeeping for his decorating business). I then have the rest of the week for housework and play at the weekend!
Has online networking, specifically with other mums, benefited your business? Online networking is brilliant and a must.
What resources do you NOT have now that might make your life easier?Can’t think of any!
What advice would you give another mum considering starting her own business? Get practical, independent advice as early as you possibly can, and get online with other mums who’ve already started their own businesses. Don’t put it off. It will be the best thing you’ll ever do.
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