‘My maternity break was the launchpad for my mug company'
A female entrepreneur, celebrated for her artisan mugs featured by prominent influencers like Molly-Mae and Stacey Solomon, admitted that “mum-guilt” ranks as one of her paramount hurdles.
Mollie Warrington, based in Cardiff, initiated her business blueprint during her pregnancy and established Naetive Studio during her maternity break in 2022.
Academic Dr. Lauren Josie Thomas highlighted that women frequently encounter additional obstacles, including the expectation to be “a superstar working mom who can manage everything”.
Business Wales expressed its dedication to aiding female entrepreneurs in launching and expanding their enterprises.
Upon accepting an insurance position post-university, Mollie, 30, found the opportunity to hone in on a business concept only during the pandemic.
“For eight weeks, I was confined to my home, unable to step outside. I observed influencers, who would frequently have a cup in hand, yet none were disclosing the cup’s origin.”
“She remarked, ‘I decided I would create a cup that garners attention.'
Having graduated in interior design, she had long harbored the ambition to craft something personally significant. Pregnancy presented her with the chance to finally make that move.
“During the nine months of my pregnancy, I devised plans for utilizing my maternity leave effectively and saved money each month to ensure financial stability during that period.”
“At that moment, I was certain I would start a pottery business,” she further stated.
The entrepreneur mentioned she avoided self-pressure, yet once her child, Rio, established a routine, she initiated the creation of mugs.
“I kept the monitor beside me, and when he cried or began stirring, I'd check on him, then he'd fall back asleep.
“I'd return to my small mug and continue shaping it,” she explained.
The mother-of-one managed to produce around 15 mugs weekly following the business's inception in July 2022, with limited releases that quickly sold out within minutes.
Currently, she leads a team of 12, producing 400 bespoke orders weekly and has her products available in stores like Anthropologie.
A segment of her expansion is attributed to crafting mugs for influencers, hoping for shares, with ex-Love Island celebrity Molly-Mae Hague doing precisely that.
“I hadn't mapped out the scenario of her sharing; yet she did, and suddenly we saw 40,000 visitors on our website, at which moment I had nothing on offer to sell,” she recounted with laughter.
Mollie acknowledged learning a valuable lesson from that incident. She realized the need to increase her production capacity, and now operates two facilities to accommodate any surge in demand.
She mentioned that the journey was not devoid of challenges.
“The pressure is overwhelming. Feeling guilty as a mother is among my greatest hurdles, even feeling culpable for the rain, despite it being beyond my control,” she stated.
Experts recommend that individuals considering launching a business during a period of paid leave from employment should verify the conditions stipulated in their agreement.
Over the past year, Dr. Lauren Josie Thomas of the University of South Wales has collaborated with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to investigate the challenges and barriers faced by women in leadership roles within Wales.
“Many of the obstacles entrepreneurs encounter are identical, with the distinction being that these women are at the helm of a business and may be attempting to expand it absent the conventional support typically available in a professional environment,” she elaborated.
The scholar pointed to childcare as a significant obstacle for women, alongside the expectation to “have it all”.
“Balancing the roles of a partner, a parent, and a business presence, all while making informed decisions, when each role demands your full attention, is nearly unattainable,” she further stated.
She highlighted the disparity in funding between businesses led by women and those led by men.
The 2023 Equity Tracker Report by the British Business Bank revealed that female entrepreneurs often struggle to obtain financing for their ventures due to gender bias.
Dr. Thomas noted, based on anecdotes, that she was aware of women who had “removed their wedding rings” or deleted their “lockdown social media” to conceal their personal lives from prospective investors.
Information from the 2023 Longitudinal Small Business Survey, conducted by the UK's Department for Business and Trade, indicated that 16% of small and medium-sized business employers in Wales were led by women.
Business Wales expressed its dedication to fostering an entrepreneurial culture and aiding women entrepreneurs in launching and expanding their enterprises.
Since 2016, the service has assisted 3,995 startups directed by women entrepreneurs, accounting for 55% of all enterprises supported.
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