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Mama2b - Mandy Barker

Mandy Barker shares how she balances family life with her role as director of maternity clothing company Mama2b.

Mandy Barker's Mama2b range of stylish maternity essentials started as an internet boutique just over two years ago, with Mandy serving as jill-of-all-trades. Since then, Mama2b has gone from strength to strength, and Mandy now has a busy online store (www.mama2b.co.nz ), staff, an office and a whole heap of retailers stocking her self-designed, comfortable, versatile Mama2b maternity clothing.
Married to Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, and with two gorgeous girls, Mia (nearly 3) and Livvy (7 months), Mandy admits running a business hasn't all been smooth sailing from the beginning, but she has no regrets. We asked Mandy to share her secrets to balancing motherhood and work, and to tell us how she manages childcare, "mummy guilt", and finds time for herself.

OHbaby!: Who are your role models? Who inspires you?
Mandy: I always looked up to my parents and, in particular, the integrity of my father. I considered him a very strong role model in sport and education. When you have a role model who is a very hard worker, it is amazing how that reflects on you. One of my older sisters is a very successful businesswoman, and she's always good to talk things over with. Ray Barker, Dean's dad and the founder of Barkers menswear, has also been a great support, especially in the start-up phase. From day to day, I still ring him up for advice!

OHbaby!:What did you want to be when you grew up?
Mandy: A shopkeeper and a doctor. What an extreme of ambitions! I liked the idea of lots of sticky tape, forever wrapping things, and fixing people. I never imagined I would be running a business like this. It didn't even cross my mind until I was pregnant with Mia, and it occurred to me that there was a gap in the market for Mama2b.

OHbaby!: You became a hockey player before you became a mother, and now you're a businesswoman and, to a degree, a shopkeeper, just like your childhood dream! What skills from your hockey career translated into running a business?
Mandy: I think that there are a lot of correlations between sports and business. Building a team of workers, having a common goal, and having the drive and determination to succeed are all skills that are useful in sports and business.

OHbaby!: What did your friends say when you told them what you were planning to do?
Mandy: I never really talked about it to others too much. I just knew it was something I wanted to do. Dean was the only person who knew what I was getting into, and he was very encouraging.

OHbaby!: How does your husband feel about the business?
Mandy: Dean understands that I need a challenge aside from being a mum - which, by the way, is still my greatest challenge, but in a different sense. He is certainly very supportive, but, let's face it, there is only so much advice a guy is going to give about the design of a maternity clothing brand!

OHbaby!: How did you develop your business plan initially?
Mandy: I kept it very simple and short. Actually, I think I did it in a matter of a few days and I haven't changed it since! A business plan is quite a scary thing to put down on paper, but, in the long-term, it gives you a great deal of focus and provides something concrete that you can re-evaluate. It was important to me to have short-term and long-term goals. Marketing and positioning of the brand is also important to write down, along with answering the big question: "Where do I see myself in five years' time?"

OHbaby!: So what direction would you like to see Mama2b go in the next five years? The next decade?
Mandy: It would be nice to see Mama2b really grow. What's been holding me back a little bit is the reality that we have been living in Spain for six months out of each of the past three years. As for the next ten years, I'm not really sure. One thing I do know right now is that I am still motivated enough to consider my goals, but I do realise that, in this industry, it all happens so quickly - and before you know it, a couple of years and several collections later, you are still hanging in there - and really enjoying it!

OHbaby!: Did you have any formal training before you started the business?
Mandy: I did a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Otago, then I did a Postgraduate Diploma in Small Business Studies at AUT. I had a reasonable idea of what I was doing when I started the business, but nothing prepares you for the real thing.'

OHbaby!: What was your learning curve like?
Mandy: I knew it would be hard, but, eventually, things would get easier. I was very apprehensive in the beginning, doubting my own integrity and judgement. I think it is only natural to think, "Have I done the right thing?" Actually, I still wonder that now sometimes, even though the business is in its third year.

OHbaby!: Looking back over the past few years, can you describe the journey you've taken with your business?
Mandy: Initially I was extremely motivated and excited about the concept. Then, once the business was up and running, I realised how overwhelming the time commitment was. About a year and a half into it, I realised that something had to give. The business was growing, so I decided to employ staff in definite roles instead of doing it all myself. Then I realised I should have done it much earlier. One of the most difficult skills is to be able to delegate, and I had to learn how to do that. But it was also very satisfying, because I realised that others bring strengths to the business too. I now employ two part-timers in design and production.

OHbaby!: How do you manage to fit motherhood in with being a business owner and vice versa?
Mandy: Because my office is at home, I sometimes find it very difficult to be at work and at home. On the other hand, I can choose when to work and when to be with the kids - and just having them there and hearing their voices at the other end of the house is comforting.

OHbaby!: How do you balance work and family life?
Mandy: I don't think there is such a thing as balance. Aren't we all trying to perfect the impossible? I think that you just do the best you can, and sometimes you realise that something has got to give in order to achieve the other things. However, nowadays I am much more focused on putting my family first.

OHbaby!: What's your working day like?
Mandy: I'm an early riser - I wake up at 6am. Fortunately, at the moment, Mia and Livvy are sleeping in a bit, and don't get up until 7.30am, so it gives me a chance to get ready for the day. Generally, I'm home with the girls until 9.30am. At 9am the nanny arrives and this is when I get myself into "work mode", whether I'm working from my home office or need to be out and about. I check emails (which usually takes two to three hours every day). If I need to be out of the office, I'm either with my fabric suppliers, my website developers, or catching up with my staff. When I'm home, I generally work for a couple of hours and then have a break with the kids. I like to be back with Mia and Livvy by midafternoon, and, on the days that Mia is at daycare, I pick her up at 3pm. When you have your own business, it never really stops - especially when the office is at home.

OHbaby!: How did you feel when you decided to put your girls into childcare while you worked?
Mandy: It's a difficult decision to make, and I don't think any parent finds childcare straightforward. I have always found the option of having a nanny at home while the girls are young to be the best choice. Mia now attends daycare two days a week, and that has been good for her at this age. Realistically, I don't think that I could do without childcare!

OHbaby!: How do you deal with those feelings of "mummy guilt" that so many working mothers experience?
Mandy: There is always the guilt thing, but I think that if I had kids grabbing at my legs while I'm on the phone or computer, I would forever feel guilty that I wasn't paying them any attention. I don't think there is an easy answer to this. I think that my time spent with the children, with no work in sight, is really good-quality time, and everyone is happy. I am definitely spending more time with the kids and less at work, most of the time.

OHbaby!: How much "me-time" do you get?
Mandy: Not a lot nowadays. But I have learned to organise my time a bit better so that I can get out for a walk or a run. Being outdoors is what I love. It hasn't happened much since having our second child - your time is a little more precious when you have two children.

OHbaby!: Who else inspires you?
Mandy: Anyone who is prepared to give it a go and have the strength to follow their dreams and instincts.

Take 5
Thinking of starting a business? Here are Mandy's top five tips for business success:
• Research the industry well before starting out.
• Write your short-term and long-term goals down, then put them away and re-evaluate every six months.
• Write a thorough business plan and make sure you have the finances to see it through.
• Accept that you will have setbacks, but learn from them and turn them into positives.
• Delegate where possible!

Sound bites
Biggest buzz: "Seeing someone in Mama2B clothing, and completing a new range."
Best "working mum" moment: "When people write to me personally to thank me for the clothing they've bought."
Latest challenge: "Deciding how much to grow the business, and how quickly."
Favourite products: "Mama2b's Winter 2008 collection. I am really excited about it!"
Mantra: "Get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day!"