Ep. 85 Bloom and Blossom - Building a business and a family in partnership with Sainsbury's

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In this episode, in partnership with Sainsbury's and the mum-founded brand Bloom and Blossom, I’m joined by the founders Christina Moss and Julia Yule. We're going to talk about the pressures of having five children and being entrepreneurs at the same time, how they handle the good and the bad days, and their journey from kitchen tables to becoming the incredible businesswomen that they are today.

You can download a full transcript of this week’s episode here.

As always, we continue the conversation over on Instagram, so once you’ve listened to the episode, come and join me there.

To Claim Your Free Gift:

• Follow this link to the Sainsbury’s website: CLICK HERE

• Enter the code: FREEBLOOM (please note for the code to work you must type it all in capitals.)

• There are a maximum of 200 Bloom & Blossom BFC Hair and Body Wash products to be claimed. (Full terms and conditions of the offer can be found on the Sainsbury’s website by following the link above.)

Key Takeaways From this Episode:

Growing the Business:

• You must acknowledge both the small and the huge wins. (04:15)

• You've got to make each day and each choice you make relevant to that day. (04:21)

• As your business grows, you become much more conscious of acknowledging and appreciating things. (05:32)

• Success follows after contentment. (08:05)

Pregnancy and Getting Into the Business:

• The success of the business happens when you come from an authentic place. (08:52)

• When you're pregnant, there are products on the market that are full of chemicals that you shouldn't be using. (09:37)

• Pregnant women deserve a product that looks chic, doesn't scream, ‘I'm pregnant’ and works and is safe to use. (10:03)

• Bloom and Blossom aims to provide precise ingredients listing in pregnancy products while giving it a sophisticated look, like any other skin product. (10:31)

• They created a curated range of products that were suitable for pre- and post- pregnancy. (11:18)

• Ten days after Julia gave birth, she and Christine went straight into Space NK and ended up getting a spot in the estate. (11:28)

• It is vital to be passionate about what you are doing. (13:28)

Business and Family:

• Julia: "I don't think I'd have been able to go into that meeting if I hadn't had someone supporting me. We know each other so well." (14:23)

• It's an empowering thing to be in a team and being a family on top of that. (15:02)

• There should be support and peace amongst family members. You have to know when it is time to take on the role of a business partner or a friend, and vice versa. (15:40)

• It's cultural value to respect someone else, listen to their point, absorb it and make a conscious and sensible decision. Respect is hugely important in the workplace and in friendship. (17:56)

From Corporate Job To Starting a Business:

• Having a 9-to-5, five-days-a-week corporate job is incredibly tricky when starting a business and juggling times with kids. (21:06)

• They built the business from the ground up with no one else's money. (23:54)

• Their determination and belief in what they are doing motivated them. They were making products that they wanted for their children and for themselves. (24:47)

• You are going to be overwhelmed by a business decision or strategy or something that's out of your control. As you gain experience, you'll know the right choices to make. (25:14)

• It is about resilience. It's okay to have a problem because everyone else does. You just need to sit on it for a little bit. (28:44)

The Guilt of Successful Mothers:

• It is essential to communicate with your kids on why you can't pick them up from school and why you need to go to work. (29:18)

• The guilt changes as your children grow themselves. (30:16)

• Build a business that enables flexible working to be a reality to balance family and work life. (31:57)

• Christina and Julia didn't just create this incredible brand. It has taken them some time. They advise going back to the people who helped you along the way. (33:57)

What Are the Crucial Things in Building an Amazing Business:

• The product is integral. Whatever that product is, it has to be the best. (35:00)

• Do your research. Even if you thought that the idea is impressive, if nine out of ten people don't get it, then it's not quite right. (35:26)

• Don't be scared to say that you don't understand something and ask for help. (36:29)

Learning About Yourselves as Mothers:

• Julia: “When I’m in mother mode, I will always be a mother. I am present with them.” (39:24)

• Not answering an email and not answering a WhatsApp is not failing. (40:38)

• There are three significant times of the day you need to have with your children: as they wake up in the morning, when they get home from school, and just before bed. If you can engage with them in these moments tech-free, then you're doing something right. (43:08)

About Bloom and Blossom

Christina Moss and Julia Yale are sisters-in-law and the founders and directors of Bloom and Blossom.

Bloom and Blossom has won awards for providing stylish variety of skin care solutions for the entire family that is all-natural, routine-led and solution-focused.

Visit Bloom and Blossom's website to check out their latest products.