This week’s Ambassador Feature is with Sarah Willmott, Feel Better Box
2017 Silver winner Emerging AusMumpreneur of the Year
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Tell us about yourself and your business?
Hello, I’m Sarah – wife to one and Mum to two young children (4 & 5). I am your classic never sit still, always working on something, always dreaming of some new project. I also own Feel Better Box; it is my job to send care packages on your behalf when your friends and loved ones are unwell, in hospital or not feeling themselves. Thank goodness for my business to focus all my attention on otherwise I’d be back painting/knitting/sewing/crocheting and goodness knows what else.
What was your inspiration for your business?
I became sick with the flu one day along with my two young children (1 & 3). My husband was out of town on business and my family live interstate and overseas. It was a pretty awful week of being unwell and lonely. After we recovered I wondered what might have helped me feel better during this time? And a care package came to mind, one that has items to help me recover, take my mind off things and show that someone was thinking of me. Feel Better Box started about two months later! You see, even the flu can have a silver lining for some!
Did you have any experience in running a business or in this industry before?
No. No experience in running my own business, but I had spent the last year and a half working for a lady who ran her own successful small business (this was after I was made redundant when I was six months pregnant with my second child – but that’s another story). The small business was a service based business and in a completely different industry.
What’s your point of difference that makes your business special or unique?
I send all our care packages via Express Post. Nearly every single care package arrives the next business day. Only WA and far north Queensland take an extra day (from Melbourne). I understand the urgency the sender has in sending their well wishes, and something to show they are thinking of them and caring from them – even from a distance. Especially as I have spent the last six years living away from family in Sydney.
What have you learnt about yourself since becoming an entrepreneur?
I didn’t realise how much a job can give you the fire in your tummy, to keep going, to be persistent, to keep believing in yourself and your idea, to stay optimistic and to keep chipping away every day watching your dreams come true. I didn’t even know that running my own business was my dream until it happened. Things I have learnt about me is how much I love to learn, I work great all by myself, I am the most awesome boss (to myself) and I work harder then I have ever worked in my life. I credit this path thanks to my redundancy funnily enough. I thought I was happy being a PA until my PA role decided it was time for me to leave…..
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?
Time was an incredible challenge. Feel Better Box was a side hustle for a year and a half whilst I worked for someone else. In that role, I worked from home around my children who were at Kindy two days a week. There was almost no time left to work on Feel Better Box after family time and working time. Eventually something had to give, everything was getting done, but nothing to the best of my ability and it began to show. In June 2017 I left my ‘paid’ job to work solely for myself and haven’t looked back at all. All the To-Do’s I was able to tick off and get done, shone. And the Google gods starting paying attention and with that came more sales.
What lessons have your business taught you about life?
How much opportunity is out there, life doesn’t have to be a 9-5pm, it can be much easier to work for yourself if you find something that you absolutely love. Owning your own business can certainly be a rollercoaster, but being on my own rollercoaster is so much more rewarding then being on someone else’s. There are so many opportunities, so many new things to learn and grow. I see the world as a land of opportunity – a have new rosy tinted glasses on and the sky is the limit in my eyes.
If you could go back to when you were starting your business and give your younger self some advice what would you tell her?
Never ever try and use a courier service if you want your parcels to arrive next day. It will save you so much heartache. Trust Auspost and just live with the cost of Express Post, because no amount of saving money can cover the stress of late or missing care packages. And that lesson goes for everything, cheaper – does not mean better!
What’s next for your business?
It’s been six months (I can’t count January with the kids at home!) since I stopped working for someone else, in that time I have made enough to put aside a budget for PR this year and possibly new custom made care package boxes! I’m super excited with both new opportunities and hopefully I can reach more clients and appeal to more new clients! I’m tyring my best, and I think that is good enough for me.
If you could change the world, and money was no object, what would you do?
I would give all displaced refugees and survivors of war a home. Everyone deserves a chance in life with a home, an education and food in their tummies.
To learn more about Sarah and Feel Better Box, please visit
Website: www.feelbetterbox.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/feelbetterboxau
Join Us for the 2018 AusMumpreneur National Conference & Awards!
Celebrating, Inspiring & Elevating Mums in Business
White Night Reception, Maidstone VIC 3012
Melbourne
30 & 31 August 2018
Australia’s #1 Event for Mums in Business
MAKE SURE YOU GRAB YOUR TICKET HERE!
