Founder@ Interview
Interview with Rachel Leggett
“Just start. Don’t over complicate it. With an Instagram profile and a link to a sales platform you have all the tools you need to get started. You can add the bells and whistles when you need them.” – Rachel Leggett
Today we feature Rachel Leggett, the founder at The Messy Stork. We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.
Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
I have a pretty multi-hyphenated business. I began by sewing messenger bags marketed at mums as baby changing bags/diaper bags. I threw myself into this headlong, buying the domain name and setting up the social media before I had even sewn the first bag.
The domain name I chose for this project was messy stork .com – so messy for messenger bags and stork for the new baby connection. Within days I realised I hated sewing straight lines and moved to making keepsakes from clothing – lots of curves plus pretty colours, then designing sewing patterns to create passive income, and now also helping new crafters get started setting up their businesses.
A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?
I first wanted to have my own business when I was leaving uni but it took over a decade of working for others before I got started. During that decade I mostly worked as a retail manager which definitely gave me skills that I use now as an entrepreneur – particularly focusing on profit, strategising and customer service.
The motivation to actually start was having my daughter. She was born after a 6 year battle with infertility and fertility treatments. When I returned to my retail job their expectation was that I would work several evenings each week plyus weekends and put my daughter into childcare to facilitate this. After my struggle to have her there was no way I was going to let this happen.
So I started planning a business that I could start on a shoe string budget and run around my job and my daughter until I could build it up enough to be full time self employed. After 2 years of my biz I made it and said goodbye to my colleagues
Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?
So I sew keepsakes from clothing. My customers send me their clothes that hold precious memories and I make them into bears, quilts elephants and more. I love this side of my business, my customers love my products and it is emotionally rewarding.
I also write sewing patterns that I sell as downloads and paper patterns. The patterns are designed to be perfect for other keepsake makers. I write blog posts with photo tutorials and give all my knowledge to help other makers sew perfect keepsakes. I also have a group in which I support these makers and that has grown into a really lovely community.
Through lockdown the sales of these patterns more than replaced my keepsake income as sewers everywhere looked for projects to keep themselves busy.
And now I also help small business owners get started. there are so many things to learn when you set up a small business from how to use social media, how to ask for the sale, how to take product photos and how to work on mindset issues such as confidence, and effective use of time. This sie of the business is currently just a group and a planner but I am working to grow it into a membership
What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?
I succeed because I am really single minded and determined. My aim is to create a secure homelife for my family, particularly after the dark place I went to whilst dealing with infertility. I just want my daughter to be proud of me and to never again have a boss who dictates my hours of work and keeps me away from my home life.
I also suffered with a curved spine from a teenager and had a major operation to straighten it and secure it with titanium rod. When I doubt myself I remember that I have learnt to walk again after that op – so I can do anything I set my mind to.
My family have doubted my ability to make enough money, including a generalised misunderstanding of the day to day realities of being self employed and a lack of understanding of how a small business can succeed usinf social media marketing. Their doubts just add to my determination.
Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?
When we were locked down in 2020 I could not work for several months as my husband was on the shielding list soI could not receive clothing or post completed keepsakes.
This was tough. But I threw my entrepreneurial energy into writing new patterns that I could sell digitally and my husband and I tag teamed home learning and child care so I could continue to work. It was a challenge and definitely honed my organisational and prioritising skills!!
I do wish I had saved a bigger financial buffer before I started especially with the lean months at the beginning of the pandemic
If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
I would say to be patient and the right idea will come. Also that no matter how scary the tech and the putting yourself out there stuff feels, by just tackling it all one step at a time i will get there
We’re nearly halfway through our interview so it’s a great time to ask how does your business run. What three tools make your business run better?
I use Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to market my business. Through them I can reach out and find new customers all over the world. I use Etsy as my main market place to sell my keepsakes and patterns, and my website is histed on WordPress.
My most used 3 tools are definitely Facebook, Insta and Etsy. I run them all by myself although I am looking into scheduling apps and most likely going to start using Meet Edgar. Without social media I would not have a business it’s as simple as that.
What do you know now that you wished you had known before?
I do wish I had saved a bigger financial buffer before I started especially with the lean months at the beginning of the pandemic
What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?
Being able to say I am self employed and financially self sufficient. This is a big thing for me and makes me proud.
What future life goals do you want to achieve and why?
My priority goal at the moment is for my Craft Business Planner to be an Amazon best seller as I think it will really help those who are starting out on their craft business journey.
It isn’t just a planner it’s a business guide too. And next I would love to set up a membershio site to help those new crafters with all the knowledge and support they need to succeed.
To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?
Just start. Don’t over complicate it. With an Instagram profile and a link to a sales platform you have all the tools you need to get started. You can add the bells and whistles when you need them.
ut start by building an audience and selling products or services that you believe in nd take it from there. Even if your first business goes under you will have learnt so much and you can use this knowledge to set up your next business. Go for it and make yourself proud.
“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and The Messy Stork”
To learn more about The Messy Stork Visit www.messystork.com
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