“Mummy’s Online!”

For Monique, running one online business is not enough. She runs three.

As a 35-year-old mum to two gorgeous boys, aged 3 and 13 weeks (wow!), Monique first began That’s Art, an event organising and cake decorating business in 2002, which has been hugely successful through word of mouth. Her first online business project however was Bella Creations, which provides  beautiful and unique gifts for pregnant mums and and newborn babies.

When starting Bella Creations in 2004 as her first online business venture, Monique initially went into it with a business partner who ended up opting out, leaving her with a heavier work load, but more determination to keep the business running.

After successfully setting up Bella Creations online, Monique saw the opportunity for her other business to also be a success online, and as a result she is currently in the process of intergrating  That’s Art online and on top of that is also in the process of starting a third online business called Groovy As, offering unique and funky products for children from clothing to bedroom items.

With so much going on, for Monique the biggest struggle is just getting everything done every day. Despite this though, she prides herself on being a work at home mum and wouldn’t change it for the world. She loves having her little boys around her and is determined to keep them at home and not have to put them into childcare.

Here are Monique’s tips for other WAHMs:

• Just go with the flow!
• Don’t worry if you don’t reach your targets every day.
• Set priorities
• Accept help from family and friends - don’t be too proud to accept the offer.
• Remember to spend time with your children - that is the reason you wanted to work from home in the first place.

As well as running her online businesses, Monique is also a member of several support groups including the Business Mums Network, Real Mums and She-essence.