Rocking and Rolling with Business Mum Naoko Wood

What is the name of your business?

Rock Me Designs and Rock me Kids.

What does your business do?

Rock Me Designs’ jewellery is individually handcrafted in Blackheath, London. Our delicate, contemporary designs are accented with sparkling semi-precious stones, colourful enamel, sterling silver and gold charms. We have recently launched ‘Rock me Kids’, a children’s accessories range featuring our colourful and playful Liberty print collection.

How did Successful Mums help?

I found the Successful Mums Business Start-up Course very helpful. Jane organised the course really well and she made sure we understood all the different aspects of a business, the importance of each and even had experts come in to explain certain areas: an overview of business planning, social media, as well as thinking through practical steps of setting up or developing a business.

Throughout the course, our class also discussed some of the challenges we were all facing in trying to set up our various businesses.

What inspired you to start your own business?

I always enjoyed making jewellery. I had my own beaded accessory stall at my primary school fair. After a career in banking, I decided to take a gemology degree and became a certified gemologist.

Using my love of jewellery and my knowledge of gemstones, I set up Rock Me Designs.

It fits my work/home balance perfectly; I love that I have an outlet for my creativity. I have boutiques and clients who like my collections and designs but I can still be home for my three children.

What challenges did you have when starting a business?

The biggest challenge was realising that one really has to put on so many hats and that we all have our strengths and weaknesses. My weakness was sales and marketing. Through playground chat, I met a fellow mum of three, Clare Redshaw and we discovered that our strengths and weaknesses complimented each other. Together we have launched our children’s accessories range called Rock me Kids.

What does personal success mean to you?

Personal success to me means that Rock Me Designs and Rock Me Kids become an established brand locally.

What is the most challenging thing about working for yourself?

Trying to stay on top of all the different areas of the business while being productive. By working with Clare, we can work together, bounce ideas off each other but also split the workload, focusing on different areas of the business and accomplish more.

What is the most rewarding thing about working for yourself?

It feels good to know that we can take full credit for any success in the business whether it is receiving a big order, a good press article or even someone coming up to us and saying that they love our jewellery.

What top tip do you have for other Mums thinking of starting a business?

Research – make sure there is a market for your business and put yourself out there, without spending too much money upfront.

Successful Mums’ courses can be really helpful to make sure you have thought through all the necessary areas. As intimidating as it is, if you don’t try, you will never know if you can be successful.

What work life balance tip do you have?

I like to work hard and play hard. I work very hard and efficiently when I need to but I try to make sure I make some time for my family and myself.

A few nights a week, I will work in the evenings after the children go to bed, but also spend a few nights just relaxing and watching TV with my husband.

When my children are at school, some days, I sit at home and work on designs and orders but I also like to set some time aside to explore London, be inspired and do some market research.

Find out more about Rock Me Designs on our Facebook page or our Website

Start your story at Successful Mums, to gain more confidence and turn your idea into reality like Naoko book on to our fully funded Business Start-up Course. Find out more HERE.