Meet a Mumpreneur - Introducing Ebony Johnson

Through the 'Meet a Mumpreneur' series you get to have a sneak peek into the lives of fellow mumpreneurs to see how they manage mumpreneurhood and what works for them. Today I am very pleased to introduce you to Ebony Johnson from Neat 2 Eat.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family

I am a mum to 2 gorgeous yet demanding children, Bug who is 18 months and Mr 7 who is nearly 8. I'm also fortunate enough to have met my soul mate Mr Neat 2 Eat.

Tell us a little about your business

Neat 2 Eat is an online business specialising in innovative and unique products that make food fun for kids.

What inspired you to start your business?

My eldest child has autism and a lot of sensory issues around food. I was fed up with his diet which is when I found Lunch Punch (an awesome product designed and manufactured by another talented Aussie mum), and for the first time in 12 months I managed to get Mr 7 to eat bread. I started to search for more products that I could use to change his view on food but found there was a server gap in the market in Australia which is why I decided to start Neat 2 Eat.

What do you love about being a mumpreneur?

The usual; getting paid to do what I love, I get to work in my PJ's and spend time with my kids all while showing them what hard work is all about and setting a good example for them. It’s not always rainbows and butterflies but most days it’s pretty darn good.

Are you routine based or do you take a more flexible approach to balancing kids and work?

Very flexible, Mr 7 has good and bad days so I need to be on call in case he has a bad day and same with Bug she is a tornado with a relentless path of destruction!

What does a typical day look like for you?

I usually have two things I try and do each day; make and post a fun lunch on my Facebook page and process, pack and send out orders. Anything else is a bonus and depends on what sort of day the kids are having. Most days customer enquires keep me pretty busy but I try and keep up with all the behind the scenes tasks like website maintenance, managing stock levels, product sourcing, accounting, maintaining the blog and the list goes on!

What has been the biggest challenge? How have you/are you overcoming it?

You do get a feeling of 'this is all too big for me' every now and then especially at the start but you need to trust in your abilities and seek support/increase your knowledge base in the areas you struggle with, I'm forever researching and reading the wealth of free information that is out there.

How do you market your business? What have you found works best for you?

Word of mouth is the best marketing tool so I make sure I offer friendly service, prompt delivery and all those little details that make someone happy in their dealings with you. I've also done some collaboration with other small business as I really do believe we need to support each other these have proven to be a mutually beneficial marketing tool.

What do you do just for you to recoup and relax?

Believe it or not Neat 2 Eat is my relaxation, the kids are quite demanding and I get great satisfaction from growing my little business, maybe I'm just weird though…

What advice would you give other mum's starting out?

The road to success is a long and bumpy one so be prepared for hard work and some bumps along the way. Also remember it’s not just the destination, it’s the trip you take to get there! Starting my own business has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you would like to get in contact with Ebony you can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or at the Neat2Eat website.

Amanda x

P.S If you would like to be featured in the ‘Meet a Mumpreneur’ series, I'd love to hear from you! Just send me an email and tell me a little bit about yourself and your business.