Local mum and business woman Beverley Dyer has been nominated for the 2018 AusMumpreneur Awards.
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The awards celebrate Aussie Mums in business and recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family. Winners will be announced at a glamorous awards dinner in Melbourne this August.
A young mother of three boys, Bev from Valla Beach, launched her online business Chasing Sundays in October 2016 with a collection of Turkish cotton towels, bags and caps.
Bev’s business idea developed following the birth of her last son, when she was overcome with thoughts about what she was going to do for work now her family was complete.
With the support and encouragement from her husband, Bev went on a journey to find versatile, high quality products that absolutely anyone could enjoy without compromising on the style.
Bev said she draws inspiration from her own simplistic yet busy family lifestyle to produce and bring together products that are designed to be practical and affordable, while representing and support the quintessential laidback Aussie coastal lifestyle.
There are many benefits to balancing business and motherhood says Bev.
“Being a mumpreneur combines my two greatest accomplishments, being a mother and a business owner.”
“Having my own business allows me to have complete flexibility around my family and the ability to create business hours that work for us. It provides me with the opportunity to work from the comfort of my own home while my children are still young.
“Starting an online business has pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to develop personally and professionally while giving me the career fulfillment I was seeking.
“It can be hard blending family and work commitments, but I thrive on the adrenaline of juggling to make it all happen”.
Bev’s tips for Mums thinking about starting their own enterprise
It can be challenging to be a successful business woman whilst raising a family and Bev gives this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise.
“Begin with a plan and a purpose, never change the purpose of why you started.
“Get comfortable feeling uncomfortable, nothing great will ever happen from staying in your comfort zone.
“Network, reach out, get personal and surround yourself with the right people.
“The start up phase is tough, monetary value is not the only form of currency, be prepared to barter.
“Now is as good of a time to start as any. Believe in yourself, your ideas and take the leap.”
Bev’s big break
Chasing Sundays was inspired by the kids’ poncho towel. Being a mother of three energetic boys, Bev had always loved the ease that came with poncho towels for kids, however struggled to find any that were simplistic and stylish that catered for a broad age range.
Through her frustration, she realised she had just found a gap in the market and from that moment she was determined to develop a high quality, stylish poncho towel for children. All of a sudden Bev had a sourcing, researching, sampling obsession. From there she fell in love with Turkish cotton and that’s how Chasing Sundays was born.
Since its beginnings, the brand is constantly expanding and introducing new and exciting lifestyle products.
But the basic website Bev had created herself became quickly inefficient for her expanding business and Bev has been working alongside a local website team to build a new site that will help grow and guide her business into the future.
Bevs hard work has paid off and the Chasing Sundays new website is set to launch this Wednesday, July 4 at 11am.