This story is about…
Name: Ellie Kelly
Location: UK
Company: Buttons Children’s Parties Ltd
Industry: Events
What motivated you to start your business?
I have wanted to run my own business for quite some time. Both my dad and my brother have started and run their own companies. The main motivators were to be able to work from home (get a dog!), be able to look after my children (when I have some) from home and create a job for myself that I would love.
Tell us about your business…
Buttons Children’s Parties is primarily a unique and high-end children entertainment company. We have 5 female entertainers and 7 party assistants at the moment and offer everything from craft to adventure story parties and chocolate making to face painting with a lot more in-between. We also offer a party planning service, cake, bespoke sweetie tables, party bags and venue styling.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Came up with a name and then found the best company I could to create my brand and website for me. Along side this I mapped out who my target market was and put together my party packages.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Google Adwords (ppc) and word of mouth.
What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business?
As the business is growing, it is hard to juggle working ON your business and working IN you business. I am very self-motivated but getting everything done is a challenge.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I am part of a business group that keeps me going and offers advice, and I regularly sit back and look at the bigger picture. I have also grown my team this year and just taken on someone to work a few hours in the office every week to give me some working ON the business time.
What do you love about running your own business?
So many things! I love being able to steer my business in any direction, finding new talent, training them and watching them grow, managing my own time and working from home. Also, I love the wonderful feedback I receive on the parties we have created, as well as being able to work with children who make me laugh and inspire me. I love being able to be create in my work.
What advice would you give to other business owners?
Never think you know all you need to know. There is always something new to learn and if you want a successful business, it’s your job to soak it up. I also think goal setting is extremely important.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I read though my client feedback to remind me of why I do what I do. I also list all the things that I wanted to achieve and that I have! It’s so easy to keep setting new goals for yourself without seeing all the ones you have ticked off the list already.
What’s your favourite quote?
The longer I live, the more I realise
the impact of attitude on life.
It is more important than the past, than education, than money,
than circumstances, than failures, than successes,
than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, skills or talent.
It will make or break a company … or a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past …
we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you … we are all in charge of our attitudes.
{Charles R Swindell}
Who inspires you?
Other local business owners who I have met and became friends with via networking on twitter. Also, Nigel Botterill and Carrie Green. :-)
Do you have a business philosophy?
Creating and inspiring magical moments.
