Mums Market - the beginning of an Idea

Lights in the Dark

While driving home from a friends house, one thought led to another - as it does - and I started thinking about all the mums that are trying to sell products from home. Once upon a time, I used to sell a make up/beauty care brand, but wasn't actually interested in doing the 'parties' necessary to make a living from it. I've had friends sell all kinds of things as well, and I know very well, that the first step - selling to your friends - is all very well and good, but what happens next? How do you get new customers if your friends only invite the other friends you already know? How can you actually make a living from this?

And then there are the talented mums who make things - things for kids, things for the house... all kinds of things. They can make a facebook page, they can tell their friends, but again, how do you get out there to the public? How do you make something of this.

All these mums have created businesses in hopes of earning a little bit of extra cash to support their families, or to make some money to spend on themselves (which they deserve).

And from there an idea was born!

I thought it would be nice to invite a few of these mums around to my house, and they could bring some products (I was also in the market to do some buying for myself!!) and instantly make some new contacts. It would be a nice evening out for a few mums. So I did what any tech native would do - I posted my idea on a facebook page. The response was beyond what I imagined! Just in the comments I had mums very keen to be involved in 'something like this'

So I created an event - no date, no time, no location - just to see who I could find to come along.

By the end of the 2nd day I had around 800 people interested in my event, and a few dedicated people who even said they are coming - with no set date! By the end of the first week the number of interested people had risen to 1000, and the questions were coming in. I couldn't keep up with the comments and the private messages I was getting.

The hunt was on for a location. I decided to do it initial in April, but I think as things got exciting, and Bethlehem hall was available, I went for mid March - just over a month from when I first had my first idea! I was really not expecting how full on it would be!

My life became very busy! Looking after my own 2 girls, I would turn on the computer at night to do my 'market stuff' for a little bit, and 2 or 3 hours later would still be going, so would just have to stop so that I could get some sleep!

I needed to create a registration form, I needed to really form the ideas in my head about what I was doing! AND I needed to respond to the huge number of questions still being fired at me!

Thankfully there are some wonderful people in the world who offered their help to me - and when I say in the world, I mean in Tauranga!! I had help making my logo and sorting out branding, and I had offers of help for the night. I had more offers that I probably never got around to responding to, but I am so very grateful just for the offers!

And the rest - as they say - is history!!