CAREER PURSUIT

helped me obtain my start-up loan. My samples arrived and were approved. I sourced a local photography studio and used a lot of willing army spouse volunteers (and their babies) to photograph the collection (all my models have been frommilitary families). Then the full clothing collection arrived, and the website launched. Four months after launching, we moved house from one side of the country to the other. I also had my third baby two weeks before moving, making it a particularly busy time. The first hurdle of moving both the home and the business was more complicated than I gave it credit for! I had initially set up a PO Box address, but it turned out that you can’t move around and keep the same one. Then came TOP TIPS FOR MOVING WITH YOUR BUSINESS Ow n e r a n d c r e a t o r o f t h e c l o t h i n g l i n e B r i t i s h B a b i e s s h a r e s h e r s t o r y a n d t o p t i p s . B y W i l l o w H e a r n e The idea for British Babies started in 2016 . I knew I wanted to be self-employed, and some of the other military spouses on my ‘patch’ had started a networking group. This group became integral in helping me ratify my ideas. As a military spouse, with two moves due in the next two years, I needed a venture that I could move with me. I had extensive business management and retail experience to draw on, and so after months of research I decided to create my baby clothing range and sell online, thus launching British Babies in 2017 . The decision to be an online-only retailer meant that I didn’t need bricks and mortar premises, making my idea possible while being a military spouse and moving frequently. I sourced a printer and manufacturer in the UK and had all my designs made. I got a lot of support with my business plan and cash flow from X-Forces who 15 C A R E E R P U R S U I T 2 0 2 0