Mums in Business: ZooBooKoo's guide to survival when you work with your husband
Setting up in business can be stressful for any Mumprenuer, but for mum Karen Wattleworth, as well as parenting two boys age 12 and 13, she has the additional strain of being in business with her husband Stephen.
Couple Karen and Stephen set up ZooBooKoo together more than twelve years ago, designing and manufacturing fun educational games and gifts for children.
Previous working life experience and assigning clear cut responsibilities is an important element to their success, as is their discipline and organisation.
Stephen is a director with a blue-chip background. He is responsible for elements of strategy, manufacture, sourcing, finance, systems and export. Karen handles sales, marketing, warehousing and customer services. When it comes to the important task of designing new products, they both work together.
“We have very different styles,” confirms Stephen. “Karen is an ‘implementer’ – she likes to get things done, preferably as quickly as possible. Whereas I am more of a ‘shaper’ – always challenging the way things are done, striving to move forward and grow. When developing anything new, I believe it takes three iterations to move from concept to completion. So we do clash occasionally – but it works – it’s a healthy, creative clash – and then there’s the making up…!”
“We started as a covert company romance,” says Karen. “That was great fun. And we’ve basically worked together ever since, though Stephen often helps out other companies through his business Power 2 Perform. We even sailed to New Zealand on a 42 foot yacht for 18 months. We’re soul mates”.
Making time for their relationship outside of business hours is key. “We go out for dinners or lunches; we plan events for us or for the family and holidays – to look forward to; we celebrate every small success story and we get the kids involved” Stephen says.
“It’s important to get dressed up and to try not to speak business, though we often do – but getting better. Most important of all is to hug and laugh several times a day, especially after stressy board meetings” Karen adds.
Karen and Stephen have ten tips for other couples who are looking to set up business together:
1. Clear division of duties – write it down – change it (with agreement) if necessary.
2. Disciplined time management – you may have to keep each other motivated and on track.
3. Plan regular romantic time out – don heels (ladies!) for dinner out; cinema; early night!…4. Plan events – try
something different (eg a Friday down to London Tate or the Eye, sport…)
5. Remember to hug each other several times a day (especially if you were cross or stressed)
6. Laugh loudly and often – share jokes and funny stories – always popping up in emails
7. Celebrate even the smallest success – a crisp rosé and a takeaway, shopping, massage…
8. Careful not to bore family and friends talking about your business
9. Be respectful (would you speak to a colleague like that?) and say sorry as often as required
10. Share business issues / challenges / new product ideas with the kids