![\"ZooBooKoo\"](\"http:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/ZooBooKoo.gif\" "\\"ZooBooKoo\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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,\u00a0 she has the additional strain of being in business with her husband Stephen.<\/p>\n
Couple Karen and Stephen set up ZooBooKoo <\/strong>together more than twelve years ago, designing and manufacturing fun educational games and gifts for children.<\/p>\n Previous working life experience and assigning clear cut responsibilities is an important element to their success, as is their discipline and organisation.<\/p>\n Stephen is a director with a blue-chip background. He is responsible for elements of strategy, manufacture, sourcing, finance, systems and export.\u00a0 Karen handles sales, marketing, warehousing and customer services.\u00a0 When it comes to the important task of designing new products, they both work together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have very different styles,\u201d confirms Stephen.\u00a0 \u201cKaren is an \u2018implementer\u2019 \u2013 she likes to get things done, preferably as quickly as possible.\u00a0 Whereas I am more of a \u2018shaper\u2019 \u2013 always challenging the way things are done, striving to move forward and grow.\u00a0 When developing anything new, I believe it takes three iterations to move from concept to completion.\u00a0 So we do clash occasionally \u2013 but it works \u2013 it\u2019s a healthy, creative clash \u2013 and then there\u2019s the making up\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe started as a covert company romance,\u201d says Karen. \u201cThat was great fun.\u00a0 And we\u2019ve basically worked together ever since, though Stephen often helps out other companies through his business Power 2 Perform.\u00a0 We even sailed to New Zealand on a 42 foot yacht for 18 months.\u00a0 We\u2019re soul mates\u201d.<\/p>\n Making time for their relationship outside of business hours is key. \u201cWe go out for dinners or lunches; we plan events for us or for the family and holidays \u2013 to look forward to; we celebrate every small success story and we get the kids involved\u201d Stephen says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to get dressed up and to try not to speak business, though we often do \u2013 but getting better.\u00a0 Most important of all is to hug and laugh several times a day, especially after stressy board meetings\u201d Karen adds.<\/p>\n