This weeks participant in our entrepreneurial mums feature is Stine Goetrik, originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in East Dulwich London. She owns Sandk Agency and her recently opened Sparkle & Spin shop, and is mum to 4 year old Naja. Sandk, her wholesale business represents Danish brands such as Katvig, Hollys and Ej Sikke Lej and she’ll also be launching her online store soon. Busy!
Why I started my business: I was working as a film editor, working long, unpredictable hours and was looking to change this as we wanted to start a family. I visited the Royal College MA show about 6 years ago where I discovered Lisa Stickley and worked with her to launch commercial products into stores like Heals and Selfridges. From here I took on other women’s accessories designers into high street shops and department stores.
I then fell pregnant with Naja and found that the UK was lacking fun, bright and inspiring kid’s clothes like we had in Denmark. We took on Katvig and launched them in the UK 4 years ago. We had the most overwhelming reaction and now they are one of the best selling independent kid brands in the UK. Now we represent 4 Danish brands in the UK, as well as running Sparkle & Spin.
Toughest Challenge: When Naja was young it was fine, she would eat and sleep and I could get on with work around her nap time. But when she got older it was very hard to find a good balance of spending quality time with Naja, finding good, affordable child care and helping the business to grow and stay afloat. Luckily for me I found a great colleague and now friend, to work with. Louise joined me 3 half years ago when we took on Katvig and together we have grown the business taking on more brands, new premises and opening the shop.
What I most enjoy: We initially worked from my flat, then in Brick Lane and now the showroom/shop is just down the road from both Louise’s and mine flat. It is perfect as it is also just around the corner from Naja’s nursery so it means I get the maximum amount of time with her and at work.
We love getting the new collections in and presenting these to buyers at the tradeshows, we always get such great reactions and it is always so much fun selling new designs. And now, with the shop we get to chat to customers directly. It’s great seeing regular faces coming back and seeing there little ones growing up in some of the outfits they have bought from Sparkle & Spin.
My advice for someone starting up their own business: Do what you can. Be ambitious but don’t push things too fast and beyond your means. I have grown the business at a good steady pace moving it from the spare room in my flat to a gorgeous shop/showroom premises within 3 years and all without any bank loans. Most importantly though, is to have fun while you’re doing it. We have a great relationship with our clients and customers and really love what we do.
Check out the other mums that we have featured so far. If you’d like to take part, get in touch at features AT bambinogoodies.co.uk
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