Emma Pope had a unique start to business, with her first time browsing Gumtree resulting in her purchasing a business. Stumbling upon Wooden Wonderland, an online retailer of wooden toys and furniture for little people; Emma felt the desire to bring the childhood joy she felt playing with her grandfather’s handmade wooden rocking horse to the generation of today.
“I was not looking to buy a business at the time, and it was the first time I had ever used Gumtree. The business name drew me in and I thought it had great potential. After purchasing the business, I completely re-built the website and the business model and it has been evolving ever since.”
Wooden Wonderland is now one of Australia’s biggest online retailers for wooden toys.
Emma claims that the most enjoyable part of running her own business is the flexibility:
“Running my own business allows me ample time with my family and to keep the house in good working order.”
Emma Pope’s favourite entrepreneur:
“Richard Branson – he has remained “real” and relatable throughout his journey to entrepreneurial success”.
Advice from Emma:
Three pieces of advice Emma wishes she’d been given when she started her business:
- Find a well-matched mentor ASAP. Even if the mentor is not there in a coaching capacity with the purpose of keeping you accountable, you will inevitably want to show them that you are committed and your business is progressive, so their presence alone will keep you accountable.
- Outsource the tasks you least enjoy as soon as you can afford to do so. Tasks you find boring or monotonous can lead to dissatisfaction in your daily work life. It’s best to focus your energy and attention on the tasks that bring you satisfaction and enjoyment.
- Manageable and well-planned loans and borrowings can be a good thing to help your business grow in the early days.
Advice Emma would give someone thinking about starting a business:
“You have to be willing to take risks, and you have to be willing to put in the hours and effort, which in almost all cases is far more than 40 hours a week. If you are committed to these two things, then go for it!”
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Understanding your cash flow from the beginning is crucial. Know the difference between a Profit and Loss and a Balance Sheet, and what they mean for your business.
Emma on HerBusiness:
“I am an HerBusiness member to add some interaction into my daily work life. I work from a warehouse and only employ contract staff as required so it is good to have a link back to and interaction with the “outside world”.”
Learn more about Wooden Wonderland here.
This post was co-authored by Vashti Broos. Vashti completed a journalism internship at HerBusiness. She studies Marketing & Public Relations / Communications and Media (Journalism) at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney.
