Meet Shanghai's Supermoms!
So, it’s Mother’s Day, and if you didn’t already know that, highfoot it now to a flower or jewellery store! ‘Cos lets face it, what mother hasn’t saved a day or two being our very own Wonderwoman? As a tribute to them, we talk to 10 Shanghai Supermoms who not only do secret superhero work at home, their alternate identities own and run thriving businesses! We find out how they do it all… but in the meantime, Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there, our superheroes!
ALEJANDRA MORA, A LITTLE DREAM (EST. 2016)
How did you get to where you are now?
By working hard and being focused. I also love what I am doing!
What was your inspiration?
My kids, my love for fabrics, textures and colors.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
I try to be as patient as possible. I try to see the big picture and not focus on the problem.
What is your biggest achievement?
Only after a year of launching “A Little Dream”, being approached by investors to open a shop near Shanghai.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
Work hard, dream big, focus and put all the passion in your dreams. A quote that I have next to my bed as a daily reminder is “Go in direction of your dreams, live the life you’ve imagined”.
CHRISTINA FREDDIE, GOMA GREENS (EST. 2016)
How did you get to where you are now?
Five years ago I would not have envisioned I’d be sitting in a Chinese farm packing veggie boxes surrounded by sweet chatty old Chinese ladies! I was working in Denmark in a corporate environment for a global diabetes care company. In 2014, we made a decision to move to Shanghai for my husband’s work and my Chinese colleague in the Beijing office told me she was helping farmers in Shandong sell their apples in Beijing. They had difficulties selling outside their local community so she was buying the products at a fair price, and bringing good quality food to Beijing families. I loved the idea! Before moving to Shanghai, I started planning how I could sell the apples and look for more small farmers that I could support and buy products from.
What inspires you?
Working with people who are passionate about what they do. I love that its not only about building a business for myself, but also about contributing positively to the local farm communities and helping families make healthy choices. It’s like being part of a movement and working with others for a shared cause. My own mom also inspires me - she is 78 years old and still works as a psychologist. She only recently gave up roller-skating and cannot pass a playground without trying out the swing. Her passion for life and love for her family is ever present and contagious.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
With the support of my close family, husband and colleagues. My husband has picked me up countless times when I am down, and is also my harshest critic. This provokes me to get back up and face challenges. My colleagues are so committed to the quest we are on, it makes dealing with challenges a lot easier knowing we are in it together.
What is your biggest achievement?
Without a doubt, my three fantastic children who are twelve, nine and five. It moves me so much to see how they have grown into their own personalities different from each other, all opinionated, independent and passionate. It makes me very proud.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s ok not to be perfect. You can’t start your own business and at the same time volunteer at field trips, take home-made muffins for the class pot-luck and be the first to respond in the soccer, class or swim team WeChat groups. Be focused and distinguish between what is important and what is less so, both in your business and at home. It’s important to be present with your family the hours you have together after work and before bedtime. Most emails and calls are not so urgent they can’t wait a few hours. I try to remind myself of these principles when I struggle to juggle business and family, and feel insufficient in both because there are not enough hours in the day.
DEA KUDIBAL, DEA KUDIBAL (EST. 2013 IN SHANGHAI)
How did you get to where you are now?
By hard work and by KEEPING on going! I also teamed up with some really talented and inspiring people from the start of establishing my company. They were people who were professional in areas I wasn’t strong in, or didn’t have an interest in. Without all the great people in the Dea Kudibal Team the company would not be where it is today!
What was your inspiration?
I find Richard Branson a huge inspiration! I have read his biography so many times that I don’t even remember how many! I recommend it to everybody.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
I started the Dea Kudibal Company with my business partner Henning Larsen in 2003 in Denmark and we overcame a lot of challenges together. When we started in China, my husband joined the company and it has been critical for our success that we discuss all difficulties together and bounce ideas off together.
What is your biggest achievement?
Our biggest achievement is to keep creating new designs and new prints every season (four times a year) that are new and interesting, and also maintain the Dea Kudibal “look” or “DNA”! It also makes me really happy that we have created work environments in our offices in Copenhagen and Shanghai where people really like to work and also enjoy time with their colleagues.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
My personal trainer once said to me “half of your success with your training is to get your butt down to the gym”. I think it is the same with starting a business “half of the success in making a business is to get started!” If you have an idea, get started and go for it! Don’t think or analyze too much in the beginning, just get going and adjust along the way. The second half is to keep going! You will face a lot of challenges on your way and sometimes it just doesn’t feel worthwhile battling on, but it is. Remind yourself that the most successful people are the ones who didn’t give up. Lastly, recognize that you can’t do everything yourself and team up with people who have different talents to you.
ELS NISSENS, ELS' KITCHEN AND FABFOODZ (EST. 2012)
How did you get to where you are now?
A well-received jar of homemade mayonnaise and an inspiring lunch with a good friend made me act upon my long-time dream to share my passion for food with others. I founded Els’ Kitchen and started creating hands-on cooking workshops for adults, kids & teens and developing team building cooking concepts for companies. I crossed paths with Lina in one of my early workshops and we connected instantaneously over our life-long passion for food. We joined forces, started Fabfoodz catering and have been stirring the pots happily ever since!
What was your inspiration?
I grew up in Belgium in a family where food was paramount and central to all occasions. I learned the ways of French and European cuisine in my parents’ kitchen. Living abroad for 23 years, I’ve been able to create my own international kitchen by absorbing many culinary traditions and translating them into creative, exciting dishes. I am also an avid cookbook collector and enjoy sifting through my extensive library to find inspiration for the perfect dish for any occasion. These days, I’m inspired and energized by my teenage boys’ expressions of pride in my achievements. Whenever I feel guilty if I have to work on a weekend, they say, “No mom! We think it’s so cool that you’ve got this business.” They are my best PR!
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
By always keeping a positive attitude and never thinking something is impossible. I look at difficulties as challenges and opportunities, and I know that tackling them one by one will teach me new insights and bring me to the next level. For example, if you are used to doing events for 30 to 40 people and then out of nowhere a request for an event of 120 people drops into your lap, don’t think that it’s impossible. Take a deep breath, break it down, and you’ll find that you have the resources and contacts you need. In order to be there for my children, it is imperative for me to be super organized. I try to fit my time into their time by being up early to do any work that needs to be done and to see them off to school. I try to finish my workday when they get home. We actually end up having plenty of quality time during the weeknights, which compensates for my busy weekends.
What is your biggest achievement?
Being invited by KateandKimi to team up to create, inspire and develop a brand-new catering kitchen. It has been the perfect pinnacle to my journey and gives me a great opportunity to further pursue my passion for food on a much larger scale. I’m very excited to work on this great concept with a professional team and outstanding products!
Any advice for aspiring ”mom-preneurs”?
You came to Shanghai, the city full of opportunities. Go outside, soak it all in, get inspired, find your passion, try new things, work hard, and never, ever give up. Don’t just dream, do!
JESSIE MALOD-PANISSET, RETRONANA
(EST. 2016 IN SHANGHAI)
How did you get to where you are now?
I was a nurse in Singapore and the Middle East before I joined my boyfriend (now husband) in South Korea on a posting. It was difficult to find a nursing job in Seoul but I was determined to be financially independent. I have a great passion - internet shopping and I was always bidding for interesting products on eBay. I am also quite an opportunist so I started selling South Korean products on my own eBay shop. The business was a great success so I started my own haberdashery shop named Retronana (now renamed Tranquillement) on Etsy. I love fabric, sewing and craft items and I inherited an old vintage button machine from my mother, which allows me to create handmade fabric buttons. With my horde of fabric and the machine, there was no stopping me so I’ve now created over 600 designs of buttons that have a variety of uses ranging from hairclips and earrings to wine charms!
What was your inspiration?
I believe that to succeed in a business, one cannot be a follower, one has to lead and to be authentic. In order to lead, I need to ensure that what I want to do, make or sell truly reflects who I am. There are frequent lull periods where I am not inspired and can’t make any new designs. This can make me anxious, but I learnt after over 10 years in this business that inspiration is not something containable or copied. It comes with life changes and experiences and how I interpret them.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
Time management is a constant challenge for me. I try to strike a good balance between my work and my home life. Working at home alone means I do not have any peer reviews. It would be nice to have a small team to discuss my work once in awhile as I like get input from others. That is why I decided to start selling my products in Shanghai bazaars so I can have real time interactions with my customers and get real feedback. It was a good move as customers are able to tell me what flaws there are in my products and how I can improve them.
What is your biggest achievement?
I would safely say I do not know yet, and like to think the best is yet to be. I am always grateful for my customers and all the wonderfully positive feedback over the past decade. If I really take stock now though, I would go back to that day again in Seoul 11 years ago. I tossed and turned for three days and three nights in bed, tormented within myself as to starting an online store when I don’t have an iota of business experience. What if I failed? What if I lost all my savings? What would people think? By day four, I snapped, got up and opened my store. My biggest achievement I’d say is to believe I could do it, and I did.
Any advice for aspiring ”mom-preneurs”?
Scared? Do it anyway.
KIM GILLILAND, SOAPNUT REPUBLIC (EST. 2013)
How did you get to where you are now?
With a lot of hard work! I arrived in China in 2008 as an expat working in the media industry, met my Kiwi husband here and then life changed significantly. When I was pregnant for the first time I saw an opportunity to create a new, innovative business. We were searching for genuinely safe, non-toxic cleaning products for our own family home, but instead we saw a gap in the market and founded Soapnut Republic.
What was your inspiration?
Parenthood was definitely the inspiration to start our company. All parents want their kids to have the best possible start in life, and I think becoming a parent for the first time is often when people realise that a lot of the products they’ve been using for years are actually not very safe and they start looking for alternatives.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
I think as long as you truly believe in what you do and work extremely hard, it makes it a lot easier to deal with the challenges. A few years ago, I’d never even considered being an entrepreneur. But now I’m so committed to what we’re doing that I’d never want to do anything else. It’s hard work running a company and being a mom of three kids, and it’s overwhelming a lot of the time. But at the end of the day, I’ve got an amazing family and I’m incredibly passionate about the work we’re doing with Soapnut Republic so it makes it all worthwhile.
What is your biggest achievement?
Definitely my three daughters. They are adorable.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
It’s not going to be easy. You’re going to have to work really hard, so make sure you find something that you love doing because if you’re not enjoying yourself it’s not worth it. Life’s too short.
MUNA LI WEI XIONG, GENEVA FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT (EST. 2012)
How did you get to where you are now?
With our team! I am fortunate to have employees that have worked with us for 10 years who continued with us from our Abbey Road business. These employees are dynamic and have ambitions to do more. The most important thing is that we all love what we are doing and want to deliver the best service possible to all our customers. What sets us apart from most of our competitors is the fact that most of the staff remembers the names of all of customers, regulars or even customers that just stop by occasionally.
What was your inspiration?
My husband and I started Geneva when our daughter Elizabeth was 6 months old. I realized that families who live in the area wanted a kid friendly restaurant, where parents could enjoy dinner whilst their children have a good time in a kid’s playroom. I still remember our first day in business, around forty children showed up, and most them were still in their school uniforms. It was like a play date after school, in our restaurant. I was really happy!
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
There are many aspects of the restaurant business that I find difficult! The first is trying to work around business complexity and still have enough family time. I am lucky that my husband is very supportive with this and we have learned how to adjust our family schedule based on business needs. Many times we end up having our family weekend in the restaurant or at catering events. In the restaurant business you have to be very hands on in almost all aspects of business. Someone once told me that owning a restaurant is a job that requires your whole body and soul! You must have patience and be very hands on if you want your business to run smoothly.
What is your biggest achievement?
In Spring 2016, we were honored to be the exclusive caterer for SCIS’s (Shanghai Community International School’s) 20 years anniversary celebration. We served more than 2000 people that day. The best part of it was seeing so many happy families celebrating and complimenting us on how professional (and tasty) the catering services were.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
Do what you’re good at and love what you do! Pay attention to the local culture when you want to be successful in a business in China.
NICOLE CHIA, PILLOW TALK (EST. 2016)
(WECHAT: NPAMINNS)
How did you get to where you are now?
Completely by chance. I made the Boarding Pass pillow for a friend. She was pretty excited about it and told me I should sell it. So, I offered it to a small group on WeChat and it exploded over a course of two weeks. I took a break over the summer and came back with a few new designs and it has grown since then.
What was your inspiration?
I was sick of the same parting gifts available here in Shanghai and I really wanted something special to give to a friend who was repatriating. I’ve always loved doing design and thought it would be cool to give her something commemorating her time here in Shanghai and her journey back home. Since then I draw inspiration from travel and Chinese design.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
Since I threw myself into this I’ve been learning on the go. The hardest thing for me to do was to set ground rules for myself because a lot of what I do is on a personal 1-to-1 customer service and I aim to please people. Since my designs are customized I am always looking to find a balance between what the client wants for their finished piece while not compromising the design.
What is your biggest achievement?
Christmas season! All of my orders were fulfilled by only me, and I had about 300 at that time. Balancing being a mom while staying up until 2am each night for 2 weeks was a pretty big achievement! Other than that, just someone saying that they really love their pillow hits the spot. I’m lucky because even though this is a business for me, I do it for fun and to hear that someone loves my pillows is all the sense of achievement I need.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
If you have a passion or an idea for a business go for it! There is no better place than Shanghai to try it out. Choose something you love to do and offer it to the world - you’d be surprised at how many people will love your idea if only you put it out there! Start small, build it gradually, and remember to have fun along the way. Fun is the ultimate motivator!
ROSCY THOMAS, REALICIOUS NUT BUTTERS (EST. 2012)
How did you get to where you are now?
I wanted to create a line of healthy, high-quality, nutritious nut butters that are both delicious and affordable as I am passionate about staying healthy, fit and active. When I came to China in the summer of 2015 I was looking for nut butters, specifically almond butters, and found Realicious. I tried it and simply fell in love with it. When I heard that Realicious was looking for a new owner to continue the movement, I jumped at the chance. My goal at Realicious is to make life in China healthier and just a bit more delicious.
What was your inspiration?
For the past 8 years my husband and I have lived and worked in three different continents, starting from India to Copenhagen to Boston to China. When we had our son two years back I decided to spend more time at home and take care of my family. I wanted to do something on my own and take up a business that I could take with me wherever we moved to. Realicious was the perfect answer -it helped to me combine my passion for healthy living and gave me more flexibility to manage my time.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
For me the biggest challenge was the language, I struggled in the beginning but I was determined to overcome it and undertook Chinese lessons and things have definitely been moving a lot smoother. As I am learning the business, it has been a lot of late nights, and tough meetings, but I enjoy every single moment of it.
What is your biggest achievement?
I am a firm believer of Balanced Living. What I mean by that is living in touch with nature, spending quality time with family and eating right. Realicious truly embodies everything I believe in. “Balance is the key. In everything you do. Embrace all sides of who you are. Be brave, bold, spontaneous and loud and let that complement your abilities to find silence, patience, modesty and peace. Aim for balance. Make your own rules and follow your own path and don’t let anybody tell you how to live according to theirs.” I believe that I have been able to live a balanced life and I consider this as one of my biggest achievements.
Any advice for aspiring “mom-preneurs”?
It’s never an easy task to juggle your business and home at the same time, having said that running my own business has given me much more flexibility in terms of managing my career and family life. The most critical thing is to manage your time to ensure that both your family and your business is well taken care of!
SHAREENA MUNDODI, SUGAR MAMA (EST. 2016)
(WECHAT: SHAZZER78)
How did you get to where you are now?
I used to work in management consulting and social business development, however as our family moved around all over the globe, finding a “desk” job got complicated. It’s difficult to put aside your ego and close the door on traditional forms of employment though, especially when you’ve worked so hard, studied hard, and had a plan. It turns out I am something of a good baker, completely self-taught, and I really enjoy it. It’s creative, focused and brings joy to other people. It required some meditation on my part to warm up to the idea that my home baking could be something others would pay for and enjoy and that this hobby could be fulfilling and lucrative. Two friends in separate countries and contexts encouraged me to fill the bellies of community members with sweet treats. At first it was a few cakes and then the occasional cinnamon bread or pecan pie. It was a huge learning curve as I would spend hours and hours assembling just one cake.
What was your inspiration?
My inspiration to start something on my own is very much based on the current entrepreneurial climate. Start-ups, crowd-sourcing/funding, tailored businesses, niche businesses – these all seem to define an ongoing trend in the 21st century. It affords the business owner opportunities to be flexible, creative, and I’m grateful I am in a position that allows me to experiment. It also seems that people are increasingly interested in a bespoke experience across all industries. Custom cakes are all about the client, so I try hard to understand a little more about their interests to help me sketch out a design and source decorative items.
How did, or do you manage difficulties in your business?
The biggest difficulties I face are related to logistics – whether that’s related to deliveries, or even just the language barrier. As nearly every cake is different, efficiency is an ongoing issue. On more than one occasion I found myself working into the wee hours of the night and I had to ask myself what I would change to make it more efficient, still be creative and sleep. Over the course of the last 2 or 3 years I’ve practiced, developed some ideas that are reliable, and tried to better define my style. I spend a lot of time mapping out my weeks and creating a workable schedule that takes into account my family obligations.
What is your biggest achievement?
Brand awareness – I’m really pleased that in the last 6 months word has gotten around about my work, my style, and my attention to detail.
Any advice for aspiring ”mom-preneurs”?
I would say: be comfortable with telling clients and customers “no.” If you cannot provide your service because it will mean you are stretched too thin across business and family obligations, then you just have to say “no.” You’d be surprised how many clients are understanding of this, so that you actually feel less guilty about losing a potential order and more confident that you are closer to the ideal balance.
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