Meet the team: Alana runs baby and kids markets in East Fife and West Lothian I came across Mum2mum Market when having a clear-out at home. We needed to sell on a lot of Rosie’s outgrown things and booked a stall at the nearest sale. I love the concept of reusing things, especially when so much baby and toddler stuff barely gets used and is in mint condition. I’ve always been interested in working for myself and this sounded like a great way to start! After looking into becoming a franchisee, we decided as a family to go ahead in the hope that it would give me more flexibility with working hours. My husband already does two jobs on chaotic shifts, and I am a teacher 4 days a week. I can do Mum2mum Market organisation in the evenings when my daughter is asleep and I’m really enjoying learning about running my own business. Sale day is a real family event for us! I do the admission desk and chat to people as they come in, my husband helps people unload their cars and then takes lots of photos. My Dad runs the café, and my mum and Rosie go round checking if anybody needs help with anything! The best thing about it is watching all the happy families leaving our sales with their arms heavily loaded with all their bargains! The best thing about it is watching all the happy families leaving our sales with their arms heavily loaded with all their bargains! I’ve had two nearly new sales in Levenmouth so far, and one family at the last sale left with a high chair, a pram, a box full of toys and a jumperoo they got for £10! What amazing bargains!
I also love that Mum2mum Market supports the local community, and local businesses. It’s different to some other similar sales because we can have children’s activity providers running taster sessions, photographers doing mini photo-shoots, we often have charities joining us free of charge, and I’ve even got the local council offering free car seat safety checks in conjunction with the fire service at my next event. This brings people together and turns it into a real Community Event, and not just a sale! I’m really excited about watching the sales continue to grow! Alana runs mum2mum market nearly new sales in East Fife and West Lothian Follow Mum2mum market Scotland on Facebook Find local events in Scotland Book a stall Meet the team: Sam runs Mum2mum market Nearly New sales in the West Midlands Hi I’m Sam and I joined mum2mum market back in May 2015. I’d been searching for a franchise for a while and whilst I really don’t have the vocal skills for the baby class opportunities I knew my control freak organising self would love event planning. I coerced my lovely friend Nicki into joining with me, we sent off for some info, had a phone interview with mum2mum market owner Cath and that’s when mum2mum market Stourbridge, Dudley & Kidderminster was born. Mum2mum nearly new sales allow local families to sell on their good quality preloved maternity, baby and children’s items in a friendly, indoor environment. I’m on a mission to work term time only by the time both girls are in school. So since joining mum2mum I’ve also taken on the Wolverhampton/Bridgnorth franchise. I also do 5 hours a week Facebook admin for the National mum2mum page and I’ve have set up a little cake making business with another friend to cater our events – although we only do Wolverhampton currently. I’m still not quite there yet but have managed to decrease my ‘day job’ hours down to fit in better with the school run. Sometimes I wonder how I fit it all in but it’s great that I can do so much of it after the girls are in bed. 'It’s great seeing buyers leaving with armfuls of fantastic quality bargains, and then returning, and leaving again multiple times as they fill the car! I love organising successful sales where local parents can turn their preloved items into cash for their family and that other local families can make some serious savings shopping with us. It’s great seeing buyers leaving with armfuls of fantastic quality bargains, and then returning, and leaving again multiple times as they fill the car! We have lots of repeat buyers and sellers and it’s lovely to meet everyone and get to know them a little. I like to say we have two types of buyers, the targeted buyers and the moochers. We really encourage our sellers to send us plenty of pictures of what they are selling before the sale to add to our Facebook photo album. Our targeted buyers have been known to be first in the queue and be in and out in under 5 minutes with the bargains they’d spotted online! The moochers love to stay and browse and head to the café for a cuppa before returning to the sale room for one last bargain hunt. 'We have lots of repeat buyers and sellers and it’s lovely to meet everyone and get to know them a little.' I couldn’t do all this without the support from my wonderful family. I’ve been married to my husband Matt for 9 years but together for 16 (I think he was just making sure!) We have two lovely, lively little girls, Emily 6 and Abigail 3. My mum regularly helps at the sales and is always in the market for a little cuddle. Sam runs mum2mummarket Nearly New Sales covering Stourbridge, Dudley & Kidderminster and in Wolverhampton. Find local events in the West Midlands Join mum2mum market West Midlands on Facebook Book a stall To find our how to start your own mum2mum market franchise visit www.mum2mummarket/franchise A day in the life of a mum2mum market franchisee.Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be a mum2mum market franchisee? Leyla invited us to her Barking and Dagenham mum2mum market nearly new sales and gave us a peek behind the scenes at a day in the life of a mum2mum market franchisee. ''There is this moment before each sale which I love. It happens about 10 minutes before the sale is due to start. There is a lull. A moment of tension fills the air. A ripple of excitement spreads through the hall. My sellers are all set up and eagerly clock watching. Their items are all sorted and priced and they stand waiting behind their table. Lots of change at the ready. There is a queue outside the door, a few heads poke around the door to catch a glimpse of the things on sale today. ' I catch the eye of a few sellers and I’m met with a smile, I go outside and say hi to some of the buyers waiting.' I use this time to reflect on the marketing I have done before each sale. The time spent delivering flyers door-to-door, advertising online, giving flyers to schools, nurseries and playgroups. Putting posters up in shops and public areas. There is always that little voice in my head wondering if I’ve done enough. It’s at this point that I take a look around the hall, I catch the eye of a few sellers and I’m met with a smile, I go outside and say hi to some of the buyers waiting. Its time. I tell my buyers to come in, money is given and goody bags are handed out. The hall is filling up now. There is a break in the queue so I use the chance to take a look around. Everyone is smiling, the goody bags are being filled up with shopping, husbands are waiting at the front of the hall with arms full. 'I love seeing people go to their cars to unload their goodies and then come back in for more.' 'My jaw is aching from smiling all afternoon but I love it.' I love seeing people go to their cars to unload their goodies and then come back in for more. Its nearing the end of the sale now - 2 hours go so fast. Things are winding down, sellers are starting to pack up. My jaw is aching from smiling all afternoon but I love it. I love hearing how much money my sellers made, I love hearing how my buyers have been able to save a lot of money, I love seeing regular buyers. I love it all. A lot of hard work goes into organising each sale but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve even just brought a second franchise! I started off as a sellers and then a buyer at mum2mum markets. At the beginning of 2016 I felt like it was time for a change. I decided to buy a mum2mum franchise and I’ve never looked back.''
Meet the team: SarahMy name is Sarah, I joined mum2mum market in March 2016 after watching founder Cath on Dragons den. When I saw the mum2mum market franchise I knew it was just what I was looking for and would fit perfectly with my family life, I also knew it would be great for local parents in my area, I found the whole process of joining mum2mum very easy and hassle free. ''I needed to find something I could do in my spare time, when children are in school/bed.'' I am married with 3 children, Lennon 12, Lewis 11 and Katie 5, So I was keen to find work that could be done around my family life, I work as a part time bingo caller, but taking on more hours was difficult with family commitments, after school clubs, school productions and all that comes along with being a parent. I needed to find something I could do in my spare time, when children are in school/bed. It all started with an email to enquire about the franchise for my area being available, which thankfully it was, I quickly decided I wanted to go ahead and bought my franchise, I have the Corby, Kettering and Desborough area of Northamptonshire. ''It was all very exciting, the support from head office was brilliant '' My franchise pack arrived soon after which was really exciting. It included everything I needed to get started, a manual full of everything you need to know, as well as stationery and goody bags to get me started. It was all very exciting, the support from head office was brilliant with daily training videos, email updates and online support from a Facebook group full of franchisees that already run the events. Any questions I had were quickly answered by fellow mum2mum colleagues. Now I had the information it was time to get on with organising my first event! I had to find a suitable venue, advertise across town by delivering flyers, posters, sharing the event on Facebook online forums and pretty much telling everyone I met about my upcoming event. All this I was able to do around my children and part time job as a bingo caller. ''It’s such a great feeling seeing parents, grandparents and parents to be leaving loaded down with bargains.'' I have run 3 events now in my local town and each has been better than the one before, my last sale sold out with 22 stalls and over 200 buyers through the door, It’s such a great feeling seeing parents, grandparents and parents to be leaving loaded down with bargains, It makes me feel like all the work was worthwhile, And having happy sellers that have made some extra cash is great! I have had 3 returning customers, one lady has attended all 3 events and 2 others have attended 2. I have 3 from my last event book straight up for my upcoming event in October, this makes me realise I am getting it right.
Sales are only 2 hours long and very busy in the first hour, I get the hall all set up before our sellers arrive, getting the tables in place, tea, coffee and cake table set up etc. the hour my sellers are setting up goes really quickly. I use this time to show them to their tables make sure they are getting on ok and take some pictures for a final Facebook post reminding people to come along to shop. Queues start to build outside the venue up to 20mins before the start if the sale, this creates an exciting buzz in the room, we open the doors and the room fills with excited shoppers and sellers and I’m happy it’s all come together, my husband and kids come along on the day to help out and enjoy the event. I recommend to anyone looking to work from home to give mum2mum market a go, it has been a great few months for me setting up, Nerve wracking at times wondering how many people will arrive at your sale, but when the queue forms and it all runs well it feels great!! Sarah runs mum2mum market nearly new sales in Corby, Kettering and Desborough, Northamptonshire. See upcoming events in Corby, Kettering and Desborough, Northamptonshire. Mum2mum market Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire on Facebook Book a stall Find out more about a mum2mum market franchise Behind the scenes: Running a mum2mum market franchise |
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