MUMS CLEAN UP
TWO Townsville businesswomen have proved that “mum’s the boss” after being crowned winners at the Ausmumpreneur Awards.
The mums turned entrepreneurs have proved their biggest asset in business was born from motherhood after creating successful companies inspired by the “messiness” of parenthood.
Kerry Spina co-founded Kids in Harmony more than 16 years ago after finding motherhood completely overwhelming and feeling isolated as a first-time mum.
She said her business, which delivers children’s wellbeing programs through music, was a way to provide other parents with a support service she wished she’d had.
“I wondered how many people were out there feeling surrounded but alone with their fear and alone in raising their child,” she said.
“I wanted a place where parents and children were elevated and supported, so I created something that didn’t exist at the time.”
Ms Spina said the educationbased program was considered “alternative” at the time but recent research has helped grow her business into the national online success it is today, selling age-focused programs and books.
Despite taking out a silver trophy for a serviced based business at the Ausmumpreneur Awards, Ms Spina said nothing had been more humbling than being a mother.
“I don’t think anything can ground you and challenge you and cut you off at the knees quite like mothering, it’s very humbling,” she said. “I didn’t even know I was a ‘business person’ until five years ago when someone told me because I’d just been turning up to work and learnt as I went along.
“So I have lots of mothers in business in Kids in Harmony, and to be part of another subculture I suppose is really special; they’re the most amazing people to employ because they’re fierce and loyal.”
Another mother who has put Townsville on the map for her startup success is Three Little Boys founder Tina Mcdonough, winning bronze for customer service at the same national awards night.
She said the success of her designer clothes line had been a labour of love, combining her passion for fashion and an opportunity to target a market that wasn’t being catered to.
“After having our third son I decided to get into boys’ fashion because I noticed it was super tough to find anything unique for boys,” she said.
Six years later the company boasts over 25,000 followers on social media and has a steady stream of customers from all over Australia, as well as delivering online orders overseas.
Ms Mcdonough said winning the customer service category was the ultimate recognition for a smallbusiness owner.