Behind the Scenes at Popsy and Mama No. 3
Updated: Aug 21, 2020
An exclusive peek into what Popsy and Mama has been doing during lockdown.
If you told me a few months ago that my next Behind the Scenes post would be from lockdown in my home, I would never have believed you! None of us could've predicted this is what we had in store for 2020.
I hope you're all keeping well and your little people are not too emotionally affected by what's going on. Poppy's at the age now where she asks lots of questions and I have to really think about my answers to make sure I'm honest, but not scaring her either. It's a hard balance.
As a lot of things have changed over the past few weeks I thought now would be a good time to go 'behind the scenes'. I want to reassure you I'm doing everything I can to keep your orders safe by strictly adhering to the recommended guidelines.
My working hours have shifted with Poppy at home, and I'm now posting orders once or twice a week, instead of daily. This means I've been slower at getting your orders to you, but I want to take this chance to say thank you for being patient and understanding. It means the world to me.
So, here it is: Behind the Scenes with Popsy and Mama No. 3.
Take lots of care you lovely lot, and stay safe.
Sam x
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Making changes to keep your orders safe and protected
I used to make daily trips to the Post Office to deliver your orders. However, to keep your orders as protected as possible during these times I've switched to using My Hermes. I now only send orders out once or twice a week to keep social contact down and delivery drivers safe.
The process with My Hermes means everything is contactless. I book your slot online and the delivery driver picks up your parcel from my home studio. When your parcel is delivered, the delivery driver knocks on your door and signs the documents for you. You have no contact with them.
I felt this process was a lot safer for everyone. It is costing Popsy and Mama more, but as a thank you for continuing your orders I'm picking up the extra cost.
If you have any further thoughts on ways to make you feel safer as a customer, please do let me know.
New working hours, and mum guilts
As Poppy is normally at school, I used to sew your orders and manage the business throughout the day (okay, sometimes at night too). However, with the schools closed and Poppy needing home schooling support - and of course mummy time - my working hours have shifted.
Simon (my husband) and I have worked out a new schedule where I work from 5am until 9am. He then 'goes to work' and we swap back over at 3pm. I'm pretty happy with the routine as I'm a morning person and enjoy getting up before the rest of the house. It also means that when Poppy 'starts school' I've already completed a good amount of sewing and can feel on top of the business.
I'm not going to sugarcoat the new set-up though, juggling a business along with other family pressures hasn't been easy. Some days I feel pretty exhausted. I also feel constant mum guilts as there are times when all I want to do is concentrate on Popsy and Mama to complete your orders and grow the business. But, then I remind myself Poppy needs me and is the priority. There are also a lot more important things going on in our world at the moment!
I'm sure many of you are feeling the strain of the struggle. Hang on in there. Mamas we've got this!
The virtual Shop Small Event went down a storm!
Every year I attend a Shop Small Event in Ipswich where small UK businesses get together to show the public what we've been up to. I love this event and always come back having made new connections with other fellow business owners.
We all felt sad that the April event wasn't able to go ahead this year. But the founder of the event, Nikki, had other ideas - to run it virtually (@theshopsmallevent)!
If I'm honest, I wasn't sure how it would work and whether people would get involved. But in true small business style, we all grouped together and got behind the event with bells and whistles on.
The virtual event was a hit and I took the most orders I ever have from Shop Small. Just goes to show the power of the 'Gram'! Thank you Nikki for not giving up on us. We all had a ball!
Preparing for the summer collection launch
You might've noticed the Popsy and Mama website is currently closed for orders. I do this at the end of every season. It allows me to complete orders from the previous season and prepare the website to launch the next collection.
I was delighted with the response to this year's Spring Collection. Thank you all for showing it a lot of love! Sadly, I won't be able to hold a photoshoot for 2020's Summer Collection, but I'm still very excited about all of the new prints I have to show you. I've been working on some new styles for the summer months too.
I'm afraid you'll have to wait another couple of weeks to see it. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at one of the new summer fabrics that will be available soon...
Popsy and Mama appeared in Baby magazine!
A few weeks ago I received a call from Baby magazine to say they'd seen Popsy and Mama on Instagram and wanted to feature the business in the May issue. I couldn't believe it. I've always dreamt of Popsy and Mama appearing in a magazine!
Baby magazine specifically wanted to feature Popsy and Mama's Twinning Collection. Of course, I said "yes!"
You can download Baby magazine for free via the mobile app. Fingers crossed Popsy and Mama will be making more appearances in the magazine again soon.
FaceTime stories with Grandparents
Finally, as we all enter at least another couple of weeks in lockdown, I thought I'd share something that's been a hit in our household. FaceTime stories with the grandparents!
Poppy's at the age where it's important she reads regularly throughout the week. Our family knew we'd be juggling entertaining Poppy alongside work, so they came up with the idea of reading with her via FaceTime.
Every day we photograph a few pages of the book Poppy is reading and send it to a grandparent. We schedule a time for Poppy to call that grandparent via FaceTime (we alternate the grandparents throughout the week). Poppy then virtually reads her book to them and they follow the text via the photograph they received.
It's really nice to see them interacting and doing something together. It's a win all round too as Poppy gets some grandparent time, it ticks something off the homework list, and I get to sit down with a cuppa and enjoy watching from afar.
If you're thinking of new ways to tackle entertaining your little people over the next coming weeks, I'd highly recommend giving this a go. If your child isn't reading yet, then perhaps a grandparent could read a story to them virtually?
Right, that's me for this week's blog post. Thank you for reading this far! If there's anything else you'd like to know about please get in touch.
Have a great weekend and I'll be back next week with a Guest Post that'll hopefully share some much needed 'calm' with you.
Take lots of care x
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