Mums in business
Laura Haystaff – The Topiary Hair & Beauty Laura runs The Topiary Hair & Beauty in Old Basing, where she lives with her husband Matt and daughters Eadie and Florence. Ten years ago Laura had the opportunity to buy the local salon she was working for at the time and so at the age of 22 took the decision to start her own business and hasn’t looked back. Laura is passionate about hairdressing and loves to make people happy with the service her team provides. Running the salon enables her to have a great work/life balance where she is able to raise
Our regular feature where we talk to local mums running their own business, who share their experiences with you, as well as some of their favourite places. her daughters herself but also apply herself to something she loves doing.
a child friendly environment with service that is second to none.
Laura’s enthusiasm for the area in which she and her family live is infectious and they clearly make the best out of every opportunity to enjoy themselves, it having been home to them since they were children. Her eldest daughter attends Old Basing Infant School, whilst her youngest attends Sunshine Daisy Nursery in Andwell. The Old Basing Recreation Ground is a family favourite for Laura and there is seemingly so much to do there with grass for picnics and games, a football pitch, a cricket field, and a tennis court.
The best advice that Laura was given when she started her business was to do her sums, which she seems to have listened to as her advice to anyone starting a business is to plan, budget, and then budget for the overspend. She also recommends taking a holiday at least once a year! www.thetopiarysalon.co.uk www.facebook.com/thetopiarysalon 01256 841381
Laura’s eldest daughter attends a weekly ballet class at the Old Basing Village Hall which is run by Lisa Jane School of Dance, which Laura herself used to attend as a small girl. She also attends Stagecoach at Sherfield School on Saturdays and enjoys swimming lessons with Kim Chapman Swimming School at QMC. Laura loves vintage and so enjoys visiting Pride & Joy in Sherborne St John. They also have a tea room and run crafty workshops. A favourite family day out is to Miller’s Ark Animals in Hook who have regular open days and also put on a very special Christmas nativity event, whilst El Castello in Odiham provides fantastic food in
on two sizes of children’s bags. Doing something she loves, Kate finds she has constant motivation but as a result sometimes struggles to put her laptop down and ‘switch off’ and often misses the quiet evenings from her previous career!
Kate Hope – Hope & Rainbows Kate runs Hope & Rainbows in Old Basing, where she lives with her husband Richard, daughters Emily and Georgie, and their chocolate lab called Molly. Hope & Rainbows was officially launched in July 2013, but the first designs were created just before the birth of Kate’s second daughter in June 2012. Wanting to send a special christening gift to two little boys, but finding it difficult to source the right gift, she embarked on making her own. The recipients’ Mummies both loved the prints so much and, with the help of her husband, encouraged her to explore more designs and consider offering them for sale. Hope & Rainbows is essentially a collection of alphabetical, personalised illustrations for babies and children. The images are available as mounted or framed artworks, on postcards and
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Kate and her family have been living in Old Basing for just over a year now and love how friendly the village is. Their favourite pastime is to walk around the village visiting all the parks on a ‘swing-crawl’, and Kate also recommends Basing Beans for under fives which runs in the Old Basing Royal British Legion Hall. Her eldest daughter has been going to Lisa Jane School of Dance ballet lessons since they arrived in the village and loves it. Kate and her family enjoy going to West Wittering near Chichester for a day on the beach for sandcastle building or windy walks, and when more adventure beckons their favourite local haunts are Millers Ark Animals, Wellington Country Park, Alice Holt Forest and Finkley Down Farm. A favourite family place to eat is at the Newlyns Farm Shop café which has the added bonus of animals to visit outside! The best advice Kate was given when starting her business was to work hard and play hard. The best advice she would offer anyone in a similar position is to just go for it – especially if your idea is something you are passionate about as that will show every day. www.hopeandrainbows.co.uk facebook.com/hopeandrainbows
Tel: 01256 330147 editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk
Returning to work? Starting a business? ✓ Build your self-confidence ✓ Find a job that you’ll enjoy ✓ Update your CV and interview skills ✓ Sort out your business priorities ✓ Turn plans into action! I have 15 years experience as a successful career and small-business coach & trainer. Contact me for a free chat Graeme Cooper Email: gcooper@bluecrystalcoaching.co.uk Tel: 01256 460 407 Mobile: 07960 533 854
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