Running a business while raising a family is no small feat — and these inspiring mums are doing both with heart, hustle and a whole lot of creativity. At VistaPrint, we’re proud to support small business owners who bring their ideas to life, even in the busiest seasons of motherhood.
In this special Mother’s Day feature, three amazing mum-preneurs share how their businesses came to be, the women who inspire them and their honest tips on juggling it all. Whether you’re running your own business or just getting started, their stories offer plenty of inspiration and practical advice.
Kate Johansson of KOJA Healthy Snacks
Can you tell us about your business and how did it come to life?
At KOJA we make healthy snacks made from wholefoods. We’re available in the health aisle at Woolworths and over 5000 retailers across AU & NZ. Our best selling product is our Dark Choc Chip Oat bar, made with wholegrain Australian Oats, sweetened with a hint of rice syrup and lightly baked. Perfect for on-the-go long lasting energy.
I remember the exact moment the idea for KOJA was born. At the time, I was working in the supplement industry, developing performance products for elite athletes. What completely floored me was discovering that some of these “high-performance” supplements contained just 1-2% of the actual active ingredient. The rest? A cocktail of ultra-processed fillers, preservatives, additives, flavours, stabilisers and more.
That was my wake-up call. I started paying closer attention to the labels on everyday foods at the supermarket. And what I found was even more alarming. So many so-called “healthy” products were packed with ultra-processed ingredients and then wrapped up in tricky marketing tactics designed to confuse a shopper into believing the products were actually healthy. Spoiler, they weren’t!
That all stops with KOJA. I’ve always been passionate about real food and nutrition and I believe our food should be made from wholefood ingredients you can actually recognise. At KOJA, we create snacks that are genuinely nutritious and seriously delicious. We put quality ingredients first, always. Because if it’s not real food, we don’t want a bar of it.
What other female-led brands help inspire or empower you?
I have a big crush on anything Go-to by Zoe Foster-Blake. I admire Zoe’s success and humility as the founder, the products, the brand, the tone of voice, the design… everything.
As a Mum-preneur, you wear multiple hats. How do you juggle everything?
Managing everything is definitely a challenge but I’m lucky to have a supportive husband who shares parenting and household responsibilities equally. That partnership makes all the difference. I truly believe that for any woman to thrive in her career, she needs the space and support to bring her full energy to it. That starts at home. When the load is shared, it creates room for ambition, creativity, and growth, not just survival.
In addition to the support I have from my family, I have an incredible team who genuinely love working at KOJA and seeing our brand thrive. Running a fast-growth business is definitely something you don’t do alone.
What advice can you give to fellow Mums looking to start a business?
You don’t want to look back when you’re 90 and say to yourself “I could’ve done that!” Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You will make them, and the progress comes from continuing through each mistake and finding a solution every time. I remember a quote I lived by in the early days… The definition of success is not giving up.
Leonie Prater of HumbleeEco
Can you tell us about your business and how did it come to life?
It all started with a genuine concern about our over use of plastic, especially in the wrapping of food. Understanding the effect plastic waste is having on our environment, led me to the conclusion that there had to be an eco-friendly alternative.
I set about researching beeswax wraps and the various components that can be used to manufacture them. I began trialling different mixes in my kitchen and after many months of trial and error, I perfected my own unique recipe using Beeswax, Damar resin and Jojoba. I was finally able to launch my business Humblee Eco in November 2018 at local markets. In 2020, I resigned from my main job to take the giant leap to run my own small business full time, not long after this, I added a range of waxed bags to compliment the wraps, including a hemp range printed with food puns, which has proven popular and hemp aprons.
What other female-led brands help inspire or empower you?
I am constantly inspired by all the women I meet at both the local and larger interstate design markets. Their unyielding spirit is to be admired with many of them juggling the demands of a young family, whilst doing what they are passionate about. There are also those special women who are running their own businesses and have helped me to navigate through the minefield of creating a website, working with social media platforms and in particular the photographer who captured stunning images of my products (and of course me!). They have all helped to push me to keep moving forward when I needed it the most.
As a Mum-preneur, you wear multiple hats. How do you juggle everything?
I think this is often one of the drawbacks to running a small business, there is always so much to do and so little time to do it. It is not uncommon to find me in my workspace at 6am and still there at 10pm the same night, if I’m really under the pump. Finding people with the right skill set to help me with tasks that I find difficult, has been invaluable and has enabled me to maintain valuable time for my family.
What advice can you give to fellow Mums looking to start a business?
Research your topic thoroughly and create your business plan before taking that leap of faith into running a business full-time. Ask yourself how much time you can realistically afford to devote to your business? When you do decide to take that next step, surround yourself with other empowering women and don’t be afraid to out-source tasks which are not in your field of expertise. Remember that you simply cannot do everything and above all else, believe in yourself and your business. You can do it!
Brooke Holloway of BeToned Studio
Can you tell us about your business and how did it come to life?
BeToned. came to life about 1 year ago, starting online and with events first, then expanding to opening my own doors into a commercial space as I craved that in person interaction. I wanted to create a community where people—especially women and mums—could feel strong and completely supported, both on and off the mat. Something that looks controlled & gentle on the outside can create such deep internal fire!
This is how BeToned was created, I had to share my passion and love with other individuals and women. It helped me feel strong, centred, and energised through motherhood. Every practice, my mind gets completely tuned into the movement and I get that sweet break from life distractions and demands. I wanted to create a space that made movement fun and not a chore, but also challenge even the most advanced seasoned individuals. We support everyone male and female, especially mums, in feeling confident in their own skin and for people just wanting to start! It started small, with a few classes, and has now grown into a beautiful little community. I am truly grateful for my BeToned. community.
As a Mum-preneur, you wear multiple hats. How do you juggle everything?
Ahh the sweet chaos of motherhood, business and finding me time. I’m not going to lie, it’s a lot at times and always a constant juggle! I find being consistent and sticking to good healthy habits makes staying disciplined that little bit easier.
I try to be fully present in each part of my day. When I’m working, I give it my all. When I’m with my girls, I want them to feel I’m really with them. It’s not about having perfect balance but creating habits that help me show up as my best self in every area.
What advice can you give to fellow Mums looking to start a business?
JUST START & DO IT. You will fall, rise and learn, embrace the uncertainty, the rollercoaster of highs and lows but always PUSH THROUGH. Be determined, disciplined and fill your cup up with like-minded women. Women who inspire you to be your best self and keep pushing your boundaries to elevate you into your next path. I find having this mindset and having a strong vision is the key to growth in your business and personal life.
You are so much more disciplined, stronger and capable than you think.
Feeling inspired to take the next step in your business journey? VistaPrint is here to support you with the right marketing tools, custom products and design solutions. From launching a new idea to growing an existing brand, we’ve got everything you need to bring your vision to life.
