A business is sold to support more women

A business is sold to support more women

Life moves on. You know this statement is true. I’ve talked about life, and death, a lot over the last few years, from my personal life. However, today is the start of a new life for me, and a lovely friend of mine, Emma Launchbury.

I started bras4mums 10 years ago when I was sold a nursing bra that fitted one week, but not the next. It was as simple as that. bras4mums has grown over the years from a home bra fitting service in Lancashire to an online store, supporting pregnant and breastfeeding women throughout the UK, and across the world. I’ve personally supported hundreds of women at Baby Shows across the UK, as well as offered advice by phone, email, twitter and facebook.

Today, bras4mums, and the sister website bras4all, which specialises in mastectomy bras, and soft cup bras, is handed over to Emma to develop. Emma has been a bra fitter for the past 3 years, whilst her children have grown from babies to toddlers and a new bump to baby. She’s ready for a new business challenge, and is excited about supporting more women through the websites and consumer shows.

And me? I’m excited too! I’m going to concentrate on developing the Bra Lady Network again, to encourage more home bra fitters across the country. I’m also going to be doing more business support to small businesses, charities and not for profit organisations. I’ve learnt so much these last 10 years that it’s time for me to use these skills in a different way, and leave bras4mums and bras4all in the capable hands of a new owner.

The time is right for Emma and I to do new things. The sun is shining, all is well with the world. It’s been a long hard journey, but the decision feels right. You don’t need it Emma, but good luck with your new business. Here’s to a successful future for our business ventures and our growing families 🙂

Being Recognised

Mumandworking shortlistWe all like to be liked don’t we? Our children get upset when they fall out with friends. They love getting stickers at school – teachers recognising their achievements. Winning medals & certificates bring big smiles to their faces. And as parents we’re proud aren’t we?

So why is it any different when we grow up? We feel left out if we’re not invited to ‘that party’, or event don’t we?

We blush and smile when we’re complimented on our new outfit or hairstyle. But we’re chuffed aren’t we?

For business owners, our customers comments make us smile, (usually!). The recognition of what we as individuals have done to help someone makes us feel good doesn’t it? And for them to tell us that we’ve done a good job is even better isn’t it? As a bras4mums and bras4all bra fitter we get a lot of smiles, hugs and exclamations of delight. It’s fantastic!

But I think all of this is outweighed when you get shortlisted for an award. This is other people, outside of your small circle, recognising that you’re doing a good job. The smile I had on my face yesterday having found out that I’ve been shortlisted for Business Parent of the Year AND Bra Lady as Franchisor of the Year in the Mum and Working Awards was a big one! It hasn’t gone yet either!

It will be fantastic to win, but I’m realistic. The other shortlisted Business Parents have achieved a lot, and I don’t know their individual stories about overcoming difficulties. The other Franchise businesses are all well known. I feel honoured that we’re in their company.

I also know that some of you are supporters of a lot of us in these final stages, so when you ‘like’ one of us, you’re ‘liking’ a few! The judges will take ourCakes - ideal treat to thank someone ‘likes’ into consideration when judging the winners, so your support would be appreciated – you see, I’m asking you to like me aren’t I? 😉

The boys made big goey chocolate cakes this week for their school teachers to say Thank You. They were delighted that they’d taken the time to make something for them personally. Sometimes that’s all it needs isn’t it? A bit of time….and maybe a chocolate cake!

So, who are you going to recognise today? What will you do to show them they’re great?

Guest post – Review of Breast Cancer Awareness Event

Painting by Nipples

Yes, you read correctly, Painting by Nipples!

Jane Fox, from Fired4U in Walton Le Dale, and Tracey-Jane Hughes from Bras4All in Addlington, hosted a very special pottery evening on 27 October 2010, at the Fired4U workshop.

This amazing evening was all about having fun and raising money for a local cancer charity, specifically for the care of those affected by breast cancer.

31 women braved a rainy Lancashire evening to raise £495 for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Jane and her team gave us a pottery lesson and some much-needed inspiration and T-J gave a talk on breast health and the importance of a correctly-fitting bra.

After a drink and some nibbles we started to create our artwork. We nervously chose our pots, jugs and plates and started to paint our background colours. Then, one by one, we filed into the loo or the cupboard or the kiln room, removed our bras and painted our breasts, before pressing them into our pottery. (“You just hold them and I’ll paint”, “They’re jiggling too much for me to print them well”).

Everyone came out with a massive grin on their face.(“I feel liberated!”).

Butterfly Plate

Who knew that we could create the shapes we did with our breasts? (“OOH its come out a funny shape what can I make it into?”). Some of us were more artistic than others. (“Jane I want my muffins to look good how did you get your nipples on the top?”). Some tried to disguise their ‘paintings’, I turned mine into a butterfly – I can’t wait to collect the finished article.  Others enhanced their assets by painting bras onto them or presenting them as a platter of cupcakes.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall at Aunty Pam’s this Christmas as she offers her guests a festive mince pie from her fabulous platter!

It was a wonderful experience and it was all for a great cause. Congratulations to Jane and T-J. I’m looing forward to next year already!

Thanks to Sandy Calico for reviewing the Painting by Nipples Event. Jane and I have enjoyed organising it, and we are planning another one for next October. Thanks to all the supporters who gave raffle prizes, which added an enourmous amount to our fundraising.

Pink Fridays – what’s it all about?

You may have heard about Pink Fridays. Asda have a ‘Tickled Pink’ campaign, and lots of you will have worn Pink t-shirts for the Race for Life this year. But Pink Fridays?

Pink Fridays are organised by Breast Cancer Care during the month of October to raise awareness and money for the Breast Cancer Care charity. Our breast health is really important, and this fun month is designed to raise our awareness of how we should look after our breasts.

We all know we should check our breasts after our monthly bleed, but do we? I’m a professional bra fitter, and I’ll be honest, I look, but don’t feel. Not good is it? So what should we do? TLC is the starting point

TOUCH your breasts. Can you feel anything unusual?
LOOK for changes. Is there any change in shape and texture?
CHECK anything unusual with your doctor.

What do we look and check for? Anything that isn’t ‘normal’ for you, basically. We all have one breast bigger than the other, but on some women the difference is more marked. The difference is also heightened during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with most things, you know your body better than anyone. Its up to you (and me), to look after ourselves.

When do we check? We’re advised to do our checks at the same time every month, after our monthly bleed has finished. Before a woman’s bleed, our breasts are usually fuller and some women find them quite uncomfortable, so feeling our breasts at this time is not ‘normal’ for us. Find a time of the month that is right for you, and stick to it.

So, if we check our breasts regularly, exercise, maintain a healthy weight, and are not high risk, then we’re less likely to ‘get’ breast cancer. Genesis talks about the risk factors involved in getting breast cancer, and how it’s the interplay between genes, environment and chance that are what causes breast cancer.

So, support Pink Fridays. Even if you just check your breasts every Friday for the next month and notice what is normal for you – wouldn’t that be great? Get into a routine.

My business is not doing anything ‘special’ for Pink Fridays this year. That’s because I’m helping organise a ladies night at the end of October raising awareness about breast cancer, and money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation. I’m also arranging for guest posts each ‘Pink’ Friday to be around the theme of breast cancer. Please check each week, offer your comments and support, and share your experiences.

Support Pink Friday Blogs

If you like what we’re doing, and can’t attend the ladies night, please show your support direct to the Pink Friday appeal .

And remember – give your breasts some TLC. This includes ensuring your bra is comfy!

Ever thought about Painting by Nipples?

No? Why not? We do hand prints and footprints, and paint by numbers, so why not breast prints?

When my friend Jane, from Fired 4 U asked me if I’d be willing to help her organise a fundraising event, of course, I said “Yes!”. Then she started to describe what she was planning. My lips curled upwards! What a fab idea!

Jane started talking about having the “breast night out”, and raising money for local cancer support charity, Rosemere Cancer Foundation – is there a better combination? Fun whilst fundraising? And Jane also wanted to educate women as well – about breast health, which is where I come in! (more…)