Amanda Charteris of Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous

Great Mum In Business Feature
Amanda Charteris of
Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous
Gorgeous Gifts Online

Ces Creatively Asks :
Hello Amanda, welcome to Supportive Business Mums and thanks for taking part in this interview feature to help us all get to know you a little better. I am really delighted to feature you as I personally buy from and recommend your gorgeous gifts site!

To start with, will you please describe yourself in five Words?

Amanda Replies :
Hi Ces, thanks for featuring me. I would describe myself as : Workaholic, Honest, Caring, Determined, Inquisitive

Ces Creatively Asks :
Ok, so what about your business, can you describe that in five words for us?

Amanda Replies :
Glamourous, Bright, Attractive, Successful, Growing

Ces Creatively Asks :
I love those words! They make me want to go and check out some more gorgeous gifts on your site right now! Tell us how you got started with your business?

Amanda Replies :
I had some business experience as a wedding stylist but was badly let down by an ex business partner who literally walked out the door one day never to be seen again! I knew I couldn’t manage the business myself so wound it down to start something new and creative by myself.

Ces Creatively Asks :
So you had a blank sheet for your new creative start! Sounds Great and you have created a wonderful business Amanda. What do you enjoy most about running your business?

Amanda Replies :
I like being in control of my own destiny and knowing that its up to me to make things work. I also love working with the designers and choosing beautiful and unique products to showcase on our website.

Ces Creatively Asks :
What does a typical day in your business involve?

Amanda Replies :
I have recently started to devote the first 90 minutes of my working day to marketing the business. I then catch up with emails, twitter and other social network marketing. I have a daily catch up phone call with my right hand woman Leanne to discuss our press publications and releases, check everything is functioning on the website, and answer enquiries from prospective partner companies. Depending on which day it is I monitor our sales and accounts or attend a networking meeting.

Ces Creatively Asks :
What do you find most challenging about running your business?

Amanda Replies :
Time management for sure! I also tend to get frustrated with people who don’t do things when I ask them to and end up doing the job myself.

Ces Creatively Asks :
LOL I can relate to that. Still, being self employed does give us small business owners the opportunity of tailoring our flexi time to suit our family! Do you have a clear divide between work and family life?

Amanda Replies :
Not enough although I am improving in this area. I work from home so this is a real challenge.

Ces Creatively Asks :
Yeah, me too. I am sure a lot of us multitasking business mums are in the same boat there LOL. Tell us about your family and what makes you tick outside of business?

Amanda Replies :
I am happily married to Glen who is an airline pilot. We have two beautiful daughters, Kimberley aged 28 whose pseudonym is Lotte Daley and has just had her first chick lit novel ‘Faking It’ published by Penguin, and Lucy aged 8 who is another little star in the making. We live in rural Cornwall in a picturesque little village with our 4 cats, mad jack russell and some fish who we call ‘The Shoal’. I am looking forward to Kimberley presenting me with my first grandchild at Christmas.

I love all things to do with interiors and textile designs and we are very slowly renovating and decorating our cottage. I relax by watching telly. Sometimes I couldn’t even tell you what I’ve watched but it means I can just totally switch off and gaze at the tv screen. I love sewing and sketching but am not very good at either, lolls!

Ces Creatively Asks :
I love Kimmy’s book and I love the way you support her as an author too. Lots of exciting times as both mother and daughter’s businesses and families grow! Can I ask what would your advice be to someone about to set up a business in your industry?

Amanda Replies :
Call me first!! Seriously I would say to focus on a niche in the market rather than trying to be all things to everyone. Set your boundaries clearly with partner companies and value yourself and what you do. It’s amazing how some people expect so much for so little.

Ces Creatively Asks :
Great advice! What ALWAYS makes you smile Amanda?

Amanda Replies :
My girls and my animals. Then there is also the image of when my husband burned his tongue on something he was cooking so put an ice cube on it to cool it down and got the ice cube stuck!

Ces Creatively Asks :
PMSL I hope your husband doesn’t mind the fact a multitude of mums are going to read this and have a giggle at his expense now. LOL.

Why would you like to #WIN a facebook fan page design from www.biz-brand-buzz.co.uk

Amanda Replies :
I would like to give the prize to my eldest daughter who wants to set up her own business supporting women who want to be published authors.

Ces Creatively Says :
That sounds like a brilliant project. As author of The Light Direction myself,I shall speak to Kimmy and see how I can support her in that venture.

Name : Amanda Charteris
Business name : Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous
URL : www.gwag.uk.com
Email : hello@gwag.uk.com
Contact tel : 01208 850 988
Twitter name : @AmandaCharteris
Established : November 2009
Location : Cornwall
Delivery area normally covered : Nationwide

PLEASE SUPPORT AMANDA :
Please support fellow GREAT BUSINESS MUM Amanda by leaving a comment about this feature and sharing it with your network. Would you like to be featured here too? Email : ces@creativelyminded.co.uk and I will be in touch soon. By supporting each other we will ALL grow.