Introducing Monday Mums!

Monday is our Monday Mums Feature day and I thought I should start the ball rolling with a profile of myself!
Each Monday I will introduce you to a new wonderful mum and some of their amazing businesses as well.
Kylie from Marakye
As I have mentioned previously I am a stay at home mum who runs an online jewellery and gift store around my 2 children aged 3 and 1. It is challenging but also very rewarding and something that i am extremely proud of.

Why Did you Decide to Start your Own Business?
The big question that everyone asks... I was a chemical laboratory technician working shift work when I fell pregnant with our daughter. I resigned immediately as I did not want to work with the chemicals and was fed up with the shift work. I had an ABN from a previous venture that I was still trying to keep alive although my heart was just not in it. I was living in a semi remote area with few shops and looking for a necklace online. I found one I loved but it was only available wholesale so I popped in my ABN and never expected to hear back from them. The next thing I knew Marakye was born and it has gone from there.

Would you ever work for an employer again after having your own business?
It depends on the situation - I would never make a career from it I don't think - there is just too many rewards and too much freedom with your own business. I would never say never though because you don't know what the future holds. It is definitely much easier to go to work, do a job and come home with a pay cheque but it would greatly depend on whether money was the motivator. I now strongly believe that if you do what you love and you have a real passion for what you do then you can succeed pursuing your dream with perserverance and an open mind.

What is your biggest Challenge and your greatest Reward from working for Yourself?
My biggest Challenge is taking a step back as well as making "me" time. I am a 1 woman show so everything depends on me so I devote every spare minute to building my business. Working from home it is very difficult for me to close the office door and not go back in when business is "closed". My greatest reward has been to be able to work my business to help overcome a lot of personal obstacles that I have faced in my life in recent years. It has been very therapeutic and decisions have not always been "business" based. Marakye has been built from my heart and is something I am very proud to have developed from the ground up. It is also great knowing that once the kids are st school I can work from home and be able to attend all of their school events.

Do you have a Signature Product/Service or a Signature Line of Products/Services?
I have just started our Marakye Designs category which is for my handmade jewellery designs. Currently my signature pieces are my dichroic glass although I do also do bead work and am starting a silver making course tomorrow so you never know what might pop up next!

And lastly my favourite question... Share with us 3 of your favourite products or services from your web site at the moment.

Vibrant Tac Fired Dichroic Pendant. The photo just does not do this pendant justice. I LOVE the colours and the texture in this pendant. It is definitely one of my favourites and I had fun making it!

Asthma Friendly ColourBlock Bear. I LOVE this bear because my baby boy has 2 of them and he is inseparable from them. He calls it "teddy" (very original I know) but I always think if him when ever I see this bear... I am very sentimental... This bear is 33cm tall.

I am also very partial to the pastel puppy's in this range (so soft!)

Toys with the asthma friendly certification have been specifically designed for parents concerned with allergies and asthma. Asthma friendly certified toys do not contain any fabric or fillings known to aggravate asthma and/or associated allergies and come with customised washing instructions (freeze, machine wash, and tumble dry) to allow for effective allergen reduction. All asthma friendly products comply with EN71 and ASTMF963 safety requirements.

Sandalwood Gift Bag. Our pamper products smell so good that they fill my office with fragrance and make it such a lovely place to work (if you can excuse the mess, I still have boxes to unpack from the move) and not only that I just love the carry bag that it comes with.

This beautifully presented toiletries bag has brown and cream tones with a side pocket. Enclosed is a beautiful sandalwood soap, healing hand cream for pampering, bath fizz bomb for relaxation, skin brush, exfoliator and massage tool. A beautiful gift!

If you would like to see more from Marakye visit http://www.marakye.com.au/ and be sure to join Marakye's newsletter to be entered into the FREE Monthly Giveaway Prize Draw. Each month's prize is listed online.