“I didn't intend to start a business” with Emma Cattell

When I first met Emma and heard the story of how she started Bobbin & Bumble, I was struck by how matter-of-fact she was about the whole thing. Because it’s a pretty incredible story. Emma didn’t set out to start a business. She needed a more practical cover for her IKEA high chair, so she bought a £5 sewing machine and taught herself how to make one. Then she realised she wasn’t the only parent looking for more practical accessories for IKEA baby equipment – and what started as something she made for herself gradually became Bobbin & Bumble. All while Emma was balancing work and motherhood. In this episode, we talk about how she went from making products herself at home to building a baby and children’s brand and moving into manufacturing, without ever really having a grand plan for where the business would take her. We also get into something I found really interesting: despite everything she’d built, Emma spent a long time downplaying her creativity and what she’d achieved. We talk about learning to take your creativity seriously, the assumptions we make about what ‘hard work’ is supposed to look like, and why doing something you enjoy doesn’t make it any less valuable. And Emma is really honest about the harder parts too – building a business alongside motherhood, having no maternity leave and struggling with postnatal depression. **What you’ll learn in this episode:** - How Emma turned a problem she wanted to solve for herself into a product business - Why it took her so long to take her creativity and the business she’d built seriously - What Emma has learned from building a business without a grand plan and seeing where it takes her **About Emma Cattell** Emma Cattell is the founder of Bobbin & Bumble, a colourful baby and children's brand she accidentally started in 2016 after searching for a product that didn't exist. Armed with a £5 sewing machine and no idea how to sew, she taught herself and began making products from home. What started with one product has since grown into a much bigger brand, with products stocked by retailers and in family homes around the world. **Links** Follow Bobbin & Bumble on Instagram Follow Emma on Instagram Connect with Emma on Linkedin Visit Bobbin & Bumble’s website This podcast is hosted by Fliss Lee, brand coach and Head of Brand at Honest Folk. Fliss helps founders and freelancers build businesses that work for them. **Enjoyed this episode?** I write about building a business that works for you, brand, and doing things your own way in my newsletter. Sign up here. Connect with me on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠.