Who are you?
Cara Keenan from Nana Momo Makes.

What does your business do?
We bring sewing back to the forefront of peoples’ minds by offering lessons online and producing easy to use sewing kits.

Where are you based? 
Hamilton, Glasgow.

How did you get started?
We started the business four years ago after taking sewing lessons whilst on maternity leave with my first son.

What is your background?
I’ve had a varied background, originally training as an engineer and using my organisational skills to tour bands and organise exhibitions and events.

I then worked for an MP organising the constituency and Westminster offices before moving back to Scotland to work on my own business. 

What is your top tip?
Plan, assess and then redo. Not everything will work first time so look at what is working and what can be improved then reassess how your product fits with that and try again. 

How long has your business been running?

We have been officially trading for one year as prior to that it was more of a hobby. 

Has anyone helped you get started and how?
Joining the Entrepreneurial Spark business accelerator programme has given us the opportunity grow and scale our business from a hobby into an official trading company.

The support we receive from our Enabler is invaluable and has helped take our business to the next level.  

My mum has also been a huge influence by sewing and making products and always having faith in me!

We had a fantastic mentor at Business Gateway who loved the company and loved what we were doing which has given us great confidence. 

What was your biggest mistake or what would you do differently?
Opening a bricks and mortar shop although I wouldn’t do that differently. It highlighted what was working in the business and has given us direction for what happens next.

Who was your inspiration?
I think we could look to lots of people for inspiration, friends who have gone out on their own, mums who are making it work whilst juggling (always juggling).

We have a few mentors who are willing it to work for us and lots of peers who are rooting for us.

Where do you plan your business to be in five years time?
We are very much in the initial stages. We began with ready made products, and introduced teaching into the business but it’s the sewing kits and online tutorials that are working for us.

We plan to stock our kits on the high street and develop the range of patterns while aiming to build our own ‘sewcial club’ where people can share, collaborate and learn.

Useful contacts:
www.nanamomomakes.co.uk, www.facebook.com/nanamomomakes nana_momo_makes for twitter and IG


Contact details:
info@nanamomomakes.co.uk, 07807 804086