It’s Bluebell’s 9th Birthday this month!!, I’m not really sure when in June, as I didn’t document it. So I think it’s a good excuse to celebrate the whole month?
So I thought I would tell you all how it all started . . . . I was working in the NHS as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist and I was on maternity leave with my second baby. The thought of going back to work was something I hated the idea of. So I started to think about what side business I could start, to earn enough money to leave my NHS job, with the ultimate plan to start a private Occupational Therapy business – yes doing Bluebell’s full time was definitely not the plan.
I had recently found and fallen in love with Maileg after buying my daughter’s first Maileg bunny, and I thought this would be something fun to do – sell these beautiful toys (and I was right!). I spent most of my time during that maternity leave in-between naps and when the kids both went to bed sourcing other brands to sell alongside Maileg, learning how to set up a website etc and then choosing what stock to order. In the early days I managed to run Bluebell’s alongside still working in the NHS part-time for about 3 or 4 years before finally leaving my job.
Once I left, I also set up a private OT business as this was the plan, but about 18 months later Covid happened, and well you know, the whole world stopped, and I was incredibly grateful to have Bluebell to fall back on. She became my main focus in between homeschooling/keeping sane (enough said about that!) and I also went back to the NHS for a bit to help out where I could until things calmed down.
Now 9 years on, Bluebell’s is my full time job and I am so lucky to have her. She has grown out of our family home, and now lives in a fantastic warehouse about a 7 minute drive from my house, so I can visit as often as I like. I have been able to find some other beautiful brands to sell alongside Maileg, including Olli Ella, Miffy, Tiny Harlow and Rockahula Kids etc
I have lots of plans to develop Bluebell over the next few years. I even started a business course at the beginning of the year as sometimes I feel I am making it up as I go, but maybe that is how it is meant to be?
Thank you to all my customers who have supported Bluebell’s Burrow over the years, I am so grateful to you all !!
BBx