Interview: Being a mompreneur and how intuition guides the way

Running a business is a wild ride - mostly involving laughter and following my intuition.

Last week, Lagos-based business coach and entrepreneur Simone Cimiluca Radzins sat down with Arco's  owner, Kate King, to talk about her perspective on being a mompreneur.

1.        What inspired you to start your business?

I am a mom of small children who loves second hand shopping (for sake of the planet). And yet, in all my travels, I had never seen a store that fused the two things. When I was living in Stockholm when my kids were tiny, I once found a regular kids store that had some couches and a train set in the back. I thought these people are on to something. But I knew I could create something better – where parents and there children were welcomed (not just tolerated), the ambience was calm and warming, and the articles for sale were sustainable (second hand, or upcycled, locally made). I created the shop I dreamed to visit when I had babies.   

2.        How do you balance the demands of entrepreneurship with the unpredictability of motherhood?

Balance is not something I think about much right now. Motherhood is more like a rollercoaster, where some days I am wildly productive, and other days the onslaught of childcare demands takes the best of me. When this happens, I give myself loads of grace, and I start over the next day. I try to hold myself to a realistic (sometimes quite low) standard, when I feel it is necessary. And then I celebrate if I surpass it. It's about riding the wave of the day (flow, chaos, or something else) and celebrating small wins.  

3.        How has being a mom influenced the way you run your business and make decisions?

Being a mom has made me much more intuitive. I take time to feel into big decisions, and if there is a sense of tension or my body is saying no, I trust it. When a decision feels expansive, abundant and flowing, I go with it. I truly believe this is the key to making steady, positive growth in the business. Because if I am truly aligned with the decisions and direction I am taking Arco, the way forward will appear.  

4.        What’s one lesson from motherhood that has made you a better entrepreneur?

Some days are amazing, and some are really, not great. Just like life as a mom – you just gotta keep showing up, giving all your love, and trust it will work out in the end. The paralells to motherhood are striking – that’s why I say Arco is my third baby.

5.        Can you share a moment when you wanted to give up—but didn’t? What kept you going?

Last summer there was one day when no one came in the shop. All day long. My heart dropped. I knew people liked Arco but not having a single visitor, not earning a cent, was devastating. I had a good cry on my drive home, called my bestie, and then showed up again the next day. It got better. What kept me going was the belief that this project matters and that with time, it will catch on. I refuse to give up because of a bad day. The grit of motherhood has given me a whole new determination and stregnth to keep showing up, day after day.

6.        How do you hope your business will impact others?

I hope Arco will have impact in several ways. I would love to look back in twenty years and see that the culture around Lagos became more open to circularity and secondhand goods, due to my shop and others. I would also love to know that strong connections – and abundant support systems – were created for hundreds if not thousands of moms with young children – due to our events and large community. Lastly, it would be incredible to see impact through a ripple effect of other businesses from momentreneaurs sprouting up, and thriving, as a result of seeing Arco rise from its infancy and grow in fruition.

7.        What advice would you give to other moms who have a business idea but are hesitant to take the leap?

Gather your ideas, feel into them for a few weeks, and then take one step forward. If the passion is there, keep moving and trusting the answers will come. Savour the baby phase of your business. Let it be imperfect and keep learning as it slowly grows. Be extremely forgiving with yourself for all the mistakes you make, especially in the first few years. Just keep showing up, like you do as a mom, and give it your best each day. And then do that again, day after day. Remember, the world needs your ideas, your passion and your business. I cant wait to see you thrive.