What is your name?
Sarah Pye
What is your business name?
Kids Welcome travel guides
What industry is your business in?
Publishing guidebooks for travelling families
Where are you based?
The Sunshine Coast, Queensland
How long have been in business?
Five years
Is it a full-time or part-time business?
Part time
Did you start your business before or after becoming a mum/step-mum?
After
Why did you start your business?
I have always liked to travel, but when I became a mum I found there was very little information about what was suitable for kids of various ages when travelling. I decided to fill that niche and I wish to encourage other parents (and grandparents and carers) to explore the world around them with their kids.
What has been your biggest triumph in business?
When I started following this dream I knew very little about writing. It took me three years to do my Master’s degree in Journalism, I worked as an entry level journalist at the local paper, spent as often as possible travelling and researching as a single mum with a camper trailer, wrote my first book (Kids Welcome to Queensland) at night while my daughter was asleep, then self published. My biggest triumph has been persistence. This year I was awarded Sunshine Coast Small Business Woman of the Year, which feels like validation for all the hard work. The book is going great guns and I have nearly finished the second one, Kids Welcome to New South Wales & ACT.
What was your biggest mistake in business?
In the past few years I have focused on achieving my goals, but neglected to focus on financial reward. This year I would like to make a profit!
What is the one piece of advice you wish you’d been given about running a business with children when you started out?
In the 11 years since my daughter has been born I have run three different successful businesses. The first I had long before she was born. I wish I had been prepared that the amount I used to get done, work wise, before she was born would be halved once I became a mum. At first I found this very hard to adjust to, but have learnt to work around HER schedule. This sometimes means writing late in to the night but it also means I can walk her to school and pick her up again!
Name your top three business successes
1. Self publishing my first book, Kids Welcome to Queensland in October 2009
2. Being widely distributed in major bookshops, automobile clubs and airports
3. Being awarded Sunshine Coast Small Business Woman of the Year 2010/11
What are you passionate about?
I was home-schooled while travelling around the world on a 32ft sailing boat. This experience taught me many things. Among these: Risks are worth taking; with the support of family I can do just about anything; kids can learn just as much out of a classroom than in and that travel teaches kids to embrace the differences between people.
I am passionate about making it easier for people to travel with kids so their kids can learn some of the same lessons I did. I guess I am hoping to do my very small bit to create a better next generation.
What’s the one thing you can never resist?
Lindt chilli chocolate
Who inspires you?
My daughter, and chief expert, Amber inspires me to be the best parent I can be.
Tony and Maureen Wheeler (who created Lonely Planet Guides in a Melbourne garage) inspire me in a business sense.
What is the song that gets you fired up?
Ain’t Nothing Gonna Break My Stride by Unique II
What is your favourite quote?
“Not all those who wander are lost.” ~ JRR Tolkien
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” ~ Augustine (AD 354-430)
Contact Sarah
Website: www.kidswelcome.com.au
Twitter: @kidswelcome
Facebook: Kids Welcome
LinkedIn: Sarah Pye
