When Laura Mullen joined Basking Babies a year ago, she was looking for a career change that would give her greater flexibility around her family while allowing her to work more closely with people. Twelve months later, her St Albans business has grown from one venue to four, with fully booked classes and demand continuing to grow.
That first year has taken Laura from a completely different career into teaching classes, running her own business and now preparing for its next stage. Along the way, she’s discovered just how much can change in 12 months.
Finding confidence in something new
Before Basking Babies, Laura had built her career in biomedical science and pharmaceuticals, so becoming a franchisee meant stepping into a very different working world. She had no previous experience in baby massage or business ownership when she started.
“I was ready for a change and Basking Babies provided all the training and support I could need,” Laura said. “It was reassuring to know that was there when you’re starting something new - it made that leap a little bit easier being part of the franchise.”
As the classes became more familiar, Laura was also getting to grips with everything that happens away from them. Managing accounts, promoting the business and planning ahead have all become part of her working week, adding a whole new set of skills to those she brought from her previous career.
Growing with her community
Laura initially launched from one venue, but interest from local families soon created opportunities to expand. She now operates across four venues, with word-of-mouth recommendations becoming an important part of how new parents discover her classes.
With courses regularly reaching capacity, Laura is now preparing to recruit her first instructor and take another step forward with the business.
“Growing my business is important but what really matters to me is reaching more families and by investing in team members, I can also still protect the precious time with my own family,” Laura explained.
Looking back on year one
From learning the practicalities of business ownership to establishing classes across St Albans, Laura’s first 12 months have given her plenty to reflect on as she prepares for what comes next.
“I’ve done better than I thought I would in my first year,” Laura said. “I knew what I wanted to achieve, but I’ve exceeded all my expectations - I’m really proud of how far the business has come.”
With a new instructor next on the horizon, Laura’s second year will bring another new experience to navigate. But after everything she’s learned, she’s built strong foundations from which to take that next step.