When did you launch your business?
September 2010. We registered in 2009 but it took a while to get the site built and everything in place to start trading.
What inspired you to start your business?
We were frustrated by knowing what we wanted but being unable to share that easily with friends and family. We didn’t want items solely from high street stores, nor did we want to ask just for money. So we decided to create a website which would be independent and flexible.
We knew that weddings are an obvious event for a wish list, but we were keen to make DOUZO suitable for any occasion. For example, at Christmas, I used to get lots of calls from family asking what my children would like. Now the children make their own lists on DOUZO and relatives know that they won’t be buying an unwanted or duplicate present, and they can jointly contribute towards something that would otherwise be too expensive. My nephew hopes to go to university in the autumn and plans to use a list to collect all the bits and pieces that he’ll need to live away from home for the first time.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
There are a couple of things that stand out for me. Firstly, I love hearing how people are using DOUZO. It is a big responsibility to host a list for someone’s special occasion and I’m delighted when they choose us.
I also love meeting other business owners. Encouraging people to reach beyond the high street has led me to discover some amazing designer-makers and event organisers. I am inspired by their talent and passion for their work and it’s wonderful to be able to connect them with people who are looking for gifts and celebrations.
What has been the best moment of your business?
We’re still so new that even small things have meant a lot, from welcoming our very first customer through being asked to feature on blogs through to getting positive comments from owners of successful businesses.
What are your plans for the future?
We simply want to continue to grow the reach of DOUZO, encouraging people to use a list for any event they like. I can imagine us asking a PR specialist to help us with this in future. Right now, we’re working on an iPhone application to make it easy for people to add to a list or buy from a list while they are out and about.
Can you give us a ‘Typical day in the life of….’?
I’m a working mum so my day starts with the scramble to school that will be familiar to any other parent. When the house has settled back down, I normally start the day with a catch-up on Twitter and on my favourite blogs and news sites. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of great articles out there so I have to make myself stop reading after a certain time.
I occasionally do work for my previous employer so, if it’s one of those days, I keep the business ticking over by responding to emails, checking its “vital statistics” and keeping in touch with my business partner.
On a DOUZO day, I do whatever is in the pipeline to grow the business, such as working on articles for our blog or submitting to other blogs, and looking for ways to increase awareness of what we offer. I liase with suppliers, such as our designer or website- and application-developers to scope out new features and I test any updates to the site. Inevitably, the day goes fast – normally too fast to finish all the things I’d like to do. Then it’s back to being Mum as the children come home and the family evening begins. It’s a juggle but one that is proving hugely satisfying. I’ve never been so busy but I’m very proud to be both mum and DOUZO.
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http://www.bigdaydiscounts.co.uk/featured-offers-73-douzo
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http://www.douzo.co.uk
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