November’s One Successful Mama Profile: Morna Pollock, Bramble Box + GIVEAWAY!

151020 Morna Pollock Profile
Morna Pollock, Bramble Box Founder

“I enjoy that I’m doing something for me, but also hopefully setting a good example to my children, that they too should follow their dreams.” – Morna Pollock, Bramble Box Founder

This month I’m profiling Morna Pollock, founder of Bramble Box, a  subscription box service that ships imaginative and themed play kits directly to your kids every month.

Morna is a married mom of two kids ages 6 and 3. She was born in Scotland, moved to the U.S., then moved back to Scotland, and then back to the U.S. again as an adult with her husband’s job. She now lives in Pittsburgh. In Scotland, she ran her own ecology company — quite a change of pace from what she does now!

“When we moved to the U.S., I decided it was a great opportunity to stay home with my kids for a few years while I figured out what I wanted to do long term,” she says.


As a thank you to my readers, Morna is giving away a $75 Bramble Box gift card! This will cover three single kits, a 3-month subscription, or can be put towards a longer-length subscription.

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To enter the contest, simply comment below and tell us about your child(ren)’s favorite type of pretend play!

The winner will be announced on November 23, 2015 and will be notified by email.


INTRODUCING: MORNA POLLOCK, BRAMBLE BOX

How long ago did you start your business? What led you to start it?
I started my business, Bramble Box, www.brambleboxprops.com, in November 2014. With less focus now on play in the early educational years, there is less and less time for imaginative play. Free and imaginative play is one of the most important activities to help build and strengthen key social, emotional and physical developmental skills.  However, parents (and kids) are busier than ever and I wanted to provide ready-made kits that would provide activities and inspiration for hours of open-ended play.

What types of services/products do you offer?
Bramble Box provides themed, imaginative play kits. We sell them individually in our online store or you can sign up for a monthly, 3-month, 6-month or annual subscription to receive a new, themed box each month.  Each kit contains open-ended items and materials that relate to the kits theme that aim to promote imaginative play.almanac ice cream

Describe your first few months getting started. What were your major challenges?
Pretty hectic! Starting the business was a huge learning curve. As a busy mom of two little kids, my major challenge however was (and still is) time.  I had no experience of marketing or how search engine traffic worked and had to learn all the ins and outs of pretty much everything. I really had no idea how much extra time is required behind the scenes in order to try and build a brand and traffic to our website.

What has surprised you the most about yourself when it comes to running your own business?
The amount of time that is required to be put into marketing (social media, blogging newsletters and advertising). Keeping active over social media and our blog is a full-time job all by itself.

What has surprised me on a personal level is how hard it has been for me to deal with negative feedback, because you become so emotionally involved. When you are working for someone else and dealing with customers it’s completely different from when the business is your own blood, sweat and tears. I’ve realized that you really can’t please everyone and that negative feedback of any form is always an opportunity for improvement.

How has owning your own business benefitted you as a mother and wife?
By focusing more on what I want to achieve has made me a happier person. I am able to run my business part-time while my kids are in school or preschool and still be a full-time mommy the rest of the time. Once my kids are both in full-time school, I’ll be there to put them on and off the school bus.  I love that I can be here for them and work too. My time is completely flexible, so if I want to drop everything and head to a museum for the day I can do.pinterest ad background with text

What do you enjoy the most about owning your own business?
I enjoy seeing the business grow and I enjoy the challenges that go with that. I’ve had the opportunity to learn so many new skills and I know so much more now than I ever could have imagined. I enjoy that I’m doing something for me, but also hopefully setting a good example to my children, that they too should follow their dreams — particularly for my daughter.

What are your goals for the future?
In the near future, I’d like to grow my blog and social media following. Overall, I’d like to grow the business more and hopefully diversify into a few other things. I also want to keep enjoying what I do and hopefully make some money along the way! I’d like to reach the point where almost everything is outsourced and I can just manage the project. I can dream!

What advice do you have for women who may want to take the leap and own their own businesses?
If it’s something that you’ve always wanted to do and you have a great idea, just do it! It’s a lot of hard work but the payoff of being your own boss is worth it. However, think about it carefully and how it will fit in around other responsibilities you have. You have to be really passionate about what you do, because some days are tough, so make sure you will actually enjoy what you want to do.

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***GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT!***

WIN a $75 Bramble Box GIFT CARD! This will cover three single kits, a 3-month subscription, or can be put towards a longer-length subscription.

To enter the contest, simply comment below and tell us about your child(ren)’s favorite type of pretend play!

Good luck!

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