Sarah Webb is the Founder of SCHOOLSOX, a fantastic sock labelling business that’s revolutionising wash piles and laundry sorting across the country!  Here’s how it all began…

How did your business idea come about?

It was more along the lines of I wanted to do something that my family could be a part of and I could work around them.

Where did the idea come from?

A friend came to stay and the socks he was wearing had his name on them. I thought, they’d be great for school kids! No more unnamed socks floating around the school cloak room, no more name labels scratching kids legs, they’d be easy to sort out after washing and no more sewing name labels into school socks EVER AGAIN!!!!

With the thought in my head and a burning desire to do something, a few months later I had a manufacturing partner, a website built and SCHOOLSOX.COM was launched!

I have 2 kids who have been part of the SCHOOLSOX idea from the start. The rhino icon on the brand came from my son drawing a rhino on the business plan paper and the SOX spelling of socks is how my daughter spelt socks phonetically.

How has the company changed since you launched?

It’s changed heaps. I didn’t know if there would be any interest or what the demand would be, I didn’t know what to expect. I just thought let’s do this and see what happens. I went live with the website and within 20 mins had the first order. I couldn’t believe it.

As Richard Branson once said, “if someone offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later”. Being a small company, I’ve been able to adapt and make changes quickly which has worked well.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Managing my own expectations and time! Initially finding the right balance between business and family has been super challenging – there’s so much to do when you start your own business, especially when you’ve never done it before!

How do you juggle running a business with being a parent?

Its super hard sometimes! I work from home so I have the flexibility to be able to do both. Both my kids are dyslexic so making sure I have lots of time to spend with them doing homework, reading, playing games whatever it is they need, is super important to me and especially for them.

The product and the brand. I love it. I also love that my kids love the product and are interested and passionate about SCHOOLSOX too. They come to me with ideas for marketing and sales!

It’s been a great experience for them to see firsthand that if you have a desire, a dream, a passion to create or build something, then with hard work, determination and a can-do attitude you CAN do it! Believing in yourself and having the confidence to try something applies to everything in life and is what I hope my kids learn from being a part of the SCHOOLSOX journey.

What advice do you have for others wanting to set up their own business?

Do it, try it, see what happens! It’s an awesome adventure, whether you get to the top of the mountain or not.

What next?

I’m going to concentrate on growing the brand. I have lots of ideas for growth but I need to take time and grow organically.

Do you have a motto for life?

It’s been the same since I was 16 – “If you are afraid to throw the dice you will never throw a 6”.

Life is about taking a chance, trying something new, being challenged, having courage. Go on throw the dice, you never know you might just get a six!