We often hear great stories from women who have had their
children and gone on to start up their own businesses as an alternative to
returning to work. Not often do we hear stories from women, who have their own children,
and start their own business pretty much the next day! But that’s exactly what
Alishia Thomas did when she had her daughter last year. It’s an amazing story
and probably even more amazing if you’ve had children! Everyone understands
that when you’ve just given birth, starting your own business might be the last
thing on your mind.
Alishia’s business is Oh Me Oh Mama which provides gift
hampers for all new, expecting and breast feeding mums. Alishia says; ‘Oh Me Oh Mama is made for mamas by mamas and
is a way of providing new mothers with products to help them on their new
journey into motherhood…We have hampers for all types of new mamas, whether
it’s someone starting out on their breastfeeding journey or for those who
simply want to relax at the end of a stressful day.’
After giving birth to her daughter last year, Alishia
struggled with breast feeding, and worried constantly that her child was
getting enough milk and food, and feeling isolated from other sources of help,
Alishia turned to the internet to find ways which she could increase her milk
supply and began exploring galactagogue’s, these are natural ways that can help
increase milk supply, and it was specifically herbal galactagogue’s that
Alishia began to investigate.
‘I found all of these
recipes online and a lot of them were Australian, there was nothing from the UK
and nothing that you could go out and buy, everything had to be made from
scratch. I just thought this was crazy, when you’ve got a baby, you’re tired
and exhausted and making cookies that will help to increase your milk supply is
stressful!’ It was cookies that Alishia first tried her hand at and she
says; ‘I must have tried about 10 times
to make these cookies until they were edible!’
Alishia then began to explore other natural ways in which
she could help herself breastfeed, increasing her milk supply as well as making
herself more comfortable in the process. She came up with a lactation tea by
sourcing the ingredients that would benefit her and meeting with Phom, a Liverpool
based loose leaf Tea Company who brewed her up her own blend of nursing tea! It
was at this point Alishia thought; ‘There
is just nothing else out there, so why I don’t I just take matters into my own
hands and create something not only for myself but for other Mothers who may be
in the same position.’
Alishia began to create hampers with all different types of
goodies in them for breastfeeding mama’s and has now branched out and sells
hampers for father’s and expecting mamas too. Some of the goodies included in
the hampers are the lactation tea and cookies, silicone gel pads for sore
breasts, superfoods like chia shots and the best bit in our opinion – the
boobie beanie – hand knitted especially by Alishia’s Mother-In-Law, which she
says is for Mother’s when they breastfeed out in public, although she’s quick
to point out, it’s for the baby’s head, not a cover-up for the women! Alishia
says; ‘People often shy away from feeding
their children in public, and I have found myself going to the toilet to feed
my baby, but now I’ve realised it’s my child and she doesn’t deserve to eat in
the toilets.’
When Alishia was at home with her baby and thinking about
all the different ways she could help herself and others who were struggling to
breastfeed, she began to research online how to set up a business and came
across The Women’s Organisation. She got in touch with us and has been working
with one of our Senior Business Adviser’s; Claire Pedersen. Alishia says; ‘Claire has been an angel since the very
first day that I met her. She’s given me so much advice and pointers, which is
great because it’s good to have someone to bounce ideas off of, because you can
get wider, fresh eyes on what you are up to.’
Last month, Alishia had her official launch party of Oh Me Oh
Mama, in partnership with the charity, Kitty at The Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
10% of all Oh Me Oh Mama’s profits are donated to the Kitty fund at the
Liverpool Women’s Hospital who say; ‘Kitty
is our new friendly face of Liverpool Women’s Charity and from now on she will
be the focal point for raising awareness of our work and particularly of the
benefits we bring to the patients and families of Liverpool and the surrounding
areas.’ – And of course, is inspired by the pioneering Kitty Wilkinson who
fought disease and poverty in nineteenth-century Liverpool.
Now with seven different types of hampers available at Oh Me Oh Mama, it’s clear to see that Alishia has taken this opportunity to branch out her business and continue focussing on the clear brand and innovative ideas that she has for Oh Me Oh Mama. With an idea like this, we know her business will go far!
If you’d like to find out more about Oh Me Oh Mama, you can
do so by following the links below, and if you’ve been inspired by Alishia’s
story and would like to talk to us about starting your own business, whatever
stage of your life you are at, then get in touch! Ring us on 0151 706 8111 or
email hello@thewo.org.uk
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