Who is Monkeytail and Wellington?
Monkeytail and Wellington is an online children’s boutique that specialises in finding adorable and unique wares from independent designers and artisan crafters from around the world. We love finding little treasures for children that celebrates being a child the old fashioned way... that is, the products are heirloom quality, stylish and have a sense of fun and mischief about them. No walking advertisements here.

What is the story behind your business name?
Monkeytail and Wellington are my daughters nicknames. Abigail is Monkeytail for obvious reasons, and Eleanora is Wellington... Ella rhymes with Wella, which became Wellie and in the Aussie tradition of making a nickname a longer version of its original, it became Wellington. It just came out of my mouth one day and it stuck. Monkeytail in the logo is a sock monkey, because making sock monkeys is one of the things that started it all, and Wellington is a dinosaur, because we also call Ella “Eleanora Dinosaura”. I don’t think anyone in our house ever gets called by their real name, unless they are in big trouble that is!

How long have you been in business?
Officially trading since July 2008, but the hair brained scheme that became Monkeytail and Wellington started about 12 mths prior and is still evolving and developing as we grow and learn along the way.

What inspired you to start your own business?
A variety of reasons actually that all kind of came together with the catalyst of becoming a parent. As a child I loved playing shop and as an adult I dreamed of being my own boss. So I’ve been dreaming, planning and scheming for years but never settled on this particular idea until I took the plunge and gave up work to stay home with the girls. Your tastes, ideals and priorities shift dramatically when you have children, so it threw a lot of my ideas out the window. Then I was faced with a quandary... I wanted to work, but I wanted to be home for my children. I wanted a challenge, but wasn’t ready to study full time again...

Then I stumbled upon sock monkeys and I was hooked. I started making monkeys and other animals for friends and family, soon I was making them for their friends and extended family and it started to balloon from there. At this stage I was under the delusion that I had loads of time on my hands (second baby imminently due, what was I thinking?) and I started to plan what has evolved into Monkeytail and Wellington.

Oh, and I love to shop, especially online! So we sorted out our own little niche within this growing industry and voila, here we are!

What has been the most rewarding part of running your business?
All the new skills I am learning as I go and proving to myself how resourceful I can be when I put my mind to something. I also love the fact that I work with a lot of small cottage businesses who are often Mums just like me, trying to juggle it all.

What has been the toughest part of running your business?
It’s tough being your own boss, because you are your own worst employee, harshest critic and most demanding taskmaster. But learning to find a balance in managing your time effectively and not sweating the small stuff helps.

That and the sleep deprivation. My girls hate me even walking into my office when they are there, so I work when they are sleeping, which means lots of very late nights.

Do you have a support network, or business mentor that has helped you along the way?
I don’t have a business mentor unfortunately, but I do learn a lot from asking questions and observing other businesses in the industry. Being an online business, I work all on my lonesome and it can be quite isolating, so I find a lot of support online in forums etc and amongst some of my suppliers also.

What is your “Junior Style”?
I like the girls to have a bit of original flair and I love vintage and unusual retro patterns, so we buy some handmade and mostly unknown labels from small boutiques, markets and online, with some of the chain store basics mixed in. I don’t really follow the latest trends and won’t dress the girls in anything they are uncomfortable in or don’t like, so their wardrobes are a bit hodge podge. We live in a hot tropical climate too, so there are lots of tees, shorts and cotton dresses.

For toys and gifts, I love to give something handmade to show the thought that has gone into the gift. I’ll always pay that little bit more for something I know will be loved and cherished over a 5 minute fix, soon to be broken and forgotten.

What are your favourite kids labels?
Oh, there are so many, I think I find a new one to adore everyday. I’ve just discovered Australian boutique label Tea Pony, I think we need one of everything!

What is your all time favourite kids product?
It would have to be our Fisher Price high chairs. We’ve got two and they are so portable and easy to clean. I can think of at least 5 other friends who bought the same one after seeing ours in action.

What are your kids all time favourite clothing items?
Abby just loves her pink balloon T-shirt I got her from Target about 2 years ago. It barely fits her, to the point where her little belly pokes out the bottom, but we wash it everyday so its always ready to go! Wellie is too young to really be fussed, but she knows when I try to put something of Abby’s on her and kicks up a stink. She is rather partial to Abby’s ballet shoes though. It's not unusual for them to traipse off to playgroup or the shops in a fairy dress, gum boots and a cowboy hat... you can only get away with that look for so long, so I let them run with it!