“Passion is really important - I've started multiple ventures over the years, but this one is the only one that has gone anywhere; and that's because it doesn't feel like work.”
What did you study at Aston University?
BSc Management and Strategy
What year did you graduate?
2012
Organisation?
The Sensory Box Company
Tell us about your journey so far?
Since graduating from Aston, I moved to London and had a variety of different jobs revolving around marketing. I fell into marketing for my placement year and really found it to be my calling. Most recently I was a Marketing Manager at a national autism charity and I absolutely loved my job. I started my business by accident around a year ago after the birth of my son whilst on maternity leave. As a new mum who had just moved back to Nottingham, I attended local classes for babies and became frustrated with the lack of options on the market for toys to recreate the sensory classes we loved so much. So thanks to a Facebook group of mums, I tested the idea and it grew from there. From selling a few boxes every month, I'm now selling hundreds. The range of products has grown and now includes a box for autistic people too, a particularly special product given I have worked at a national autism charity. Thanks to the amazing network of mums (my cheerleaders!), my business has grown. And thanks to the backing of a celeb, Stacey Solomon, I've seen an incredible level of growth in the last few months! It's amazing what a mention on Instagram can do for a small business. It's been a whirlwind so far and has resulted in a nomination in a local Women in Business Awards which I'm incredibly proud of.
Why did you decide to study at Aston Business School?
The reputation of the universities I was considering studying at was incredibly important to me; and to this day Aston Business School has a great reputation amongst employers. The employability rate was crucial too; which I really believe is down to the opportunity for a placement year. My placement year taught me a lot about business 'in the real world' and that's so important when you're looking for work after university, and even to work out what you'd like to do after university. I changed my degree after the first year to Management & Strategy, and I valued the variety the degree gave me, I got to study topics that really interested me - I still have some of the textbooks to this day!
What was the highlight of your Aston experience?
I think it was meeting the people I did. I have fond memories of nights out at Einies (B4 Bar), Gosta etc, but when I think of why, it's because of the community I had around me. I made lots of friends for life including my best friend and my now husband! I look back fondly on the late nights at the library (which I hated at the time!) and even some of the lectures - I had a couple of lecturers who particularly inspired me. I also ran the iAston Magazine (formerly the Aston Times) in my final year, and even though it was stressful, it was enjoyable to do something 'different' and be part of the student exec (and of course the branded hoodies and polos were a real bonus for a marketer like me!).
How has Aston helped your career?
A lot of my experiences at Aston shaped my career from the get go. Group work, whilst difficult at times, has at times set me apart from other candidates when interviewing for roles or approaching real life team work. I think the critical thinking skills that I learnt at Aston really helped too. The placement year has obvious benefits but also it helped build my confidence before even setting foot in the workplace after graduation. The confidence I got from that year meant that I could hit the ground running when starting new roles. Just even having Aston on my CV has opened doors for me, and I believe it was one of the positives that lead me to winning the coveted role of 'Graduate Apprentice of the Year' right after graduating.
- How has Aston helped your business?
I'm about to take the next steps in growing my business, and I think the network I have now of Aston grads will prove invaluable in helping me achieve that. I have a lot of ambitious friends who I met at Aston who have gone on to do amazing things, and that is a driver in itself! A lot of what I learnt at Aston is probably out of date now in terms of the use of specific marketing channels (social media in particular) but the overall mindset and ambition that Aston nurtures has certainly stood me in good stead.
- What is next on the career horizon for you?
Scaling my business, and looking at other avenues for revenue too. I'm a writer at heart, so I'd love to have my own book one day! I'm also looking into opportunities with retailers to get my boxes in retail stores - which feels like the perfect opportunity to leverage my Aston network for!
- What advice would you give to someone looking to start or run their own business?
Just go for it! There's a lot to be said for testing your ideas with your target audience and for me I really found my 'tribe' early on. To this day, my tribe continue to be the group that I test ideas on and seek feedback from. Part of finding my tribe so easily was because I was my own target audience, which isn't always recommended! Passion is really important - I've started multiple ventures over the years, but this one is the only one that has gone anywhere; and that's because it doesn't feel like work. Those late nights packing up orders are fun because I know my products are going to homes and are going to be enjoyed by babies and their families.
The Sensory Box Company in the Media
- Recent nomination for Rising Star award at the Nottinghamshire Live Women in Business awards information
For more information on Lauren's business visit: