Mabels Labels co-founder Julie Cole – Mompreneur Monday Shout Out
Being a mom of six is not just a full-time job, it’s officially running a whole empire! But, mom of six, Julie Cole is also co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, the go-to back-to-school, and all-year-around label lover headquarters.
If you need a label, a stamp, a better way to get through your hustling mom day Julie Cole and Mabel’s Labels have your back.
Mompreneur Monday Shout Out Time
I am so happy to share this week’s Mompreneur Monday Shout Out, as I’m sure Julie’s rise to Mompreneur Queen status will inspire all of us to continue to do, create and redefine what it means to be a working mom. #HustleLikeaMom
How old are your kids? I have six children. They are 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19.
When did you launch your business? Mabel’s Labels started in my sister’s basement 17 years ago!
What was your previous career and what led you to entrepreneurship? I often joke that I’m a recovered lawyer. Mabel’s Labels came to be for two reasons. My business partners and I had noticed a product missing from the market. We were using masking tape and permanent marker to label our kids belongings and it was not doing the trick. As good entrepreneurial mamas, we decided to create a durable personalized label that would be dishwasher and microwave safe. Moms loved us from the start.
The other reason we started the business was because my then three-year-old had just received an autism diagnosis and I felt the traditional workforce would not suit my family situation. I needed to have flexibility to address the needs of my son and his siblings.
What motivates you to hustle for your business, when mom life seems to be swallowing you whole? I think we hustle because we love it! Creating a business feels a lot like having another baby, so even when our human children are demanding, we still feel loyal and committed to our business baby.
What’s your biggest challenge right now? I should use this opportunity to tell you mamas out there that it GETS EASIER! I know people say bigger kids, bigger problems. It is not true! I virtually got ZERO sleep for 10 years while having babies and running a start-up. Both my children and the business have flourished, and I’m equally proud of both!
How do you manage your days, your time? Every day is different. I find my best strategies for managing my time is saying NO to many things, and not fetching things or being at the beck and call of my children. Raising kids to be independent means you have time to do other things. As my children know….my mantra is to never do something for a child that the child can do for themselves!
What or who inspires you to keep pushing your business forward? It’s our goals. We set many goals for the business when doing our strategic planning and we need to keep on track with those. I feel very accountable to the team.
What has been your biggest “aha” moment this year? A big revelation for me was really how quickly the children grow up. I’ve got my second kiddo heading off to college, only leaving four at home. If I only had two kids, I would be an empty nester! I can’t even imagine!
What does it mean to you to Hustle Like a Mom? To me, it means just working hard, loving your family, following your passion, being positive and being true to yourself!
