A day in the life of Shona, mum, wife, jewellery maker, LIFE JUGGLER ETC ETC ETC!

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

As I write this David Cameron, yes The David Cameron, the Priminister is on the Steve Wright in the afternoon show (yes ok, I listen to ‘Old FM’ lol).  I am wondering if a man as busy as that can make time for an interview then I need to look at his time management skills.  I could use an extra couple of hours each day.

My day started with me quickly logging on to my work e-mail & our team facebook pages just to touch base & check I haven’t missed anything.  I love the fact that the team all support each other, I can post a question & invariably there are a few instant responses from someone with a possible solution, it’s great.

So then it is on to the normal Monday morning stuff, school bags, reading books & homework back in (don’t forget Teagan’s swimming stuff!), pack lunches (note to self, remember Aris didn’t eat that new biscuit, was she full or did she not like it?), laundry on, dishwasher stacked, dog/cats/chickens fed & eggs collected. It sounds like we live on a farm, no just a normal (slightly mad) house.

I love my job with Precious Memories, not only do I get to make the most stunning bespoke jewellery for people but it all fits in around my life, especially my 2 girls & our Great Dane pup.  Today is no exception.  School run has been run. Followed by a quick visit to my boss.  Who doesn’t love a meeting with the boss sitting in a sunny garden drinking a cool coke whilst planning the priorities for this week ahead, no stuffy offices for me 🙂

my first piece of work creating a child’s drawing on a pendant.

I have been a mum for nearly 10 years and have been trying to find a job that would fit me & not the other way round.  My youngest daughter is only 6 and I still want to be there to pick her up & hear about the highs (& lows) of her day as well as help Aris with homework etc.  Now I can do that.  To say I feel more alive & fulfilled now is an understatement.  I am so glad I joined this company. I am looking forward to a busy and bright future.

Right, the school run has been run again & my house is full again and it is time for tea for the girls, dog, cats…..but not the chickens, they get to eat all day.  Have I eaten? mmm best I grab a bite too.

I can’t sit here tell you all about my day or my time management will be right out of the window. So please excuse me I have tea to cook.

Did I say busy?  Well I am a mum!!!  And David Cameron, well on reflection, I’m doing ok, he has staff.  I realise don’t need his tips after all.

Shona Murray

(e) shonam@precious-memories.co.uk
http://www.precious-memories.co.uk
head of the South Studio, Jewellery for Precious Memories

Job Opportunities with Precious Memories for 2011

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Job Opportunities for 2011




JEWELLERY MAKERS


Joining Fee is £100 plus VAT

• Role is to be involved with making Jewellery & Keepsakes


• Materials and Training Provided


• £rate given per product produced

Recruiting in the East Midlands ONLY

JEWELLERY AGENTS


Joining Fee – £150 plus VAT

Supplied with:-


• Materials and Training


• Marketing Collateral


• Web Presence


• Samples


• £ commission based salary


• Recruiting throughout the UK

Immediate areas needed to cover, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich, Worcester, Lincoln, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire

 2D IMPRESSION FRANCHISE


£1,000 plus VAT paid in 2 parts.

Supplied with:-


• On-going Training


• Materials


• Frames


• Web Presence


• Exclusive Territory


• Opportunity to also be a jewellery/keepsake agent


• £ commission based salary

Immediate areas needed to cover Nottingham, Oxford, Liverpool, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Leicestershire






3D CAST FRANCHISE


£1,250 plus VAT paid in 2 parts.

Supplied with:-


• On-going Training


• Materials


• Frames


• Web Presence


• Exclusive Territory with a £ commission based salary


• Also eligible to be a jewellery/keepsake agent


Immediate areas needed to cover, Norwich, Oxford, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Derbyshire


IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EITHER 2D OR 3D POSITIONS PLEASE EMAIL laural@precious-memories.co.uk

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A FINGERPRINT AGENT PLEASE EMAIL janu@precious-memories.co.uk

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A JEWELLERY MAKER PLEASE EMAIL alisons@precious-memories.co.uk

* Please note that all funds paid to join are non-refundable.

Happy 1st Anniversary to me

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

I cannot believe I have reached this milestone of my first anniversary since opening my Precious Memories studio in sunny (snowy) Huddersfield so I thought I would do a little blog to tell you how things have gone.

It’s hard to believe it was a year ago that I was waiting for my first client to turn up – 5 week old Tess Ledgard – with owner and trainer Glenda Hickmott at my studio. I had been shown how to roll the clay, take impressions….but I chickened out and allowed Glenda to do the impression whilst I watched!! Ha ha

How things have changed, fast forward a year, 144 casts later and I am thrilled, and honoured, to now be Operations Director the company, responsibly for training our new mums as they come on board in both 2D impressions and 3D casts. I work closely with Glenda and our hard work is paying off – we now have 13 locations across the UK offering our fab products with two more due to open in January 2011! We have exceptionally exciting and big plans for 2011 which will see Precious Memories moving forward but I won’t kiss and tell, you’ll just have to wait and see!

I love and adore my job. I love dealing with the clients that come to me, the thought that I am creating this beautiful handmade product they will have on their wall for years to come still amazes me. So far I have come across sleepy babies (who don’t stir whilst having their cast done), screamers (who scream blue murder whilst it is being done), gigglers (who just laugh either at me singing to them or the sensation of the alginate setting) and nonchalant babies who couldn’t care less! After starting with 2D impressions and progressing to 3D framed casts, I now offer the full range of luxury 3D items, from solid bronze through to clear resin, and our 2D casts have seen MANY MANY ex-Kindercast customers coming through the doors to have replicas done of their originals once more babies arrive in their families.

My favourite cast – hard to say because sometimes it’s not about the cast, it’s about the relationship between me and the client – there are some truly lovely mothers out there.
Worst moment – when opened a 3D cast to find all 5 fingers missing and the hand detached from the wrist – thank god for taking duplicate copies!!!
Funniest moment – chasing Glenda’s alsation around her kitchen whilst trying to hold the bag of alginate on his paw to get a 3D cast. Amazingly it came out perfectly!!

I have heard stories of absolute heartbreak and stories of pure miraculous joy. I have been pooed on, sicked on and had my hair pulled more times than I care to remember (I am generally talking about the children, not their parents!!). This job is not just about ‘taking a cast’ it is truly about creating a ‘precious memory’ and I love it. Here’s to the next year.

Joining Precious Memories in Norwich

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

In April of this year myself and my husband took our 6 week old son along to Precious Memories to have a 2D hand and a foot cast taken. We were very impressed with the service and the products on offer. We received such a warm welcome in a relaxed homely environment that I thought ‘what a perfect job this would be’, working from home, organising my working hours to suit me around my little boys’ needs and capturing the Precious Memories of other people’s children. I enquired as to whether they needed a Norfolk Branch and the rest is history as here I am.

Precious Memories allows me to be a mum at home and enjoy watching my son grow up as well as earning my own money by doing something creative which I really enjoy. I chose to do the 2d impressions franchise, as this particular product is growing in demand.  A company by the name of Kindercast used to create these precious momentoes for 7 years and were in all Debenhams branches.  Kindercast no longer offer the impressions but Precious Memories do. 

Much to my husbands annoyance I always have to be doing something in the evenings whilst relaxing and watching TV so this is perfect as it makes me sit down with him but gives me something to do as I can work away at my casts, so we are both happy.

I have also been trained to take silver hand, foot and fingerprint impressions for our jewellery and keepsakes range, which helps me to earn that little bit extra each month.

I thoroughly recommend it!!!!

If you live in the Norwich area and would like to come and see the products I have proudly made or are interested in hosting a party which is a great way to earn yourself up to £50 off your own product –  then please feel free to contact me debp@precious-memories.co.uk

Finding a unique gift and job just got easier!

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Finding a unique gift and job just got easier!

Ever wished you could capture a moment in time? Preserve those tiny toes curling up when tickled?

At Precious Memories we are dedicated in helping everyone capture their most Precious Memories by using our bespoke services to create stunning gifts of 3D Casts, 2D Impressions and Silver Fingerprint Jewellery.

Prices for our unique products start at £35 for fingerprint jewellery, £60 for 2D Impressions and £110 for a 3D Casting.

Glenda Hickmott, owner of Precious Memories explains: “Our products enable parents to preserve each intricate crease and fold in perfect detail forever. Proud new parents and grandparents treasure these gifts for years to come”.

Precious Memories has also recognised that in today’s society it is often both parents who have to go work, very few jobs offer the money and flexibility to work around a family and often parents are also faced with expensive child caring costs, so work just becomes a necessity rather than something to be enjoyed. Precious Memories now offers an attainable low cost entrance fee from as little as £150 as an agent or £1,000 to actually create these beautiful products, earn your own money, and most importantly still enjoy that precious time with your family. Finding a unique gift and job just got easier!

CONTACT DETAILS

(t) 01296 399280

(e) info@precious-memories.co.uk

http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Precious Memories – Baby Hand and Foot Casting

Would you like to be a WAHM? Working at Home Mums we need you!

Precious Memories website at http://www.precious-memories.co.uk/

Just one of the exciting positions on offer at Precious Memories

2D IMPRESSIONS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Laura Lambert – Impression Artist

What made you decide to open a Precious Memories studio?

“In 2009, I wanted to have a matching 2D cast done to match my first son’s but the company Kindercast, who did my first son’s cast had stopped trading. I came across Precious Memories, was so impressed with their products and service that I enquired whether they wanted a Northern studio opening. They did and here I am!

I now trading full time as Precious Memories in Huddersfield and the surrounding area. I love my job, I get to meet lovely people young and old, build on my creative streak and earn my own money whilst having the support of the Precious Memories HQ and other team members. With two young children myself I can organise my own hours to suit me and offer clients a relaxed, home from home environment – much more relaxing than being stood in a department store having a cast done as I did with my first son!”

What have you needed to invest?
“Initially I was a little reticent about joining a ‘franchise’. However, what appealed with Precious Memories, was the opportunity to be a working mum at home PLUS unlike traditional franchise fees which start from approximately £5,000 I only needed to pay a small joining fee of £1,000. I get continued support from the HQ who are always available to help, any time of the day and late into the evenings sometimes!!”

What do you get for the £1,000?
o one-on-one training, which is very relaxed and has been adapted to my needs
o the materials needed to create fantastic 2D impressions
o a marketing pack and ongoing marketing resources
o publicity via precious memories website and advertisements
o An exclusive territory which guarantees no one else will be taken on within this area

The time it has taken me to be fully trained was very quick and now I am slowly building up my own client/customer database.

What I enjoy the most about my job is that I can:-

o work from home with my children around!
o choose my own hours
o have no pressure with sales targets
o earn great money from creating personal gifts

Working for Precious Memories has made me realise, you can work and still do the most important job – be a mum!

PRECIOUS MEMORIES ARE KEEN TO OPEN STUDIOS AS THE DEMAND FROM FORMER KINDERCAST CLIENTS IS RISING DAILY

So If you are interested in joining the Precious Memories team – then please contact Precious Memories on 01296 399 280 or info@precious-memories.co.uk