Meet Ayesha from Scruff Candy and find out about this One Woman Show!
Are you a Maker, Creator, Mover or Shaker?
When it comes to Scruff Candy it’s a one woman show. I am the CEO, Designer, Chief Sewer, Marketing Manager, Sales Representative, Administration Assistant and Accountant. But above all I am a Creator.
How did your Business start?
Scruff Candy came about when my little boy hadn’t quite figured out how to swallow his saliva. One wet necked t-shirt after another I went searching for answers. It was then that I realised that there wasn’t much of a stylish, affordable solution and especially not for boys. This got me a thinking… Does he have to wear TMNT, submarines, farm animals and crocodiles? Of course not, because style isn’t just for grown ups!
I designed my own patterns and started sewing neck scarves as a cool alternative to daggy dribble bibs for J. I would then pair them with a plain raglan and girls acid wash skinny jeans. I had always had fun with clothes and breaking fashion boundaries and thought why can’t Jobe? After numerous compliments in the playground on Jobe’s outfits I decided maybe it was time to take my second little love to market. So, Scruff Candy was born.
What is the best part about running a Small Business?
Do I have to pick just one???
The best part is being able to build a business based on your own strengths and being as creative as humanly possible! I have worked in marketing before but your role is to please the client. Unfortunately, this means at times you have to make modifications that scale back your imagination. There are no boundaries when you have freedom of creative expression. I love that I can just follow my passion and exert my unique, awkward, quirky style with absolutely no limitations.
Another great aspect of running a small business is being able to connect with my client’s directly. I feel so blessed that through the use of social media my customers can share photos of their children dressed in my threads with me.
What is the biggest challenge you face with running a Small Business?
Fatigue. I am a stay at home mum looking after an energetic two year old. My business hours are… basically whenever Jobe is asleep. This usually means I start work at 7:30pm and work all through the night.
One word to describe your Business?
Raw
Who or what inspires you?
I am hugely inspired by music. Being a child of the 90s a lot of my idols were the female rock gods such as Courtney Love and Gwen Stefani. I draw my inspiration from grunge fashion, industrial architecture and rebelling against fashion. If anything is “on trend” I will try my hardest to be the opposite. My Scruff Army is for fashion forward kids that want to stand out in a crowd, not blend in.
Favourite WA holiday destination?
The South West region. I’m not fussy. Take me to any of Western Australians wine regions and I am a happy lady. We make some of the best wine in Australia so hit me up with Margaret River, Pemberton, Denmark or the Great Southern.
Tea or Coffee?
Coffee please. This habit developed back in my sales repping job where there is no time to eat. Your breakfast and lunch was a coffee to go that you drank in the car between customer visits. These days it is an integral part of my business. It helps keep my brain alert when having to work through the night. Plus it is a nice ritual in the morning.
Morning or Night person?
I have always been a morning person. I wake up with a high level of energy and experience a lot of joy in the morning. The day always feels new and exciting and you just don’t know what is going to happen.
Who’s your favourite Girl Boss?
My favourite Girl Boss is a fabulous woman named Tazz who is the owner and creator behind By Faith and Grace. Tazz designs unisex faith based childrens fashion with a street style. I had the pleasure of meeting Tazz through our businesses and we have developed a lovely friendship. She not only runs BF&G but she is also the mother of three young girls, runs her beauty business and manages to keep it all together. I am totally inspired by her talent as an artist and have loved watching her journey.
Where to next for your Business?
I am still in the very early stages of Scruff Candy and feel that I haven’t even scratched the surface yet. I would love to expand my range and eventually be a one stop shop where you can dress your child from head to toe. But in the short term, well let’s just say the scruff of the neck is not the only place I want to accessorise. I’m currently working on some gear for the hips and wrists. So watch this space.
