Business in Profile

Retro Rooms

Melina Cruickshank talks to Carmen Raynor of Retro Rooms

Tell us about your business

Retro Rooms is an interior design company specialising in children’s bedrooms and playrooms.

We have an online service at www.retrorooms.com.au, which allows us to work with clients Australia wide by using the client’s photographs and measurements to create a floor plan, colour scheme, theme and shopping list, allowing the client to put the room together themselves.

We also offer full interior design, concept development and onsite project management in Sydney.

Why did you start your business?

Before I had children I worked as a television commercial producer. I managed to keep that up until just after the birth of my second child, when I realised that the long, unpredictable hours, travel and demanding clients were just not compatible with family life.

I also felt unfulfilled creatively and knew that there was something else out there for me.

When my children were babies I realised that most of what was easily available for their bedrooms was generic and uninspiring. I wanted to create rooms for them that reflected their personalities, as well as complimenting the style and décor of my house. I have always loved vintage items, especially from the 50’s and 60’s. I like to incorporate elements from these eras in my designs.

Beautiful living spaces have always been a passion of mine, so obtaining my Diploma of Interior Design, I set up Retro Rooms.

Has starting your own business lived up to expectations?

Having worked in a very competitive industry previously I was not expecting this to be easy. So far though, it doesn’t really feel like work because I love what I am doing so much!

What have you enjoyed the most about running your own business?

Having creative control and only being answerable to my clients and myself.

What is the biggest challenge for you in running your own business?

Prioritising my time so that my day does not get taken up with domestic jobs. I try to block off times in my diary at the beginning of the week and stick to them as much as possible.

How do you manage the juggle of running your own business with family?

I’m still getting the hang of it. My son started school this year, so that has been a bit of a transition but he has settled in well now.

My daughter attends pre-school four days a week so I try to do the bulk of my work during my childfree times.

I also work a lot of evenings after the kids have gone to bed- thank goodness for wireless internet! A lot of my business is done on line, which is great as far as flexibility goes.

Do you have a favourite networking opportunity or event?

I am a member of lots of online forums and groups for small business owners and also others for mother-run small businesses.

It’s always good to have someone to bounce ideas off- even if they are in another country and we are unlikely to ever meet!

Do you have any advice for anyone out there who may be thinking about starting their own business?

Make sure that you are passionate about what you are doing and believe in yourself. Someone will always have an opinion about what you are doing and offer sometimes unsolicited advice, but stick to your guns if you believe you are right.

It also helps to have some other way to derive an income when you are first starting out because it can take quite a while until you start to see any profit!