Believe in the power of community. On some days when you feel big goals are impossible, or when you feel like giving up, you need to lean on your like-minded community. You can even “borrow” motivation, and in turn “return” with your own inspiring stories to pay it forward.
In this special column called the “TLC x Fempreneurs Series”, we will be featuring inspiring Female Entrepreneurs (Fempreneurs) in short. You will be able to have a sneak peek at their mindsets and their daily habits.
Meet Pearline Foo (Spring Breeze Marketing)
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, I am Pearline Foo. My husband and I have three daughters age 6 to 16 years and we co-run Spring Breeze Marketing Pte. Ltd. since 2007. Our company runs 3 boutique retail labels – Baby Slings & Carriers, Baby Gates N Safety, and Clean Food Haven. Each label is a specialist label and every label was created out of the need to promote a certain lifestyle.
What got you started on your business?
Baby Slings & Carriers was our first business. It was born out of the desire to inculcate an ergonomic babywearing culture in Singapore/ Asia and the world. Back in 2007 babywearing was in its infancy and we find the knowledge and education about babywearing and ergonomic babywearing very much lacking. We are the pioneers in Singapore and probably the first in the world to offer a fit and consult retail concept that helps parents find the right-fitting carrier. Prior to Baby Slings & Carriers, I was already teaching mothers how to use the ring sling effectively around my neighbourhood and amongst my friends. Before I had kids, I was the Regional Marketing & PR Executive for a large German IT MNC and I felt that with my communication skills coupled with my question, question and question personality and the newfound babywearing discoveries, I was able to contribute to the well-being and bonding of parents with their babies, and also introduce the importance of Get The Right Fit to parents. The idea is simple – everyone’s body proportions vary, so does baby’s. A baby carrier that is not properly fitting to you and baby may create discomfort and do more harm than good. We are about empowering the community we operate in with the right information so parents can make a more informed decision.
Baby Gates N Safety was similarly born when we were looking for safety baby gates when my youngest child was born (she started climbing stairs at the age of 7 months old!), and found the lack of information and knowledge from the shops disappointing. We were also unable to find a decent range of quality products locally and in Asia. Opportunity knocked when we were at a trade fair in Cologne and as fate would have it, Baby Gates N Safety was born. Our fundamental belief is that safety should never be an afterthought.
Clean Food Haven is our latest retail boutique label and is still very young, so it will take a little bit of of time grow. It was born during the Circuit Breaker period out of the desire to gain access to pure, natural, vegan, wholefoods, snacks and food supplement options that are better and more easily bioavailable for our bodies, and to bring this premium offering to residents in Singapore and Asia.
What were some difficulties you faced in your life and how did you overcome them?
Growing up in a family environment that was non-trusting and where unconditional love was lacking basically meant that I had very little faith in relationships. I realized over time that if a parent is always expecting and extorting but never giving (or gives only with a hidden agenda), the child will grow up feeling unloved, unwanted, with a low self-esteem, always trying to find acceptance everywhere he or she goes and is prone to becoming too hard on himself or herself for the rest of their lives. This is extremely unhealthy and it is not the fault of the child. Is this what a loving parent will want for the child?
The unconditional love and support from my husband and daughters, as well as the desire to break the vicious cycle and create our own closely-knitted and loving family has helped to reshape how I view my own family unit. Change starts from the top! 🙂 Like how my youngest daughter puts it, “I love you to the Moon and back, Mommy. Even if you are ever angry with me, you will do the same for me too.”
What is your vision / personal motto?
Live. Laugh. Love
Who inspires you?
Harriet Tubman
Do you have any word of advice for other ladies who are starting their business / starting to pursue their dream?
Work hard and live a little. Don’t let anyone get you down, not even someone closest to you. Never doubt yourself – you have gotten this far. While the goal you are working towards may at first seem a lonely path, there will be others who are willing to walk with you even if it is for part of the way. Let them into your life and if you haven’t found them yet, keep an open heart. Sometimes these people are right in front of you.
How do you think you can help ladies to feel confident and empowered?
Not putting another lady down and also minding my own life. I believe positive energies do get passed along to those around you. I am starting with my daughters.
What have you learnt recently that you hope the other ladies can take back?
We ladies like to dwell on the past too much. Don’t let your past experiences haunt you, learn to let go and start living. Don’t feel bad if you sometimes have to cut that rope. It is not easy, but you are not alone. Go on and live for yourself.
What excites you most about your industry?
I am most excited with our new label and direction of the company. A change in our lifestyle and what we put into our bodies as well as what we choose to use especially with the current COVID-19 situation is more important than ever. We hope to be a force for good in helping others take charge in reclaiming their health.
What is one thing you are grateful for?
A very supportive husband and children, and the fact that we have the luxury to work together and see everyone almost all the time.
What do you do in your free time as self care? How do you unwind?
Doing volunteer work at the gymnastics club my daughters train at, preparing healthful food for the family, visiting Gardens By The Bay (and buying flowers at my favourite flower shop there), watching Netflix with my family, exercising in my home gym, eating & sleeping of course.
Let us know more about what you do!
At Clean Food Haven, we care deeply about the type of foods and supplements we put into our bodies. We are family owned and operated, and are health crusaders passionate about what nature offers us – pure, natural, vegan, wholefoods options. We care about your health, and you should too.
Connect with Spring Breeze Marketing!
Clean Food Haven
Website: cleanfoodhaven.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanfoodhaven
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanfoodhaven
Baby Slings and Carriers
Website: babyslingsandcarriers.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babyslingsandcarriers
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babyslingsandcarriers
Baby Gates N Safety
Website: https://babygatesnsafety.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babygatesnsafety
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BabyGatesNSafety
Are you a Fempreneur too?
Connect with us – we’d love to feature you! Say hi to us at hello@theladiescue.com or reach out to us via our social media.
Read TLC x Fempreneur Series:
- Evangeline Leong, Kobe
- Charlyn Ding, Om & Away
- Maddy Barber, Madly Gems
- Shireena, Sheens Image Consulting
- Ezza Yusof, 2morrow Official (Malaysia)
- Julie Yim, Lilin+Co (Malaysia)
- Nadia, HelloBello (Malaysia)
- Zairin Azman, UMMA (Malaysia)
- Farrah Rahman, Hellokraf
The rest of the Fempreneur interviews can be found here.