This week’s Ambassador Feature is with Susanna Heiskanen, Tuutu
2017 Silver winner for AusMumpreneur Sustainability
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Tell us about yourself and your business?
I am mother of two boys and I am the owner and co-founder of Tuutu. Tuutu name means crib or basinet when translated to English from Finnish. We produce and sell Finnish Baby Box made here in Australia using local Australian brands and products. Finnish Baby Box is cardboard box size of a basinet and it comes with mattress, sheet and products for the mother and baby. It is aimed to include safe sleep space for the baby and starter kit for the parenthood.
What was your inspiration for your business?
When I was pregnant with my son 2012 I really wanted him to sleep in a Finnish Baby Box. I could not find one anywhere and shipping one from Finland was going to cost too much money, so I left it. However, the though of the baby box stayed and after having my second son 2014 I seriously started to think about staring the company and making this life changing baby box available for mothers in Australia. We launched Tuutu here in Australia August 2016.
Did you have any experience in running a business or in this industry before?
I had no prior experience of running a business and I did not know anything about baby business. But I have had to learn a lot very fast. You make mistakes, but you learn and move on from them.
What’s your point of difference that makes your business special or unique?
We are the only company in Australia producing the box here in Australia and as I am from Finland I am happy to say that we are the real deal ! We also provide baby shower gift service where you can buy the box and we sent it to the box receiver with your special note included.
What have you learnt about yourself since becoming an entrepreneur?
Lots ! I did not know how many hats as a business owner you need to wear. Attention to detail, doing your budget, finance, accounts, marketing, sales my list just goes on. I have learned to survive less sleep and less time to myself when I am in the midst of getting on with the business.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?
Always when I am working with new suppliers it is difficult at times to explain the concept particularly if they have never heard about the Finnish Baby Box. However, we have come across some fabulous suppliers who have been supporting us from the start.
What lessons have your business taught you about life?
Life is too short to be in unhappy job. Work on environment that encourages and motivates you. It is never too late to reach out and work towards your goal and dreams. They only remain dreams unless you do something about them. Treasure the time with your family as they are the reason we do this – work long days and nights to make sure we are able to be there for our kids pick up and drop offs.
If you could go back to when you were starting your business and give your younger self some advice what would you tell her?
Oh boy. I would tell her lots! I would tell her to be patient, schedule your budget and business plan better, be bold and move forward when something does not work on your plan. As plans change, your business changes and you need to be able to adapt. Don’t be afraid of success and scaling the business forward and planning for the future.
What’s next for your business?
We are concentrating on improving the offering of the boxes we have. We are also working more with charities and projects where we can offer the safe sleep space baby box for vulnerable families here in Australia.
If you could change the world, and money was no object, what would you do?
I would make sure good quality education is available to all children regards to where they were born, what is their nationality, religion or race. The better education our children have the better they will do in life. I would also make sure that there is universal health care and equal access to pregnancy support and concepts like Finnish Baby Box in every country.
To learn more about Susanna and Tuutu, please visit
Website: https://www.tuutu.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuutubabybox
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tuutubabybox
