Eileen Yeo, 37, is the founder of Da Little School. She has four children aged nine to one.
ART ATTACK
“When my husband was posted to Hong Kong eight years ago, I was impressed by the city’s art schools for children. I enrolled my oldest daughter in one and I was bowled over by how the school encouraged creativity in kids. Returning to Singapore, I was inspired to start something similar, and brought the franchise over.
FIND THE GAP
“As a mum who wanted to inspire her kids to be more creative, I saw a gap in the market for innovative art schools. I opened Da Little School in 2010. It started as an art school but, in 2013, I expanded it, opening a childcare centre that incorporated art classes and enrichment programmes at no additional cost. Today, I have Da Little Arts School at Ngee Ann City and Rochester Mall, and Da Little Preschool at Ngee Ann City.
GET GOOD PEOPLE
“Very early on, a staff member took our curriculum and database to set up a similar school. It taught me an important lesson: If you want loyal employees, employ good people, keep them happy, see to their welfare and monitor their morale. I’m proud to say the team I have right now is amazing.
QUALITY WITHOUT THE PRICE
“Understanding what sets your business apart is crucial. But you still have to focus on strategies to keep it differentiated. I am constantly thinking of ways to improve our curriculum, and my team comes up with new holiday programmes to keep things fresh. “You must also remember to maintain your standards throughout, without necessarily increasing your prices. Quality is very important to me, but I also want parents to know that premium childcare needn’t cost a lot.
HELPING HANDS
“Having four children at home and two schools to run, it’s not an understatement to say I am time-strapped. Starting a business, you know you’re going to be running around and doing a million things at once. So ask for help. This is part of being resourceful – an important trait to be a successful entrepreneur. Sometimes, you just have to admit that you’re not Superwoman. “Do also look for help where you can, from the relevant government agencies. I have managed to get my childcare started, against all odds.”
Quality time
“It’s easy to run yourself into the ground when you’re an entrepreneur, but don’t neglect your family in the process. I always make sure I spend quality time with my kids. I’m upfront with my children about my workload. If work needs to be done, I tell them I’ll make time for them later. “Being a busy mumpreneur has helped my kids, too. My oldest daughter has learnt how to be self-reliant and responsible. She knows how to cook simple meals for her siblings, for instance, and I can trust her with certain important tasks. She gets inspired when she sees me work, too. I want her to think: “If my mum can start a business, so can I!”
