I Quit My £80,000 Job to Make Ice Cream – Here’s How
By Yasmin Rufo, BBC News Business Reporter
At just 28 years old, Vivien Wong walked away from a well-paid accounting job to start her own ice cream brand, Little Moons. Inspired by growing up in her family’s bakery and her father’s cancer diagnosis, she shares the lessons she learned along the way.
Don’t Wait Until You’re Ready
Don’t hold off on launching your business waiting for perfection. Wong suggests following an 80-20 rule: get a product 80% complete, launch it, and refine it as you go. This is how Little Moons evolved over its first five years, from selling to restaurants and cinemas to eventually securing supermarket shelves.
Be Prepared to Make Sacrifices
Leaving a high-paying job and moving in with her brother were significant sacrifices for Wong. She took on all aspects of the business herself, learning IT, product development, ice cream making, and accounting, prioritizing saving money over outsourcing tasks.
Know Your Brand
Focus on understanding your brand’s values and applying them to trends while turning down opportunities that don’t align. Wong emphasizes the importance of staying focused and knowing what makes your business unique. She also advises against blindly following expert advice; instead, she recommends critical thinking and adapting suggestions to fit your specific situation.
Set Boundaries with Family
Working with her brother had its perks but also challenges. Wong suggests seeing each other as colleagues rather than siblings while building the company. Despite arguments, they learned to navigate their professional and personal dynamics, which has been a significant strength for Little Moons.
