From Classroom to Custom Orders: How Teaching Prepared Me for Running a Small Business

If you'd told me a few years ago that I’d swap the classroom for custom gifting, I might have laughed at the idea. But as it turns out, being a primary school teacher was the perfect training ground for running a small business. Teaching isn’t just about phonics and numbers. It’s time management, multitasking, creativity on demand, and most of all, people skills. These are the very tools I now use every day as a small business owner.

In the classroom, I was used to planning weeks in advance, adapting when things didn’t go to plan, and keeping calm amid chaos (ever tried calming 25 four-year-olds before breaktime?). Now, those same skills help me manage orders, juggle multiple projects, and problem-solve when deliveries are late or supplies run low.

I also learnt how to connect with people, parents, student, and colleagues. That ability to communicate clearly, listen carefully, and build trust has been key in building relationships with customers. Whether it’s a client looking for a personalised gift or someone needing help placing an order, I approach it with the same empathy and care I once gave to worried parents at parents’ evening. Creativity was a massive part of my teaching life too. From crafting lesson plans to decorating the classroom, I was always finding ways to make things engaging and fun. That creativity now fuels my business, every custom piece I design is an expression of that same passion to make people feel seen and valued.

There’s also the admin side (not the most glamorous, but definitely essential). If you've done school reports, lesson plans, and assessments, you'll understand how teaching builds a strong foundation in paperwork and staying organised. Now I channel that into inventory lists, invoices, and social media scheduling.

Most of all, being a teacher gave me resilience. There were tough days, moments of doubt, and exhaustion, but we showed up anyway. That perseverance is what keeps me going now, through slow months or tricky clients, knowing that hard work, consistency, and heart always pay off.

So, while the classroom may look very different from my little workspace now, I carry my teaching experience with me every step of the way.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.