Getting to Know Jacqui, Rudie Nudie's Founder

Every Rudie Nudie mat started with a little bit of mess, a nappy-free baby and a Mum who couldn't find what she was looking for. We sat down with our founder Jacqui to hear the story behind the brand, the highs and the wet-fish-slap days of running a business while raising a family, and the one mum-hack she swears by.

First things, tell us a little about you

I'm a Mum of two little humans (they're the ones who helped me find the need for waterproof playmats!) and a dog Mum to two doggos, Fred and Frankie. I'm also a horse Mum to one very special horse named Stan. My daughter threw me into the horse world and I secretly love these gorgeous creatures.

You'll usually find me on a beach walk with the dogs. I'm a wannabe surfer and a wannabe guitar player, and if you spend any time around me you'll quickly realise I love singing and whistling. A lot.

What inspired you to start Rudie Nudie?

The idea for the playmats came to me when our maternal health nurse suggested some nappy-free playtime while my daughter was a baby. She was so happy with her nappy off and much more interested in tummy time, but naturally it got messy.

So I set out to find a waterproof mat that wasn't plastic, and I couldn't find one anywhere. That's when I decided to create the solution myself. It was a funny one because some people questioned whether it would even be something parents wanted. I took a leap of blind faith and I was so grateful when customers actually started buying.

Did you always know you wanted to run your own business?

My career was a winding road. I started with a Sports Science degree, then moved into pharmaceutical sales, event management and advertising as an Account Director. I've always gone with the flow and stayed flexible, happy to change direction when it felt right.

Once I had my daughter, I started looking out for business ideas. I really wanted the flexibility to enjoy after-school time and school holidays with my kids. I had a few random ideas floating around, but Rudie Nudie felt like a clear one the moment I thought of the waterproof playmat. I'm so glad I followed it.

Do you have a favourite product and design?

These days I love our picnic rugs, now that my kids are a bit older. I still love laying one out and getting people together on it. It really is so soft to sit on.

I have a soft spot for all of our designs because each one has a story and has been so much fun to create with the artists. That said, I do love La Dolce Vita. It's such a beautiful piece of art and it really captures that Italian coastal spirit of warmth and fun. I had a very clear brief for this one, and when the artist Miranda Sofroniou delivered the full version I was blown away by how incredibly she'd brought it to life.

What's been the hardest part of being a mum and a business owner?

My family come first, so sometimes I feel like I've got my hands tied behind my back and I'm getting slapped with a wet fish. If I had a full-time job I'd be answerable to someone else and I'd have to set boundaries to get my work done. With my own business, my work is the first thing to fall away when the kids get sick.

This week is a perfect example. I've had two sick kids and a dog recovering from surgery, so let's just say not much work has happened. It's mostly my own doing too, because boundary setting isn't my biggest strength.

And the best part?

The flexibility, without a doubt. I'm forever grateful that I've spent most school holidays with my kids and that I'll rarely miss a school sports day or a special event. I'm completely genuine about it with customers and suppliers too, so they know I can be a little slow to respond at times.

Is work/life balance a struggle?

I think if you ask any parent, the answer is always yes. I was at Bounce in the holidays and I looked around at all the parents trying to work on their laptops while keeping an eye on their kids. It really is an impossible juggle, and I honestly don't know how families manage with two full-time working parents. Hats off to them, they must be so efficient.

It's the old saying that you can't have everything at once. You can't pour your whole energy into a business when you have a family to support, so there are a lot of unfinished dreams with Rudie Nudie. But I know my kids won't be little for much longer, so I'm savouring the time I get with them while I can.

One piece of wisdom you'd share with other mums?

Speak kindly to yourself. You are absolutely doing the best you can and you are an amazing Mum just as you are. It starts with kind words to ourselves, because it's hard to parent from a self-critical place. It's also a wonderful example to set for our kids.

A few fun extras

How do you decompress after a long day?

I love picking up my guitar and doing Simply Guitar, the app that's teaching me to play. There's something about music that stops the over-thinking cycle and takes me to a calm place. That said, I haven't picked up my guitar in about two months!

Any mum-hacks to share?

Get the slow cooker on in the morning. You can feel like you're winning at life for the rest of the day, knowing dinner is already done.

Where do you see Rudie Nudie in the next few years?

Our customers keep giving me the drive to share our products with the world. When I hear how useful they are and how much people genuinely love them, it motivates me to reach even further.

Ever since we launched, Rudie Nudie has taken on a life of its own. We started out for nappy-free playtime, and our customers told us they needed a larger size for messy and sensory play. Lately we've seen our mats popping up in education settings and even libraries. We love how broad the uses are.

We'll keep creating new designs and we're always on the lookout for new products, so we're really excited for this next chapter as Rudie Nudie ventures further out into the world. If we can make life a little easier for more parents, we'll be very happy.