Laura Furiosi, mother of three girls from St Lucia in Queensland, is the AusMumpreneur of the Year 2017 winner. Laura started Rashoodz, a swimwear brand for babies and toddlers, eight years ago.
Co-founder of the AusMumpreneur Awards, Peace Mitchell, says, “We are so excited to have Laura Furiosi as 2017 AusMumpreneur of the Year. As a mother of three daughters who makes it a priority to always finish at 3 pm to pick up her children from school, she is a very fitting ambassador and role model for other women starting businesses – and to her own girls as well!
“The judges were impressed by her business growth and her expansion into global markets. Rashoodz is now stocked in David Jones in Australia and internationally in China, the United Kingdom and the USA. She has overcome a number of challenges in the past 12 months and her business has continued to grow and expand.”
Laura started the business to help protect her daughter and other children from skin cancer. She explains, “The registered Rashoodz designed swimsuit has a legionnaire’s hat attached to the collar by clips. This stops the little ones from taking their hat off constantly. One of the other important points of difference is the clips in the crotch of the baby swimsuits, which allows for fuss-free nappy changes.”
The business has grown into an international company, selling in wallmart.com, China, Thailand, Taiwan, USA and UK and Australia. Rashoodz has also been very successful in China.
Laura understands the hectic pace of life as a Mum. She ran her business from her home whilst raising her three children. This year she has moved Rashoodz into a warehouse and office near Brisbane airport.
Laura also started a 3PL logistics company this year as well as a business consulting business. She was listed as one of the top 20 entrepreneurs under 40 in 2016. Laura also won the Australian Business Champion Award for Fashion last year.
Laura says, “Being named Ausmumpreneur 2017 means the world to me, and my kids are ecstatic too. I hope I can help to be an inspiration to the next generation of women thinking of making a difference in the world.”
