Being Nosy with Abbie Roden

I’m back.

Primarily from a 4 day escape to Kefalonia. And no, it wasn’t a babymoon, in the same way that I wouldn’t call a trip taken shortly after a wedding a honeymoon or even a ‘minimoon’. It was just a holiday. But yes it was really nice thanks.

We spent most of it eating tzatziki and reassuring ourselves we'd made the right decision to leave Nico behind by pointing out how knackered other toddler parents looked, conveniently ignoring the magical memories they were no doubt making.

But I’m also back from an entirely unplanned week off Substack which I won’t lie, did bother me. Nearly as much as the reason behind it.

I’d love to tell you it was a deliberate creative reset. It wasn’t. Just as I sat down to write last week’s post, Ed’s portion of Pad See Ew ended up on the upholstered ottoman, and my evening of writing became an evening of detergent and dabbing. If ever there was a middle class crisis, this was it.

I did my best to forget all about it over the holiday and assumed a few days away would leave me recharged and brimming with ideas and inspiration. Instead I came back with a bit of a tan and some really nice olive oil but not much else.

Luckily, Abbie Roden had plenty to say.

I’ve realised these interviews are becoming some of my favourite things to publish because they’re really just an excuse to be nosy. I'm less interested in how the women I’ve spoken to have built their businesses than I am in how they’ve built a whole life around them.

Abbie, alongside her husband, runs amie, amie Wine Studio and Weezie’s, while also running her own agency, RODEN. None of it has happened by accident. It’s the product of years of hard work and spotting opportunities. I’ve admired and followed her from afar for a while and from the outside, she seems to have built a life that manages to be both hugely ambitious and genuinely enjoyable, so I wanted to know how.

We spoke about the opportunities she said yes to, how motherhood has changed her ambitions, what inspires her, and why a reformer class, Brook Green Market and a sunny afternoon with her son might be just as important to her success as the businesses themselves.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1. When someone asks what you do, what do you actually say?

I say: ‘I have 3 businesses. RODEN - a marketing & talent agency. amie - a wine brand and we also have a wine bar, amie wine studio. and Weezie’s - a pizza restaurant’

2. Did you always imagine building multiple businesses or has one thing led to another?

One thing has definitely led to another! It all started with RODEN first, doing marketing for other brands. Then my husband and I created our own brand together during lockdown - amie. We then have the opportunity to open a 3-month pop up - amie wine studio - which has now been a permanent space for 4 years. And then Weezie’s was opportunistic, the adjacent space to amie wine studio came available and we knew we had to take the opportunity.

3. Has motherhood changed your ambition or idea of success?

I have always been very driven, and I think I always will be. I’ve always worked very hard. I still work hard, even after becoming a mother, but I do think I appreciate the idea of balance more. At the end of the day, Teddie (my son) and Will (my husband) are all that really matters.

4. Describe your perfect Saturday?

A reformer pilates class first thing. Then grabbing a coffee and pain au chocolat at our local coffee shop, Debbie Jo, and walking down to the river with Teddie & Will. Venturing back via the playground and the Brook Green Market - grabbing a burrito there (my fave) and sometimes dumplings too, and topping up on our weekly groceries from the independent vendors. Take a nap when Teddie takes a nap (that doesn’t happen often but man it’s a treat). And spending more time together in the afternoon.

5. Where do you go when you’re creatively stuck?

Travelling, if I’m able. I have always found so much inspiration from travel.

6. What’s the least glamorous part of running your own business?

There is constantly something to deal with or think about - it’s hard to fully ever ‘switch off.’ I think that always comes with being a business owner, and I don’t mind it, but I definitely wouldn’t say it’s ‘glamorous’

7. What’s the hardest part about running a business whilst raising children?

Similar to the above, that you never get to fully switch off. I think when it’s your own business, it’s very, very hard to fully ‘take a step back’ when having children. I thought I’d take 3 months off for ‘maternity leave’ - I took 2.5 weeks, and was on my emails still from Day 1. There are lots of pros to being a business owner though - you have the flexibility to go home early to be with your baby on a sunny day if you want to! No one has to approve my vacation days. There are definitely pros and cons.

8. What’s something small that disproportionately improves your week?

Reformer! It makes me feel so good, and is an hour of ‘me time’ that feels like therapy/meditation at the same time.

9. What are your everyday heroes that make you feel confident and put together?

Ilia DayLite Highlighter Powder, Summer Fridays Lip Butter, and a good outfit (what that is, depends on the day)

10. What’s something you wish more women spoke honestly about?

Infertility and IVF. There is so much taboo around it, and I was absolutely horrified of the entire process. After going through it, I can confidently say it is not that bad. Yes, I know everyone reacts differently to it, but we need to stop only hearing the negatives, and start to hear more positive stories around it to help change the narrative and the stereotype.

11. If someone reading this is trying to build something alongside motherhood, what advice would you give them?

Get help when you can! Whether that’s your parents, a neighbour, a friend, other forms of childcare, whatever it is that can help you have a little bit more time for yourself, to work on building what you’re dreaming of.

Until next Sunday!

Gx

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