What does it take to raise a family and a thriving business at the same time? For Julie Cole of Mabel’s Labels, it meant grit, planning, and one very busy basement in Hamilton, Ontario.
In this episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes, Julie sits down with host Jamie Seeker to share how she co-founded Mabel’s Labels with her sister and friends — all while raising six kids and pivoting from a legal career. The story is full of powerful takeaways on business planning, teamwork, mental health, and redefining success.
👩⚖️ Julie Cole Mabel’s Labels: From Lawyer to Label Leader
Julie left behind her law career when her first child was diagnosed with autism. Looking for flexibility and a way to contribute financially, she and her co-founders launched Mabel’s Labels — filling a gap in the market for durable, dishwasher-safe name labels for kids.
“We never made a label for fun. From the start, we were building something real — not a hobby.”
This wasn’t a side project — it was a smart, scalable idea that quickly took off thanks to early business planning and shared leadership.
🍼 Building Mabel’s Labels While Raising Six Kids
In the early days, Julie was raising three (and then six) children while bootstrapping the business. She worked late nights, handled chaos with humor, and leaned on her co-founders to share the mental, emotional, and financial load.
“People romanticize entrepreneurship, but it looked like making labels at 2 a.m. and waking up at 6 with a toddler.”
Having three partners allowed for shared accountability and collaboration — a benefit she says made all the difference in the early growth phase.
Looking for more inspiring founder stories? Check out this interview with Sarah Torres on scaling a consulting business while raising kids — another great episode of Business Owners Tell All: What It Takes.
📈 Business Planning Lessons from Julie Cole of Mabel’s Labels
Julie emphasizes that from day one, they treated Mabel’s Labels like a real business — not a hobby. They had a business plan, assigned roles, documented meetings, and planned for growth.
“Even when we thought it might just help with groceries, we operated like we were building an empire.”
Key tips from Julie on business planning:
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Treat your plan as a living document — revisit it regularly
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Plan for phases: When to hire, when to scale, when to let go
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Think about partnership structure before issues arise
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Don’t delay leadership transitions — staying in the weeds stunts growth
💼 Delegation, Leadership, and Letting Go
One of Julie’s most important takeaways was learning when to stop doing everything. Like many entrepreneurs, she started out wearing all the hats — but knew that had to change.
“If you’re not working on the business because you’re stuck working in it — then nobody is.”
Letting go of day-to-day tasks, trusting managers, and building systems allowed Mabel’s Labels to scale sustainably.
🔄 Crisis Culture: How Mabel’s Labels Thrived During COVID
During the pandemic, schools and camps — major customers for Mabel’s Labels — shut down. But thanks to a strong team culture, their employees quickly pivoted, developing new product lines like floor decals and safety signage.
“That wasn’t the founders — that was our team stepping up because they’re invested.”
Julie says their culture of transparency, flexibility, and entrepreneurship across the team made the difference when it mattered most.
🧠 Mental Health, Mentors & the Role of Privilege in Business
In one of the episode’s most powerful moments, Julie opens up about the role of privilege in entrepreneurship.
“People say I was brave, but I had three degrees, a partner at a big firm, and supportive parents. That’s not the same risk as a single mom with a side hustle.”
She also emphasizes the importance of:
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Having a mentor or coach
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Being honest about mental health
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Avoiding burnout by asking for support
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Recognizing that not everyone starts from the same place
🔚 What It Takes to Be a Business Owner (According to Julie)
To wrap up, we asked Julie our signature question: What does it really take to be a business owner today?
“You need grit. You need sacrifice. But above all — you need perspective. I make labels — I’m not saving lives.”
Julie’s story is a reminder that success is built in the messy, behind-the-scenes moments — and that a little humor, a solid plan, and a strong team go a long way.
📍 Where to Find Julie Cole
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🏠 Website: mabelslabels.com
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📘 About Julie: mabelslabels.com/juliecole
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📸 Instagram: @juliecoleinc
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💼 LinkedIn: Julie Cole
