amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

AnaYoga · 12-16-2003, 07:31 PM

I tried a search to see if such a post had been made in the past but couldn't find one. If anyone knows of one, please direct me to it

I'd love to hear about how all these wonderful businesses started up, how long they've been at it, and successes and hurdles along the way, etc etc. I think it would be SUCH an interesting read...

Ok, who wants to go first?

~Ana

freedomlover · 12-16-2003, 07:42 PM

I started BeniBoi Designs in Oct. 2001.
It started off as a diaper business with some blankets and misc. other baby things on the side.

I named it after my inspiration.....my third child Beni.

I found that my site appeared on google searches and I got orders from around the planet with requests for my products.

Then, people occasionally asked for specific items I didn't offer and I would attempt to make many of these requests.

I then thought.....man.....these diapers are a lot of work for little pay back. If I don't source out and get other seamstresses it is a nowhere future for me with these. I have gone this way and that way feeling out various directions to go (gifts for all ages?, clothing? what to create?)

Many a time I have applied the brakes on my endeavors in order to not go too quickly in a direction which will tie me to a course.

I would say that my wahm bus. has been a success in that it is always wanting to take off at warp speed even though I am fighting it every step of the way.

I am actually going to head off in yet another direction very soon. I am going to incorporate the BeniBoi concept into my new venture.

Now.

Let's hear from wahms who have gone with the oppurtunities and not fought them!!!!!!

Jami · 12-16-2003, 08:37 PM

Well... I started Mrs. MacADoo's originally because my mom kept telling me "You could make that!" when I was ordering cloth wipes and wet bags from other WAHMs... I was going to just make some for me and that be the end of it... But, she kept telling her doula clients about it and then she started carrying some cloth diapers... It was just inevitable that it would happen... Really, I don't think I learned to sew a straight line until like my third order (

)!!

So, I wouldn't say that I started Mrs. MacADoo's, but rather, that Mrs. MacADoo's started itself!

I officially opened for business last April and got a little website set up through MSN groups... At that time, it was more fun making the web site than sewing (LOL!) and sometime in May (I think) I stumbled across Amity's... This was really a turning point in my actual "store front" because I was then linked up with www.wahmservices.com and to a professional web site...

So, the Mrs. MacADoo's that you all know now was a brain child of myself and Inkprince.com and I love it!

I really don't think business has been "booming" - although I'm very grateful for what I've got. I think that I try really hard to make sure my clients are happy, and I believe it shows because they keep coming back.

I have made what I've put it, but have yet to pull a real profit - mainly because I keep buying fabric! HA!

Hopefully, I can get a super-duper serger or sewing maching at tax time and that will help speed things along a bit (my sewing machine is my mom's - it's like 25 years old! LOL!)...

Mainly, it has been a real learning experience for me. I've tried some things and had them back-fire (anyone remember those vinyl lined wet bags? ick!) and then tried some things that have been pretty successful (new wet bags and the mama pads especially). It really has taught me to appreciate buying from other WAHMs and has increased my patience ten-fold...

Hopefully, next year, my sister will join in with me and we can make Mrs. MacADoo's something really special. She's learning to sew and is eager to do something with her newly acquired skills!

The next phase of Mrs. Mac's will be zippered wet bags - I'm trying to do something innovative in that department... something different and unique that will be able to last you through more than one baby's cloth diaper life... So, we'll see... I was planning on launching the zippered wet bag in January, but *sigh* don't think that will be happening... But, soon, mamas!! Soon!!

This was fun... Thanks for reading - helped me be a bit more grateful for where I'm at and how far I really have come...

lady and bumble · 12-16-2003, 09:01 PM

The best experience I have had being a WAHM is Tuesday Bear...not only selling but BUYING! For those of you who have not yet experienced the Tuesday Bear Syndrome- what are you waiting for? Tuesday Bear mamas are fantastic- fun and wonderful customer service and there is such a vast selection of fantastic products - something new every Tuesday! Find bracelets (hint! hint!), diapers, diaper covers, soaps, bath fizzies, quilts, baby shoes, children's clothing, playsilks, toys, purses, and more~ each item offered only at Tuesday Bear, and many are one-of-a-kind. I feel honored to be part of such a smart, creative group of women.

And you know...it IS Tuesday!

www.tuesdaybear.com/entrance.html

~H

Patsy · 12-16-2003, 11:44 PM

I see I am in good company with Heather right above me

I have been a WAHM for about 4 years. Started off with Maya Wraps, and I was the first to wholesale from a WAHM (Kissaluvs). I later began making my own diapers. After the birth of my sixth child, I introduced Not Just For Nursing Necklaces and they took off, and were so successful and supplies took up a LOT less room, so I stopped selling diapers (but not making them lol). Earlier this year, I took a break and began selling my children's clothing on Ebay, it was overflowing our closets! On Ebay I saw some cute boutique style clothing, but I didn't like the $200 + prices, so I decided to make my own! Soon I am selling boutique clothing on Ebay

.

Enter Tuesday Bear. I always thought it was such an amazing concept - bring together the best of the best and have them sell items you can't get anywhere else. Wow. I joined Tuesday Bear about two months ago - and I really love it. The WAHMs there are supportive of each other, if anyone ever has a question - be it a sourcing, customer service or even web design, someone has the answer! I can't wait to see what the coming year will bring to My Child's Garden as I grow with this amazing store.

Oh yeah - we are as eager as everyone else to see what is in the stores every Tuesday

Cool thread - I can't wait to see the other posts!

Lizzie3143 · 12-16-2003, 11:48 PM

i've been "in the wahm biz" seriously for about 16 months, before that i would just make diaper or wipes for friends and family that would ask or for craft shows. i started making pocket covers/diapers not too long ago because i had run out of soaker material for aio's and fitteds. LOL there is a much higher demand for pocket diapers than there is for just cute covers i noticed so i try to focus mainly on pockets now (but i still do custom orders for other diapering items when i have the time). i have a hard time keeping up sometimes now that i have 3 kids (plus a new puppy thank you very much dh! LOL) but i love making diapers and wipes, i think once my kids are older and out of dipes i will love it even more.

when teddy started up tuesdaybear.com she told me the door was always open for me to start selling there but i just didn't have enough time to devote to it right away. after a few months i *MADE* the time and i jumped into tuesdaybear.com, i knew i made the right decision! the group of wahms there are so "unique" everyone has something just a little (or way) different to offer. if i could afford it i'd probably buy 1 of everything each week. LOL i like being able to shop at places that i can get more than 1 style of something kwim?

(sorry if this is all jumbled sounding, i am trying to keep my new puppy off the keys LOL)

edited to add...

ROTFLMBO patsy, you are the center of a tuesdaybear sandwich! LOL

mamasboys4me · 12-17-2003, 12:46 AM

Quote:

The next phase of Mrs. Mac's will be zippered wet bags - I'm trying to do something innovative in that department... something different and unique that will be able to last you through more than one baby's cloth diaper life... So, we'll see... I was planning on launching the zippered wet bag in January, but *sigh* don't think that will be happening... But, soon, mamas!! Soon!!

ya know, I have a zippered pul bag that I've had for about 4 years I think. It was made by fiona'sdiaper or fionasfavorites. Something like that. Some of you may remember her. Anyway, it looks pretty simple to make, though it is flawless. This thing still looks great after 100+ washings! I think there is a great market for a simple zip wet bag (that is still affordable :lol), as I don't think I've seen any like that since then.

Jami · 12-17-2003, 08:23 AM

quote:
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ya know, I have a zippered pul bag that I've had for about 4 years I think
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geez! must've been a good bag... i've only purchased one zippered wet bag and i've been using it fairly often in a rotation of about 4 other drawstring bags and mine is falling apart... is that wahm still in business? do you have her email? i'd love to *pick her brain* about the zippered bags..

Freckle~Face · 12-17-2003, 08:41 AM

I've been a WAHM for almost 3 years (diapers first, then Garden Fresh Body) and I'm still waiting for success. My experience is that I've invested a ton of money and am desperately trying to break even, but I probably never will. In the spring we'll probably use whatever tax return we have to pay off the remaining business debt, sell off everything I have at cost (or try, anyway) and call it quits.

I'm glad to hear that others have a much better time of it! I think that just shows that it isn't "in the cards" for me and my life - God must have other plans for me that involve NOT running a business.

AnaYoga · 12-17-2003, 10:50 AM

Thanks for sharing everyone! Keep em coming...so interesting and inspiring too

Genevieve, I tried to click on your website, but it wasn't going there for some reason. What's the addy? Or is it down? I'm sorry you're having a rough time of it.

I'd like to see what it is you do...

Ana

Gypsylily · 12-17-2003, 11:15 AM

Well, I've tried a couple of things:

The easiest is to sell used baby items.

I also used to make mosaic tiled picture frames. Yes, people bought them (thank you!!!), but they were soooo hard to make (grout's a PITA to work with), shipping was high....and they were easily broken.

Then I tried to sell organic clothing, but didn't really try hard to do that. Some items I had for a year and just finally sold this summer for incredibly cheap prices. A lot of the clothes I gave to a pregnant friend who was into organics.

Let's see....I've seen some businesses which have stuck around for years: Kissaluvs (new owner), Luke's Drawer's (new owner), Stacinator, Araspants/Harmony Threads and Tami's Soaps. I would guess those women are/were turning profits, but please correct me if I am incorrect. LOL!

IMO? The easiest and best business is manufacturing cloth pads. I say this b/c you don't have to buy a ton of stuff to start up. You can buy some cheap, cheap flannel on clearance at Joanne's, a sewing machine from Goodwill (tune it up first), and start selling here at AW. From there, use those profits to put up a web site/meta-tags, serger, etc.

Oh, and you could use metal snaps at first instead of buying an expensive polactyl snap press.

Of course, some may not agree on the pads and there is always bull-crap (legal stuff, fussy customers, etc.) to deal with no matter what, but that one strikes me as a low-cost start up deal. And yes, I've sewn many, many pads (I began way back in 1997!) LOL! I still have those pads, too, and they are in surprisingly good condition.

ThirtySomething · 12-17-2003, 11:38 AM

I'm going to post what I just put up on our website.

Stacinator the company started at the very end of 1999 with some prototypes and swapping among friends. We established a business January 1, 2000. The fleece covers were our original product. In the beginning, I logged many hours at my sewing machine turning out covers as fast as I could. During the pregnancy of my second child, I realized that there was no way I could continue to do all the labor involved with producing covers. Since May, 2001, all diaper covers have been sewn by an excellent group of seamstresses. They are so important to me. I value them immensely. Without them, there would be no Stacinator cloth diaper covers. In September 2003, I added an assistant here in the office with me. She is an extraordinary woman and I'm proud to have her working here. So, what started as a one woman endeavor, has turned into a beautiful group of people turning out thousands of diaper covers per year. I am truly honored to have such wonderful people helping Stacinator grow and promote cloth diapering.

******
Now, to clarify a bit. I accidentally made it sound like fleece covers were orginally created by me. I'll have to fix that mistake. They were not my invention. What I meant was that the fleece covers were the first thing I made at Stacinator. The So Simple! and wool followed.

I've only worked out of a hole for a few months stretch. For the most part, I broke even those first 3 years. After the 3 year mark, things started changing. Now, I feel like I have a real shot at using this business to support our whole family. It may take a couple more years though.

I consider myself successful, but not because of money. I never had much ambition before this. To start something from the very beginning and take it to this point has been really satisfying. I have a point every year where I want to quit. However, overall, I am pleased with the company and what we have available. The super people working with me really lighten the load too. Then, there is the goal of my dh quitting his job (60-70 hr weeks) that motivates me too.

The only drawback to all of this is that now some people feel I am *too big* and somehow without feelings. I'm pretty thick-skinned, but I am still a person. I love to post here and I always feel like I can only represent my company and never really myself. Sometimes I feel like the supreme thread-killer too.

I love these kinds of stories too. Thank you for starting this thread.

maryalene · 12-17-2003, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Freckle~Face
I think that just shows that it isn't "in the cards" for me and my life - God must have other plans for me that involve NOT running a business.

I'm a WAHM failure too - I keep telling myself that it is just not ment to be, but I still feel bad about it. Maybe we should start a support group for former WAHMs.

Gypsylily · 12-17-2003, 12:09 PM

The only drawback to all of this is that now some people feel I am *too big* and somehow without feelings. I'm pretty thick-skinned, but I am still a person. I love to post here and I always feel like I can only represent my company and never really myself. Sometimes I feel like the supreme thread-killer too.

Not ME, Stacy!

I for one, am always soooo excited when I see that someone's business started with just themselves sewing and has moved onto a new level with seamstresses and office help! WOW!

I think that's WONDEFUL!

Can I ask how many folks sew for you and if they are local? Do you need a sitter for your 3 while you are working?

mamabear · 12-17-2003, 12:39 PM

I began making Bear Bottoms in June of 1999. We had just moved up to Alaska, and Aristocrats were the only thing working for us. I loved the pull-on soaker style but wanted something easy care, so I played around with fleece and came up with my design. I posted on Amity's for 12 testers, and the rest is history. From that moment I have been struggling to keep up with demand!

I still sew everything myself. When we moved to Florida in early 2000, I had a period of time where I shut the business down due to morning sickness and overall poor health for me during the pregnancy. Didn't help that dh was working 80+ hour weeks and I was working about 30, pregnant and unwell, with a 1 year old. We came here to run a bagel store/coffeehouse and I was doing the books. So the biz took a back seat for a while...then Jake was born and I lost tons of blood and was sick...then the bagel store was sold and dh was unemployed...then Jake was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in July 2001. It has been a bit of a roller coaster! We have had just about every major life stress you can imagine, all packed into under 2 years.

All that to say, that is part of why after almost 5 years in business, I am still kind of "small." I took a big break there, and for a very long time was doing only in-stock. I felt like I was disappointing customers, and was e-mailed constantly for a while with questions, which I always answered overly optimistic about when I'd be able to sew significant stock again.

Then things finally calmed down and I began taking orders and rebuilding my business. I added Herbalmama.com, because I love crafting with herbs and had some good recipes I wanted to share. Genevieve - my sales at Herbal Mama are pretty low, always have been. I wonder if it's the nature of the herb/body product biz that it is difficult to get going? More so than dipes or clothes, I think. I just keep doing it because I love it, but honestly I think I am losing money on it...and then I have to clear out stock before it gets spoiled. It's a tough biz to run because of that. I also can't buy at the quantities needed to lower prices, which I know would help sales. And I insist on buying only very high-quality, organic herbs that cost about twice as much as the cheap stuff (but are very much worth it, I think!).

I'm writing a book! Sorry. Anyway, I stopped taking custom orders for Bear Bottoms because once again, I had a hard time keeping up with demand. I decided to wholesale them only because it is much easier for me to sit down and do a big order and put it in one bag and ship it, than to handle dozens of small orders, the printing of receipts, packing, shipping, etc.

I am very happy with where I am - I have several thriving wholesale accounts and just the right amount of work. I don't know that I will "grow" any bigger, because I am in massage therapy school and moving in that direction. I plan on offering all kinds of massage-related items to clients and fellow LMT's, though, and doubtless they will find their way to Dancing Bears.

And I know that if at any point, I want to grow bigger, I can do it.

Fun thread. Thanks everyone for sharing!