amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Shoshoni · 03-07-2004, 03:13 PM

I am about to be the proud new owner of a wahm company.
I am really nervous. I will be taking some sewing courses, and probably only sell mamapads and wipes to start off with.
I have some cool business ideas that I haven't seen anywhere else yet, and I am hoping it will all work out.
I need to learn to sew better before I will sew diapers yet, and I might have a wahm sew my dipes for me with my private label until I get the hang of things.
Any advice for a newbie?

fairyglitterbug · 03-07-2004, 07:50 PM

Yes! I am totally freaked out right now! I am just starting out too! Any advice would be great! I'm pretty confident with my sewing skills since I have been sewing since high school! But just the other aspects of selling makes me nervous! LOL! And legalities and stuff, KWIM?

Shoshoni · 03-07-2004, 07:56 PM

I need to work on my sewing, but when I buy the serger, it is free classes for it, and then a mom here volunteered to help me learn also, which is wonderful.
I think I will do ok for the mamapads and the nursing pads, doublers....I won't sell anything unless it is my best.

martinanne · 03-10-2004, 09:56 AM

My advice would be to try not to succumb to fabric addiction. Spending all your profits on more and more fabric and building a huge stash can be counter-productive (believe me, I've learned this the hard way).

It's helpful to choose a FEW main fabrics and then buy those in bulk (from wherever you can get the BEST price). Those would be the fabrics you use for the absorbent layers. If you're going to buy cute prints for the outer layer, then try to limit yourself (or just buy a yard or two of each).

The profit margin in this type of business tends to be very small. So you really want to be aware of that from the very beginning and don't go nuts buying more supplies than you need.

Also, the market for diapers is pretty saturated right now, so if you do sell diapers I highly recommend you look for opportunities to spread the word and expand the market (like putting up fliers or your biz card in local OB/GYN offices, etc... or advertising in your local area). The online diapering community is relatively small for the large number of diaper WAHMs and sales can be few and far between. But if we could just tap into more mainstream moms and turn them onto cloth, then there would be more than enough business for all of us. So that's something to be aware of so when an opportunity to spread the word presents itself, you can seize it.

tickled-pink · 04-06-2004, 01:52 AM

I would agree with the post before me. I can't believe how many moms out there make and sell cloth diapers and many of them make it their only product! Look at topkitty.com (not sure if that is the exact site or not). How on earth do you make money?? Such small market to begin with... Any mom who is doing well by this should teach a course on how to run a profitable biz.

My advice is: broaden your product line, big-time. I'm very interested to know what your ideas are. When you are ready to share.... !

Maybe find some friends who are not web-saavy and sell their items on your site. They'll be grateful to have the opportunity to reach a broader market and might give you a nice percentage of the sale. Go to them first before you go to other wahms that have websites.

I'd suggest making simple dresses out of funky fabric and buttons. Women love doting on their girls and simple dresses are easy to make. Just about every mom of a girl puts her in dresses from time to time, but lots of moms don't use cloth diapers.

I used cloth for a time and I loved the velcro diapers at Baby Love in Camrose, Alberta. (Well, as much as I am capable of loving a cloth diaper.) www.kidalog.com Don't know if their design is patented but I think so. You could do something similar. You need to stand out from the crowd of 50 or so other moms doing cloth diapers. Velcro is faster than snaps to close. It never wears out (though I hear those resin snaps are great and definitely pretty!!). If you simply close the tabs, you don't have to worry about clogging up the velcro over time with lint, though it is fast and easy to de-clog. Kidalog also carries nikki pants. They are diaper pants made of wool that have a really cool double layer thing going on. Wool will absorb 30% moisture before feeling wet to the touch. Not that I have been looking, but I haven't seen similar pants anywhere else.

I saw one site that makes diapers out of all different kinds of fabrics. Recycling sweaters and stuff. I LOVE that idea! They were very cool.

And yes, it can be very scary. Fortunately, you are venturing into a market where buyers are also moms and, as such, are generally forgiving of mistakes you may make along the way.

I wish you and all the moms here success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Natasha.

Shoshoni · 04-06-2004, 05:37 PM

I made my own pad pattern this past weekend

They are pocket pads, and unique. (I think) I sure hope they are a success. I haven't gotten my materials to start the sewing for the business yet, but I made personal ones out of materials just hanging around. I think they are comfy!

DoodleBabies · 04-13-2004, 03:22 AM

I was very nervous at first. The start up costs were overwhelming. The advice I can give is start out small. Don't try to carry everything possible. Just carry a couple of things and build on that profit until you get a nice selection in your store.

There were times when I just wanted to quit and forget about this whole wahm business stuff but I'm glad I didn't! Heiny King has grown into a really nice business that is actually doing very well now. I am really impressed with how this year is going so far and am so happy that I didn't quit.

Good luck in your new business venture!

Dreambaby · 04-15-2004, 12:40 PM

i think it is partly the nervousness that makes it so exciting though! Makes it a fun challenge! Good luck to you!

mommabee · 04-15-2004, 01:45 PM

I'm so excited to be getting started myself! I have a few questions though... Did you moms get a business license and a tax id number? How are you handling taxes? Also, I'm looking for a cheap, but very good, web host that also helps with design since I have no idea what to do there. Sorry to hijack, but this might help others too.
Thanks!
~B

Oh, I agree with the starting out small and only buying fabric you need to begin with. Luckily I already have a pretty good stash, but I still have to stop myself at Jo-Ann everytime I go in there

Dreambaby · 04-15-2004, 04:23 PM

Depending on what state you are in, the laws could be different, but most states are really good about letting you know. For example, WI, where I am, has a small business wizard online that walks you through what you need to file. For me, in WI, because I am a sole proprietor, I only have had to file a Doing Business As form so far. That was fairly simple. You may have to get a resale license if you want to resale anything, but for a sole proprietor it is usually fairly simple. Check out your state's site if they have one!

For Webhosting I use WAHMshoppes. $7 a month. Has 4 options-ranging from building completely from a template to building it mostly yourself. Has a cart built in, adds products automatically, etc. so I like it!