Melissa DeMordaunt and Krista Lewis put their feet down and decided to be stay-at-home-moms. When faced with the dilemma of working a day job and being away from home, DeMordaunt’s mind was made up. She candidly said, “Flexibility is the main advantage. Once we became mothers, neither of us wanted to be tied to an hourly job or a place where someone else was dictating our schedule. We love that being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you work less hours, it just allows us to be mamas for our day job. We get to continue to utilize our minds and education, interact with people, and improve our creative and problem-solving skills. It is the best of both worlds.”
In November 2006, they joined forces and started SnugaBug. They weren’t aspiring entrepreneurs at the time (DeMordaunt has a degree in social work and Lewis has a nursing degree). But when the idea for the Warmsie® came, they ran with it.
Personal mantra?
DeMordaunt: Great things come in small packages (we are both 5′1″)
Business mantra?
DeMordaunt: NGU–”Never Give Up.”
Tell us about your product and what it was like to take an idea from concept to getting it up and running.
DeMordaunt: What all mindful parents need for their babies-on-board is a base layer. The Warmsie is all about function and style. We have made a onesie and pant set out of a soft, high-tech wicking fabric for babies and toddlers. A thin layer that will pull moisture away from babies’ skin; something a baby can wear under regular clothes, replacing the onesie. Each set is trimmed with a contrasting print making them chic so that it isn’t ” just” an under layer.
We have learned so much throughout the process of turning our idea into a real product and creating a business based on that product. It was significantly harder than we thought it would be, but much more rewarding than we imagined it could be.
Originally, we were naïve in thinking that we would be in business once we secured the specialty fabric, came up with a pattern, designed the look and got them into stores. True, those were the major issues, but the real work and time went into the minutiae. The topics where we donned our problem-solving-creative-NGU (never give up) hats were in the details: hang tags, branding, packaging for stores, size tags, logo, packaging for our own retail site sales, designing, thread color, waistband size, website, product pictures, return policy, marketing. Phew. The list goes on.
Was there a turning point for you when you knew you could succeed with your business idea? DeMordaunt: Originally, we made the Warmsie sets ourselves. At the point where keeping up on orders cut too much into our time as mothers, we searched for a manufacturer. Walking into a factory and seeing a large room full of seamstresses all working hard on Warmsies was a eureka moment for us. It hit us. “Wow, we have created a product and now others are working on our invention!” It was incredibly exciting.
What tips can you give others who want to embrace their dream, but don’t feel they have the confidence to move forward?
DeMordaunt: Talk to people about your idea. Getting positive feedback was key to our confidence in starting SnugaBug and creating the Warmsie. Once you have made your decision to go forward, jump in with both feet. Success will depend on the energy and persistence you put into your idea. Never give up.
How did you get financing for your company?
DeMordaunt: We have self-funded and boot-strapped to this point.
How long did it take before your business became profitable?
DeMordaunt: We were profitable our first year.
What resources were most helpful to you when you were starting your business? DeMordaunt: Willing and able friends. We have received so much help from family and friends. The StartUp Princess organization has also been very helpful.
What’s next?
DeMordaunt: Bigger sizes, new products and more stores.
Applause to Melissa DeMordaunt and Krista Lewis for being inspiring role models. Do you have a personal mantra that you would like to share with us? Or something that helped you get through tough times? If so, let us know. In fact, whatever is on your mind we want to know and we want to continue supporting your dream. Holla back! Cheers, Michelle Anton
This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 8:48 am and is filed under Starting a Business, Growing a Business, Women in Business, Make It Up. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.2 Responses to “Home Biz Versus Day Care”
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March 25th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I love your Personal mantra:)! Great story too. Thanks for sharing Melissa. After our cold, long winter we have gotten a ton of use out of our SnugaBug, it is great!
Sincerely, Heather
www.mom4life.com
March 27th, 2008 at 10:44 am
What a wonderful inspiring story! Starting a business can be the most rewarding exercise anyone can undertake. Melissa and Krista have discovered the secret to success is persistance and perserverance!
Congrats!
If you want to put your own inspiration to work, you’ll find ideas, and free resources from experts willing to help you succeed at http://www.home-based-business-development-center.com