Tori Samuel is an illustrator who created drawings around letters. She made baby gifts spelling out the name of the new born with her innovative letter drawings. When Daphne saw Tori’s creations she had an idea. “Tori’s work was so unique and well received, I felt there was an opportunity to create our own line of stationery.”

Because Daphne had been retailing lines, she knew what was needed when launching her own. They decided to partner as the demand for Tori’s designs gained steam. Tori’s husband scanned the hand drawn images and Daphne created a book to showcase the letters from A to Z as well as the other icons she has created over the years, so customers would choose their own.

Developing ready-made note cards with the drawings, Daphne learned the software application needed to print her own cards. They dubbed their new line Whale Island Press, as a nod to Nantucket where they met and vacationed as children. Getting orders from several stores in the area, Daphne was ready to scale. So not only do they offer ready -made cards, the stores showcased their book of letters so shoppers can place custom orders.

With the advent of on-line invites, Daphne has seen the stationery business change. Companies adapted by adding other products or they closed. She has adapted by offering Whale Island Press custom designs and on-line designs.

When asked what she likes about her venture, Daphne says, “Helping someone create the perfect card or gift and being involved from beginning to end is very satisfying. ” Believing in the hand written note, she says, “It’s the heartfelt hand written card that people keep, you find it in a box years later because it was so meaningful.” Daphne is teaching her own children, 11 and 13 years old, how to write a thoughtful letter whether its thanks, congratulations or condolences.

And with her one of-a-kind creations, she is providing the stationery for letter writers to keep the tradition alive in a beautiful way.

Contact: info@whaleislandpress.com Be sure to tell them VentureMom sent you.

VentureMom Tip
When an industry changes, change with it.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Using some of her grandmother’s recipe, Michelle developing an assortment of tasty cookies. In 2009, she began to get requests for batches from friends and family. Michelle thought, why not make this a real business venture, and at first looked into selling baked goods at the local farmer’s market. She then realized to do that she’d need a license for her home kitchen, then she’d need a commercial kitchen to grow, then she’d need helpers….she thought, “If you give a mouse a cookie….” literally.

“It happened organically.” Her first outside sale came when a friend who owned a car wash, asked for an assortment of cookies for the counter. A customer whose husband owns a specialty food store came to get her car washed, loved the product, told her husband and Michelle got her first wholesale order. Other orders came from that exposure and she soon realized that she wanted to be “all in.” Her baking business became wholesale before she ever made it to the farmer’s market. That’s how good her cookies, bars and pastries are.

And what to name her new business. Michelle kept coming back to how she describes her baked goods, sweet and simple. So Sweet & Simple is her name like the daisy in her logo.

The next step was a store front. Michelle had explored several locations but none worked out until one day she found the perfect place in February of this year in Fairfield. “Running a neighborhood bakery has always been a dream of mine.” Signing the lease she knew there was no looking back and she says, “I didn’t want to look back and say I never tried.”

It’s a huge commitment, sometimes she works 17 hour days. “Once I get my processes in order, it will get easier, but it’s been an adjustment for the family.” Michelle’s kids are 9, 11 and 12. What makes her baked goods so good? One taste of her iced shortbread cookie and you know. She makes brownies, Danish and muffins, too, and her cakes are a favorite for celebrations but order early. She may offer coffee in the bakery soon too.

“It’s been a hurdle but I’m doing this for me. And the neighborhood has been so supportive, especially the women.” Michelle now has three baker’s helpers and high school kids working in the afternoons. With plans to add more to her on line array of goodies, she may also write a cookbook. “Many of the recipes I use are from my grandmother and my mom says she’s probably smiling down on me from heaven, so proud that I brought my dream to life.”

Contact: info@sweetandsimple.com

VentureMom Tip
Sometimes you have to go “all in.”

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Allyson remembers thinking that there had to be a better way for people who have had babies to share their favorite “go-to” items with their friends? With more than 4 million first child babies born in the US each year, she started thinking, “If something like this doesn’t exist, maybe I should create it.” She shared her thoughts with her husband and they agreed the idea had enormous potential.

When the couple visited with a college friend, Melissa Post, who was on bed rest, pregnant with twins at the time, they told her what they wanted to do. Melissa’s first response was: “Are you sure something like this doesn’t already exist?” She then proceeded to share her experience trying to prepare for her daughters’ arrival, which was remarkably similar to Ally’s. After walking into Buy Buy Baby and starting up at a wall of baby bottles made up of at least 10 brands she’d never heard of (what was Dr. Brown’s?), she texted 5 friends who’d recently had babies and asked, “What bottles do I register for?”

With her extra time on bed rest, Melissa had spent countless hours researching products online and reaching out to friends who were already moms trying to figure out what she needed. One by one, Melissa’s mom friends would each send a list of their tried and true choices for bottles, wipes, strollers, car seats, carriers, breast pumps, pacifiers and everything else a new mom would need. She was inundated with documents to review, but had no idea how to organize all of the information into anything that made sense or helped her to navigate this incredibly overwhelming process.

The three began to see some real synergy in what they could do together. Before bed rest, Melissa had spent several years working for American Express in web site development, and knew she was facing a 2 hour commute (each way) again after the twins were born. Almost immediately after talking to Jack and Ally, Melissa knew she wanted to get involved in some way, and there was no turning back.

So, they started to build what is now called weeSpring, a platform for new and expecting parents to share recommendations with their friends on baby products. weeSpring provides a very simple way for users to rate baby products- “love, regret, have, or want” – and encourages users to invite their friends.

Ally, Melissa and Jack validating their idea by sending out a survey to 50 parents to gauge their interest in sharing their favorite products with their friends. They now have over 20,000 product ratings and over 4,000 users since going live in January, 2013. Melissa said, “We used Facebook to tap into the mommy network. Everyone wanted to help new moms with advice and our user ratings grew to several thousand in just a month. We knew we were onto something.”

Allyson says, “It’s your friends who will tell you what you shouldn’t buy and what doesn’t work. Being a new parent is expensive enough, without buying things you don’t need. ”

Though weeSpring was primarily self-funded at the outset, they have some initial outside investment which has enabled them to take their product to the next level. Allyson is now the company’s CEO, Jack the COO, and Melissa leads the community. They also have a female technical co-founder, Madeline, who helped bring the weeSpring vision to life.

weeSpring has acquired users through a variety of strategies, including contests, relationships with mommy bloggers and manufacturers, and Facebook (90% of new moms use social media!). One early user deemed weeSpring “The Cliff Notes for Babies” and many others have said “I wish I had this when I was pregnant.” When asked about a revenue stream, Allyson and Melissa feel that if they get the web experience right, the revenue will come. Whether from ad sales, product placement, data sales to manufacturers, gift registry or something else, with their numbers, the possibilities are endless.

Having just been chosen as one of 11 start-up companies, out of 1700 entries, by TechStars NYC, a start-up acceleration program this spring, weeSpring is on its way. Melissa shares: “It is exciting and scary at the same time, but we have a strong sense of what we want this to become. We plan to stay true to what we believe in, and we’ll see where it goes.” Seems they are on the right spring board for success.

Contact: www.weespring.com,
VentureMom Tip
Validate your idea with actual users.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Raquel’s design process is personalized and custom for each client. “One of my strengths as a designer is to find artisans who make unique pieces of furniture and accessories rather than source for my clients from the usual vendor’s.” Raquel works to visually articulate what her clients are expressing as the aesthetic they want in their homes. When asked what her favorite design project was, she points to a home on the water that became the cover shot for Fairfield Magazine, March / April 2013 issue.

Raquel wanted to use that personalized custom principal in her jewelry designs. She started by sourcing materials. “I have been very lucky to meet accomplished jewelers in the jewelry district in New York City. One person in particular can interpret my designs perfectly .” Using 14 karat rose gold for the puzzle piece, she officially became a jewelry designer two years ago. Each piece is handmade using waxed cotton cord, pave diamonds, oxidized sterling silver and 18 or 22 karat gold. Raquel says, “I create my jewelry to evoke peace from within and empower the soul of the person wearing it. ”

A relationship with a local design store, Dovecote in Westport and it’s owner Sarah Kaplan, gave Raquel her first retail exposure with her jewelry creations. “Sarah has added a jewel box of a space connected to her shop. When she saw the things I created and wore myself, she asked me to place some pieces in the new jewelry space. ” Raquel also has other designs including horns and crosses and is coming out with new collections that will be available soon.

Her exercise regimen then helped her branch out even more. Raquel loves the Tracy Anderson Method and frequently exercises in the New York City studio. When Tracy saw her necklaces, she wanted them for herself. This relationship exposed her jewelry designs to high profile celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian and Sally Pressman. Raquel is currently working on an inspirational word disc for Christy Turlington’s fundraiser, Every Mother Counts, which educates women in third world countries in maternal care. “I created a disc inscribed with words of empowerment and meaning. I love how this piece connects to the charity it was created for. ”

What’s the best part of her new venture? “Designing rooms is extremely fulfilling but creating something that I can hold in my hands and wear is really meaningful.” Her girl’s are proud of her and even ask her to make things for their teachers and friends. “I feel like I’m doing the thing that I’m supposed to be doing and that’s a great feeling.”

Contact: raquel@raquelgarciadesign.com
Find Raquel’s creations in the VentureMom Shop

Venture Mom Tip:

Use your current talent to create a new venture in a new area.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Pam quickly realized how confusing and stressful the drill can be. Most high school counselors are very competent but many work with too many children to give each the extensive, individualized attention students need. Pam also discovered, like most moms of teenagers, that many kids have a hard time listening to a parent’s advice on when to write the dreaded essay or hearing constructive comments about the deadlines. Having a counselor to ease that relationship and move the child forward can provide a huge advantage and relieve some of the stress families face.

Training involved a 6 course on-line certification program in college counseling through UCLA and a 4 day seminar given by the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) of which Pam is a member. This group holds regular seminars for members and sponsors visits to 20 -30 colleges a year.

With this education, Pam was able to secure an internship with a local private college consulting firm which consisted of 65 hours over a 9 week period. She says, “This really opened my eyes and gave me the valuable hands on experience I needed to have my own consulting service.” And this training was all manageable while Pam’s three kids were in school during the day.

Whether you have an athlete, an academic or just an average kid trying to find the right fit, a college counselor can ease the stress and take the guesswork out of the process. Pam will work on an hourly basis or provide the entire search process to a student, which includes coursework suggestions, testing recommendations, college lists, common application completion, essay ideas and editing, a timeline and interview prep. Her strengths lie in recruited athletes and helping with essays where her editing background serves her well.

Pam was able to take her own experience and form a venture around that. She had wanted to go back to work or form a venture now that her children are close to leaving the house for college. Now with her two oldest in college and a 10th grader who’s starting to look, she finds fulfillment assisting others. Pam says, “This is a great independent venture that provides a new crop of clients each year.”

Contact: pkpik@optonline.net, 203-984-6837, www.pamelakpik.com
Now in the VentureMom Shop, be sure to mention VentureMom when you contact Pam.

VentureMom Tip
Choose a venture with a built in client base that continues to replenish each year.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

But she was now a recognized nutritional author.  Four years later when her twins were born, her second book, Bread is the Devil, was put out.  “I like to say that over the last 12 years, I’ve helped 1000s of people lose 1000s of pounds.”   Her third book she co wrote with Margaret McBride, Live Your Life, Not Your Diet.  It focused on helping people who were always on the go, eat a healthier diet.

“One day my husband was looking through the book and at all the products I recommended and said I should find a way to monetize the product suggestions I was making in the book.”  Heather had always suggested various food products to her clients and she began to formulate an idea around this concept of picking products.

“It’s 4pm, do you know where you snack is?”  She realized that her clients needed healthy portable foods, so why not put a box together with specific products and have the client pay a subscription price to have the box delivered to their homes.  Aha – Heather now had an idea that she could expand to the masses.

Each month, Heather and her team of health and diet experts carefully curate 5 product samples that have caught their attention.  Items like nutrition bars, snacks, breakfast cereals, and supplements are just a few of the categories considered – everything from fig bars, to coconut butter, to melt-able zinc vitamins, to spicy olives.  “We like to think of ourselves as match makers, introducing our clients to brands they will love!”

Launching in March 2012, Heather named her new service, Bestowed, as in, giving a gift.  Building relationships with over 50 brands was her first step.  Then it was time to market her service.

Visiting Doctors offices, gyms and spa, the word spread and people loved the idea – subscriptions began to pour in.  “My husband was a huge supporter and gave me input along the way.” Her fresh and inspiring approach to healthy eating has landed her on Good Morning America, CNN, CBS, The Talk, Access Hollywood Live and The Tyra Banks Show.  She also has regular columns on The Huffington Post and US News & World Report where she covers the latest trends in diet, health and nutrition.

Heather adds inserts with healthy eating tips to her Bestowed boxes.  “I believe this can be really huge.  I’ve always been an entrepreneur and this is an idea that can grow.”  She says there are big ups and big downs and it can be extremely challenging working for yourself, but it’s worth it.

Contact:   heather@nu-train.com,  www.bestowed.com

VentureMom Tip

Think of a way to scale your service venture to the masses.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Topics will include picking the right name, marketing, and using social media to build your brand. The panel will consist of several local venturemoms. Audience members who have venture ideas will be chosen to pitch their project and get feedback from the panel.

Panelists include!
Joanna Rein – Soggy Doggy Doormat
Cherly MacClusky – E Oil
Kim Genzburg – Stick Storage
Michelle Jaffee – Sweet & Simple
Raquel Garcia – Jewelry Designer

Holly Hurd is the founder of VentureMom.com, a web site devoted to covering moms who have their own businesses. Holly has interviewed hundreds of moms in all areas making her uniquely qualified to speak on entrepreneurship for the small start up. Her web site offers a free newsletter and the VentureMom Shop which showcases the products and services of many of the moms she covers.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

Returning to her office, Darcy sat down across from her partner at the executive recruiting firm where she worked and commented that she wasn’t ready to be the mother of a teen-aged driver. She said “I wish there were something that would stop kids from using their phones while driving.” A light bulb went off for these two parents. Initially thinking along the lines of a chip in the phone and a chip in the license plate, Darcy and her partner began their research. As recruiters, they knew how to find the right people for the right jobs. They contacted a team of software engineers and created a plan to develop a GPS based phone application that would turn a phone off when it was traveling at more than 5 mph.

“Sending your child out the door with a set of keys is frightening enough without the thought of them being distracted by talking or texting on the phone. Phones are a lifeline to teens, they can’t help themselves; they feel they must answer.” Darcy learned that 7000 teens die every year in auto accidents and there is a fatal crash every 14 minutes. “If our application shut out those distractions – no texting, no talking, no checking Facebook, no tweeting – we would have something valuable.” Darcy and her partner discovered there was a large market of teenagers and mobile workforces that could use this application.

To help validate her idea, Darcy put together an advisory board that included Senators Bob Kerrey and Tom Daschle. With funding from friends, family and angel investors, a start-up team was assembled in Massachusetts, a hotbed of technology talent. After a successful beta test of the application, IZUP, (pronounced Eyes Up) was born. Some ask, what if you have the application and you are a passenger in a car and your phone turns off. Darcy suggests a novel idea, “Why not have a real conversation as a family on the way to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving?” IZUP does offer a password protected override and allows calls to preselected numbers and 911.

The company, Illume Software, is working with insurance companies to offer discounts for drivers who use the application. Expansion plans include international markets and additional uses for their location based technology. With a 9 member team running the company, Darcy is free to focus on getting the word out about IZUP. As the Vice President of Public Affairs, she spends her time hosting events around the country for teens, parents and others. Still working as an executive recruiter, Darcy splits her time between the two companies. Her children ages 20, 18 and 13, often attend presentations and serve on the teen advisory board of the company.

From the idea to her first sale took 3 and half years. “There have been many ups and down and mistakes along the way. You have to have a lot of grit and desire to bring your idea to life. Sometimes you feel like you’re at the edge of a cliff but if one life is saved by our application, it will all be worth it.”

Contact: getizup.com

VentureMom Tip
Create something you see a need for.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

“I’ve always been a health nut and practiced yoga every day.” Cheryl discovered that over 4000 years ago, the Greeks used essential oils for medicinal purposes. She also didn’t like the list of chemicals she found in the beauty products she was using every day. So she decided to create her own line of skin care products and began with the oils.

Doing her research took over a year and half but using cold pressed avocado oil as her base, Cheryl created emotional and physical oils. “Avocado oil is a natural moisturizer that can be scented with natural fragrances that effect one’s emotional and physical well being.” The emotional eOil addresses happiness. The physical eOils address anti-aging, anti inflammation, circulation, and toning. Creating a logo, she used a dragonfly on her label to symbolize peace, happiness and new beginnings.

Cheryl says, “The oils are organic, paraben-free and contain no chemicals. They have a renewing effect on your skin and the natural anti oxidants in the oils, fight against dry, dull, inflamed skin. ” And she believes that the aromatic benefits of the essential oils are absorbed through smell to help feed the body, mind and soul. The line also has scrubs in all of the scents .

EOils and scrubs were first given to Cheryl’s friends and family so she could get feedback. They loved the product and wanted more. She then reached out to massage therapists, healthcare professionals and spas and the orders came in. With this overwhelmingly positive response, Cheryl now plans to expand her line to include toners, cream and lotions under the name Younger You. She says, “I realized that there was a need for a natural skin care line.” With a production company in New Jersey, she’s ready for growth.

Getting a friend to help with her web site and a college intern to help with fulfilling orders, eOil is on the way to becoming a known brand in the field of natural beauty products. The eOil will even be seen in an upcoming film with Diane Keaton – who herself is a naturalist and Cheryl hopes will love the product, “That would be a great endorsement.”

Contact: www.theeoil.com, cheryl@theeoil.com

VentureMom Tip
Take notice of what your friends are using and why.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.

With several ideas on the front burner, Christina explored all of her options. She wanted flexibility given that she has 9-year-old boy/girl twins and a 12-year-old daughter. She focused on what she knew best—writing, networking and helping people get their name out there. “I thought to myself, ‘Why don’t I start my own public relations firm and hone in locally?’” Christina came up with a plan to reach out to a few select businesses she felt she could help. She says, “Small firms and shops are so overwhelmed with the day-to -day operations that they don’t usually have time for marketing, PR, and social media. That’s where I come in.”

Christina is no PR novice. She is part of a growing trend of journalists turned publicists, as many of the skills are compatible. In addition, she co-authored a book, Twin Set: Moms of Multiples Share Survive and Thrive Secrets (The Crown Publishing Group, 2008) and successfully helped promote it across all media platforms, both nationally and locally.

Garnering two local clients to start in January of 2013, Christina was energized and excited about her new venture. Her next step was to form a company called Sea Glass Communications LLC. Using her connections and business relationships, she has gotten great media placement for her growing client base.

Her work process involves sitting with a new client to understand their goals. “We work out a wish list for increased visibility, and then I get started to make it happen.” For client, Flair Fitness Darien, Christina helped plan a grand opening party and had photographers and press people in attendance. “I also help this client with Facebook, social media, and customer communications.” Another client is A Little Something White Bridal Couture. Christina is working to make this high-end shop the go-to place for white dresses in a 100-mile radius and hopes to get the salon press in national magazines such as Martha Stewart Weddings and The Knot.

And Christina feels she can grow her business as her kids grow. Her aim is to highlight a client in the media to show the world their passion about what they do. “My value-add is in crafting a client’s story to help them attract sales and grow their brand.” Plus, since she has worked in both national and local media, she understands what editors and reporters are looking for in a story.

Contact: www.seaglasscommunications.com; seaglasscommunications@gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/SeaGlassCommunications; twitter: seaglasscomm

VentureMom Tip
If a full time job working for someone else if not right for you now, create your own venture in the same field.

©2013 VentureMom. All Rights Reserved.