So many times a newborn baby can lead a mom to a venture. With a restless baby that startled easily, Karen Barski had tried everything she could find at the baby stores and on line but nothing worked, We swaddled Bella but she unraveled herself within 15 minutes…ALL NIGHT LONG. Time and time again, I found her red and sweaty with the swaddle over her face. Out of frustration, Karen Barski, got out her sewing machine and created a stretchy sack that gave her baby some room to move, but kept her snuggled. And it worked. Bella, who was five weeks premature, slept through the night and Karen and her husband were able to get some much needed rest.
Her other mom friends were having the same issue, so she began to offer her new invention as a baby gift. By chance, a friend knew someone in the manufacturing business and Karen reached out. Self funding her first order was scary, but selling only on line in the beginning, the stock was gone in a matter of months. Other companies have tried to copy the swaddle, but Karen’s design is ergonomically shaped like a peanut to better fit with a baby’s body.
Karen created two lines, the Woombie Line first, which is cotton, very practical and affordable. And then the Mod’ Swad, a higher end version of eco’friendly baby swaddles, made from a variety of organic and sustainable fibers including heathered Bamboo, Muslin, Cotton & Merino Wool. The upscale line offers a vintage look with flair.
The e-commerce site went live in 2007. Karen used Google’s Adwords Pay Per Click Campaigns and keywords to help people find her. Imagine a mom with a crying newborn, on-line at 3am searching newborn, swaddle, and sleep – she would find Karen’s site and was sold. And they sold – each consecutive order of inventory doubled. In just five years, the Woombie is sold in over 1000 stores nationwide and the Mod’Swad can be found in 200 baby boutiques. Karen says, “We just got placed in West Los Angeles at the Bel Bambino store, so we hope Mod’ Swad will be seen on a famous baby soon.”
With a warehouse, Karen has several on staff to pack and ship orders. But she still works from home and sets her own hours around her five kids’ schedules. My twins go to preschool this fall so I’ll have at least three free hours a day to work.
She enjoys the creative aspect of the business the most, Seeing a product go from an idea to something that can help new parents is so rewarding. On her first trip to China to oversee production she took her then 16 year old daughter with her. “My oldest daughter is now off to college. I think she appreciates the entrepreneurial side of what I do and is inspired to have her own business one day too.
Contact: Karen Barski, 203-660-4440, [email protected], www.woombie.com, www.modswad.com
VentureMom Tip
If you create something that clearly fills a need, go for it.
