Spotlight on Mom Entrepreneurs
Spotlight on Mom Entrepreneur: Rhonda Sparks, founder of UVSkinz
There are so many reasons why I wanted to talk to this Mom Entrepreneur. First, the product - UVSkinz - swim shirts and shorts with UPF 50 protective fabric - is something I am familiar with, having seen my son run around all summer in the one we purchased at Costco. Second, the cause that the founder, Rhonda Sparks, is so committed to for personal and, shall I say, maternal reasons - of protecting our children from the harmful UV rays. Finally, it's the entrepreneurial spirit that I know will help this company prosper. Perhaps, this is how all ideas with staying power are born - there is a need, there is an inspiration, and there is something great to offer. Read my interview with Rhonda Sparks, founder of UVSkinz, to get a look into the life of this Mom with big ideas.
You started UV Skinz when you lost your 32-year-old husband to melanoma. How did you come up with the idea and what gave you the strength to push through?
Darren was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) at the age of 27 and we had two little boys (and added a third boy a few years later). We would take the kids to Hawaii each year since they were little and on one of these trips we discovered ‘rash guards’. Since we had this ‘heightened awareness’ from Darren’s skin cancer incident, we would put the boys in rash guards for more sun protection than just lathering on the sun screen every couple of hours. They weren’t ideal as they were made of heavier fabric and were very skin tight (as a traditional rash guard wasn’t made for sun protection but more for ‘chaffing’ and irritation the surfers would get while on their surfboards). But, because of the rash guards (and their inadequacies), the whole concept of using a protective fabric rather than sunscreen lotion came to be. Darren and I purchased the URL ‘UV Skinz’ years before his death, in hopes of creating this company together, but ultimately, we spent the last few years of his life fighting his disease and unfortunately losing the battle on September 14, 2001 (just three days after the September 11th tragedy with the Twin Towers). After a few years of grieving and taking care of our three little boys (they were 1, 3, and 6 at the time of his passing), I decided to take back up the challenge of starting the company. UV Skinz became ‘official’ in 2005.
What gave me the strength to ‘push through’ were the three boys and Darren’s spirit. From our experience, we knew how much innocent ignorance there was about how dangerous a sun burn could truly be. I wanted to help change that ignorance by raising awareness on the need for proper sun protection.
Interview with the founder of Sacs of Life
The green movement is miles ahead since it first started. Virtually everyone recycles, but how many re-use? If you've tried bringing your own bags to the grocery store, you know it's not always practical to carry enough for a family grocery trip. Sacs of Life are going to change this. Invented by a stylish and eco-friendly mom, Annette Ferber Adelman, it's a product that will re-invent how we shop. Carrying a giant diaper bag, I know there is always something extra to bring when you are out with kids, so seeing Sacs of Life on HSN immediately sparked my interest. I asked Annette a few questions about her smart invention and the effect it's had on her life.
How did you come up with the idea for Sacs of Life?
It all started when I realized that as a mother of 4, I could not do my grocery shopping without leaving the store with plastic bags. No matter how many reusable bags I brought in with me, I always needed more. They were so bulky and inconvenient to carry, they were not attractive (therefore I always forgot them in my car) and they just were not user friendly. I was determined to come up with "systems" – for every kind of shopper – that will help people make that transition of moving away from plastic – with STYLE and EASE. I started designing – and haven’t slept since then. Such a consumer void that I am confident I will fill. We need to be responsible – I wanted to make it easy!
Interview with the founders of Jack's Harvest
Have you ever tried baby food that you actually enjoyed yourself and maybe even used in a recipe for adults? No chuckles please, it exists. I recently discovered "Jack's Harvest" - organic baby food that is infused with delicious herbs and spices. There are plenty of organics on the market but I think that the flavor combinations and the audacity to use interesting spices is what makes this brand unique. Heather Schoenrock and Connie Pope created this company looking for healthy and fun eating options for their own kids, so as with any good idea it came out of demand for a better product. These savvy moms have their hands full but they are consistent, true to their organic promise and creative. Read on for their answers on running a successful company.
How long did it take you to get it off the ground?
Heather: We incorporated in December of 2006 and I would say the first order from Whole Foods in August of 2008 was the real turning point for us. It let us know there was not just local demand for our product, but also regional demand. And with the addition of Amazon.com
Connie: It took a year from the time we decided to "go for it" to find a kitchen, get our certifications and get our online shopping cart live. And as Heather said, getting into all the Whole Foods in Georgia was a big turning point and then going regional with them six months later showed customer demand and Whole Foods’ commitment to our product category.
Interview with the founders of Boogie Wipes
The idea to start Boogie Wipes came to Mindee and Julie out of necessity - kids with runny noses. Now it's a prospering enterprise supplying nationwide stores and moms everywhere with saline-infused wipes. Their energy is contagious - meeting with vendors, developing new scents, brainstorming marketing ideas. The office that I saw in the video is more like an office at your family house, and the kids are happily getting involved as budding entrepreneurs. Mindee and Julie are a great example of applying their previous work skills to the new venture of their own. I think you will enjoy their answers to our questions in this interview and learn a lot from these moms of ingenuity.
Who came up with the idea for Boogie Wipes? How much fun did you have with the name?
The idea came from a moment Mindee was having with her daughter to treat her stuffy nose. Trying squirt the saline up her nose and use the "sucker" was not working so she put it on a wipe and it seemed to work pretty well. One thing led to another, the name was born because she had always called her kids boogers "boogies" and Julie loves to say "let's boogie" to get her kids moving from one thing to the next throughout the day. It just fit for us both from day 1, we never even tried to think of another name for it. To this day we have not tapped out all the fun puns and jokes and slogans we can come up with about boogers, boogie and snot. We love it!!
Jill Chuckas, founder of Crafty Baby
It seems that handmade toys with simple yet inspiring materials are popping up everywhere and kids are responding. Sometimes it is the simple toys that make kids' imaginations sprout. Then, it's no wonder that Jill Chuckas' creation - Crafty Baby - is growing more and more popular. Crafty Baby produces handcrafted items like nap sacks, clutch balls, changing pads and bibs that your babies or toddlers would love, but they also make great gifts. Jill is an example of a Mom entrepreneur with a home-based and home-focused business. Here's her story.
What inspired you to start Crafty Baby?
Well, I was pregnant. I have always loved sewing and, with a baby on the way, I began to create things I wanted to use with my little ones.
What was it like in the beginning?
It was a very organic process. I started very slow – making the blanket pillow, clutch balls and Christmas stockings to sell at very small church craft fairs. I would do maybe 2 a year. Little by little, I increased my number of shows, and the quality of the shows I would do. Then, after about 6 years, I decided to launch into the wholesale market and take my business into the "big time".
Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides
Lisa Druxman, creator of Stroller Strides and Fit4Baby, has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, Entrepreneur and Self among others. Winner of various business awards and inspired by her own kids, Lisa helps new mothers get back in shape while empowering new mom franchisees. Stroller Strides is one of the fastest growing franchises in the country with over 700 instructors in 1000 locations. Her latest is Lean Mommy book and Mommy Owned Business Academy program. She is happy to share her business and fitness advice with CafeYak.com because it's not just a job for her but rather a passion for fitness and motherhood combined.
What was the first location for Stroller Strides?
It was literally at a park across the street from my house in Encinitas, CA. That location still exists today.
How did you start Stroller Strides?
Stroller Strides was one of those "ah ha moments" in your life. I was a new mom on maternity leave and every moment was precious to me. I loved working in the fitness industry but did not want to go back to work full time in a traditional capacity. Unfortunately, I could not afford to be a stay at home mom. So while working out with my son, I realized that I could help other moms get back in to shape if I put a class together. This would help me too because I did not know any new moms and was looking for a way to connect. I started with just a few moms in my local neighbourhood and word soon spread and we grew quickly from there.
Kathleen Weinberg, founder of Nibbles' Play Cafe
Drop by the Nibbles' Play Cafe in the Arlington Heights suburb of Chicago and you will see happy moms and happy kids. It's a simple concept of combining food and play in a safe environment that is popular around the country. Yet, Nibbles takes it further with live performances, movie and disco nights for kids, and of course storytime. This extra effort on top of the solid basics is what I think recently earned them the Nick’s Parents Connect Parent’s Pick Award for the Best Breakfast in Chicago. Parents know that the best topping on that bagel is a stress-free morning, and that's what you get at Nibbles - kids play and you relax. And the place is spotless clean! Kathleen Weinberg, owner and founder of Nibbles, is very hands on - you often see her around helping kids and chatting up parents; you can tell she puts her heart in this business. If you are in the business of working with kids, you have to work hard - they are tough critics, since they usually speak their minds. Kathleen has worked hard to make this a success and I asked her a few questions to see what other moms who want to start their own business can learn from her experience.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
I knew I wanted to return to work when my kids were ready to go to school but knew I had to be able to control my own schedule so I could be available at home when I was needed. Before I had my children, I worked as a social worker in a state agency and loved my job. But the income is low for social workers and I needed to have flexibility.
Why Nibbles?
I spent a long time determining what my real passions were, what I really enjoyed doing and what I believed in. I have always worked with families and their children and have a strong commitment to providing services to families. I love planning events for children, always loved working in restaurants. I also wanted to be able to create a space where families could hear live music. I hated going to some of the other indoor play areas where it’s loud, hard to watch the kids and there isn’t adult-friendly food…eventually I came to the concept of Nibbles.
Susan Gmeiner, founder of Maya wrap
Modern moms are used to baby slings - they are convenient on the go, especially with several kids, and they make the babies instantly content. 12 years ago Susan Gmeiner, then a first time mom, decided to make her own pattern out of a ring sling, made with 100% hand-loomed fabrics, and called it a Maya Wrap. Now Maya Wrap is so popular, it's virtually synonymous with the word baby sling. Many celebrities, including Courtney Cox and Vanessa Williams, were spotted wearing Maya Wraps. Now a mom of three, Susan has expanded the line of products, which are still comfortable and but also fashionable. How did this mom achieve such success? I asked Susan Gmeiner, owner and CEO of Maya Wrap, a few questions in this "Mom Entrepreneur" spotlight.
When and how did you come up with the idea for the Maya wrap?
I bought a front carrier for my first child. It was useful but not very comfortable. By the time he was only 15 pounds, it hurt my back so much that I had to quit using it. Then I bought an unpadded sling from a neighbor and loved it. Two years later I started making them.
Does the name have any special significance?
Most of our slings are sewn from hand-loomed fabric made in Guatemala. Maya refers to the heritage of those who loom our fabric.
