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Interview with LaVenita Martin, founder of Oops Diapers2Go
Have you ever been with your child at a mall or an airport with the sudden need for wipes, diapers or a snack? When it happened to me, something came to the rescue. It was the Oops Diapers2Go machine at a local mall, a brilliant idea that was well overdue. LaVenita Martin pieced together a handy unit containing everything from diaper packs and wipes to pacifiers, sippy cups and healthy snacks. Oops Diapers2Go is a one-stop solution. LaVenita got the idea when she was out with her daughter and granddaughter and they had their "oops! no diapers!" moment. She employed her extensive educational background creating a product relevant to all moms. LaVenita has aggressively worked hard over 18 months to launch this product from the ground up. Heavily relying on word of mouth, she understands the power of networking, clear goals and the need to adapt as your business grows. I asked LaVenita Martin a few questions about her creation and business process in this exclusive interview.
When did you first come up with the idea for Oops! Diapers 2Go? What inspired you?
My granddaughter was my inspiration. I was spending the day with my granddaughter and my daughter when my daughter informed me she only had one diaper in her diaper bag. 
Unfortunately, we did not want to purchase another package of diapers and we could not find anything to accommodate an emergency situation. This was when I realized this was a situation that needed to be solved.
Do you have an office or do you work from home? How do you balance your workload with family?
It can be very challenging to work a full time job/business and family life. I take things one day at a time and I make a list of things to do and modify it daily.
How long did it take you to get the product off the ground? How much start-up capital did you need?
I went to school for a nine month program and learned the foundations of doing business from a Godly perspective. At the end of nine months I was determined to launch my business. By the end of the year I launched my first vending machine. It took approximately, eighteen months to launch my business.
$8,000 was the start-up cost. Which included registering my business, business cards, products, the vending machine, and numerous office items/supplies needed to start a business.
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Spotlight on Mom Entrepreneur: Ann Marie Louie, founder of Ana Louie
Switching careers after 20 years is no easy business, but when you are inspired by your own daughter, work quickly becomes your passion. Ann Marie Louie, who also drew from fond memories of shopping with her own mother, started Ana Louie when she noticed her daughter's beautiful drawings and sketches, hence the name. Since Ana was adopted from China, Ann Marie sees it her mission to give back to her country of birth and "help all little girls realize their inner strength". This Seattle-based line of elegant dresses and separates for girls 7 to 14 was launched with the 1950's Parisian-inspired Holiday 2011 collection. Often working until 1 a.m., Ann Marie has created a streamlined look that is both polished and youthful. Each piece looks unique and attention to detail, accents in particular, is admirable. I asked Ann Marie some questions about her design process and working as a mother-daughter team.
How did your previous work or life experience help with this new business?
I wanted to be a fashion designer since I was little and especially through High School when I joined DECA (Distribution Education Clubs of America), in which I focused on apparel. However, I ended up landing in the transportation industry. I had a twenty year career managing international import and export and domestic logistics. Many of my customers were involved in the textile/fashion industry and included Seattle giants Nordstrom and Filson. This corporate and trade background has helped me tremendously in starting Ana Louie.
When did you get the inspiration to start Ana Louie? Did you arrive there gradually or was it a spur of the moment kind of decision to start this company?
The most motivating factor was my daughter whom I named the company after. She’s quite talented and has been drawing fashion since the age of five.
Fashion and design has always been a part of my life. My mother was a seamstress and style was always important to her. And now, seeing Ana interested in clothing and witnessing her love of designing reminds me of growing up around fabric. When I was little, I used to play with my Barbie’s, using whatever material laying around, to make a her dress or skirts. My mom and I would also shop together. She was big on helping me pick out my clothes and be sure that I was presenting myself properly, especially for special occasions. Hence, the "mother-daughter" concept behind Ana Louie. I think that this bond is really important. We are all so busy working and as the world has changed with a busy household and often times dropping our (older) kids off at the mall. But why waste this experience? Why not spend time shopping for the day and mom picking out that age appropriate dress. We are all concerned about how our kids are dressing these days - why not spend the time with mom and agree together.
