In the meantime, I wanted to share my Spotlight on Mommy interview I did with Kelly with you all. And, this Friday, I will be doing a Feature Friday post on the products Kelly sent me to try in more detail, as well as offer one lucky Inspired by Savannah reader a chance to win a 4oz 2-in-1 Shampoo/body wash & bubble bath combo. In addition, I will also be sharing a coupon code for everyone to take advantage of for great saving.
Here is my interview with Kelly. Enjoy!
Name: Kelly Boyd
Company Name/Product/Service: My True Nature - Natural and Organic Kids Bath Products
Company Location: San Francisco, CA
Company Website: www.mytruenature.net
Facebook URL: http://www.facebook.com/login/setashome.php?ref=home#!/pages/My-True-Nature/133041796710673
Twitter Handle: @mytruenaturesf
Age of Company: 2 years
Favorite Book: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
I am the mother of two strawberry blondes who look nothing like me (thank goodness I know they are mine!!). My son is 6 and my daughter is 4. I have been married to my husband Charlie for almost 13 years. We live in San Francisco, CA and love our community and neighborhood. My son, Fletcher, is in kindergarten and my daughter, Adeline, is still in a neighborhood preschool. I love to cook, practice yoga, read and hang out with my kids. They are both really creative, so we do a lot of art projects.
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
The idea for My True Nature™ came after my first baby was born. Like many mothers, I wanted to create a safe home environment. But when I couldn’t find a line of soaps and shampoos that had 100% natural ingredients, performed as well as typical mainstream products, and were completely free of genetically modified organisms, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, triclosan or preservatives, I decided to start producing them myself. Before I knew it, I had a line of products that my friends and family loved. I started selling them by word of mouth, and the business has grown from there.
When I started using my products at home, I put cartoon labels on the bottles to make them laugh. I mean, who doesn't love to make their kids laugh? It is intoxicating. My kids loved them, and that’s when the idea for TubbyTown™, a make-believe bath-time wonderland, was born. TubbyTown™’s residents currently include Bobo the dragon, Milo the skunk, Clio the teddy bear and Ollie the octopus. Each has its own distinctive personality, and its own dedicated bath-time product. I know your little ones will look forward to playing with them each time they step into the tub just like mine do.
What is a typical work day like?
I almost laughed when I saw this question. My life is completely frenetic as I know all moms' lives are. I wake up and almost always immediately look at and respond to e-mail. Then I get my son ready for school and take him to the 7:30am school bus. I then come back and help get my daughter ready for school, try to do a few more minutes of work, take her to school, try to fit a workout in, get stuff for dinner at the grocery store, go home and shower and try to fit a few more minutes of work in. Get my daughter from preschool (she gets out at 11:30), and come home for lunch. She then naps from 1-3, so I get a bunch of work done during nap. When she gets up, we go to the bus stop to pick up Fletcher. Then I hang out with them, make dinner, spend some family time, then around 7:30 they go to their rooms for quiet time and bed. That is when I am back on the computer working until bed!
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
The hardest part so far was the very beginning. Just to get that first blogger to write and that first store to carry your products. I guess the second hardest thing was to get a good handle on how much it was going to cost and how to get all the suppliers that I need lined up.
What did you do in your past work life?
I was a corporate securities, mergers and acquisitions lawyer! Couldn't be more different.
What have been some of your major successes?
So far, I have been most excited about all the bloggers and customers who have loved my products. Particularly moms who have kids with skin issues like eczema. I love to hear stories about how my products have been life savers for those children who get itchy after using almost anything else.
What have been some of your major challenges?
Trying to find enough time in the day to work is the biggest challenge. After making my kids and husband first priority, then the house, dinner, school activities, and everything else, it is hard fit everything in!
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
I can't imagine not doing it. I truly believe that every child should have natural bath products and it keeps me going to know that even one child who wouldn't have had natural products, now has them.
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
I have no secret! It is my biggest challenge. It is helpful to own my own business so that there isn't anyone requiring me to be at an office, etc. It is helpful to be able to work in the 5-10 minute increments that end up being free all day. It allows me to be extremely efficient with my time. Not a moment is wasted. This is, of course, exhausting, but it works.
What is next for your business?
Just continuing on our path! We are launching our hand soap next month. Then after that, our first bath book and our hooded towels. So much to come!
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?
Try to get as clear a plan as possible before you start. And then NEVER give up. Commit FULLY to what you are doing because it can be REALLY HARD at first, but persistence almost always makes it.
No comments :
Post a Comment