the momtrepreneur maven.

This horse-riding momtrepreneur created a nifty product that was in such high demand from her community, she just had to make it her business!

What business did you start up?

BearHugs Unlimited.  I produce and sell the BearHug, a 3-in-1 Kids Blanket.

What motivated you to do it?

The incessant requests from neighborhood families for a BearHug after I made the initial ones for my own kids…and my husband…

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

Three. The oldest is a girl, 12, then a boy, 9.  Our youngest is also a boy, 4.

How long have you been running your business?

Since June of 2006.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or successful, however you choose to measure success?

Quite a while, I must say, as my growth had to happen during a recession!

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

They were the ones pushing me to do it! I think the kids thought it was pretty cool.

Easiest part of your job?

The creative process.

Hardest part of your job?

Selling.

What skill would you most like to improve?

A ‘take-no-prisoners’, ‘eye-on-the-ball’ zest for the Big Sale.

Can you recommend 3 essential websites for moms in, or going into, business?

I love the community and support of Citymommy.com, WorkitMom.com and hatchnetwork.com.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

The design of the BearHug.

Favorite part of a typical day?

I feel so moved when a parent emails me with their kids’ reaction to the Hug!

A few more questions, just because American Express should be featuring more momtrepreneurs…

Childhood ambition…..to be happy.
Fondest memory…..riding my horse through the forest on a fall morning.
Indulgence…..my daily soap opera!
Last purchase….. fabric for my kids’ Halloween costumes.
Inspiration…..nature, music, people.
My Life…..is full of surprises, occasional detours, love, wisdom, pain, beauty.

The holiday season has begun early this year.  And by season, I mean “consumption of giant quantities of delicious no-no’s.”

Last week I received a huge tin of popcorn from The Popcorn Factory, a Cheryl&Co. cookie and brownie, and truffles from none other than Fannie May.  Why?  Because someone at these companies saw my name on a list likely titled Those Who Must Pre-Load On Treats Before Actual Holidays.  (Note to food companies:  this is the only type of spam that I welcome.)

Buy these for your employees this year.  They’re small treats, affordable enough, and the kind that you don’t even realize you’ve finished until you look down at your desk and get really mad and start shouting, “WHERE IS THAT BROWNIE?” and blame everyone in your family even though none of them are home.  My order of preference?  Eat the cookie and brownie first, followed by 3 truffles (per day) and finish off with at least 5 handfuls of popcorn per night.

Truffle assortment gift boxes cost $17.99 to start, Buttercream Frosted Brownies start at $28.95, and that dang popcorn tin is only $24.99.  (Use promo code P70 whe ordering from The Popcorn Factory and you’ll get $5 off.)

(NOTE TO BALLY‘S:  PLEASE CONTACT ME IN JANUARY.)

This is simply mind-blowing.

Watch how this inventor has taken one computer’s mouse and turned its technology into something almost unimaginable.  I cannot *wait* for his product to come to market, making all momtrepreneurs’ lives one heck of a lot simpler.

I haven’t had a normal job (with a boss, regular paycheck and benefits) since I graduated from college, more years ago than I want to admit.  Freelancing and self-employment can be challenging, but since everyone always says ‘make a list of the good & bad’ when you’re facing a decision, here are a few pros and cons for aspiring momtrepreneurs to consider.

Disadvantages To Being Your Own Boss.

-Staff meetings are weird unless you enjoy talking to yourself.
-You’ll know you’re lying if you call in sick on the day the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale starts.
-You don’t get to have office parties, or celebrate co-workers’ birthdays, or compare notes on who should have been kicked off of last night’s “So You Think You Can Dance”).
-There’s no easy answer to ‘What do you do?’ (In my case it’s “I’m a writer/comedian/humorist/blogger/singer/music teacher/sleep-deprived mom” – and that’s the short answer.)

Advantages To Running Your Own Business.

-The commute is really short.
-You can work in pajamas or sweats with no makeup on (just avoid videoconferencing.)
-Insomnia becomes a good thing (it’s amazing what you can accomplish in a quiet house at 3 a.m.)
-You get to give yourself an occasional day/afternoon/hour off (I take a mid-day dance class 2-3 times a week, figuring I make up for it when I have those bouts of insomnia.)
-There are no Gen Y young staffers around complaining about your taste in music.
-You can catch up on “So You Think You Can Dance”, “The Daily Show” or “Desparate Housewives” while you collate, file, or do other mindless work.
-No matter how odd, unusual, or weirdly creative your business is, you know there’s a momtrepreneur out there doing something even more unusual – and you get to be part of a terrific, creative group of odd, unusual, weirdly creative, sleep-deprived moms who work in their pjs, love what they do, and demonstrate the amazing power of women!

-Lauren Mayer, The Psycho SuperMomtrepreneur

Sheri’s business idea is not only intuitive, but proof that *anything* you are working on can be turned into a viable business if you see that there is a missing piece.  Mazel Tov, Sheri, for opening up an entire new market for moms!

What business did you start up?

I launched MitzvahMarket.com, an online resource for Bar/Bat Mitzvah planning families at any stage of the planning process.

What motivated you to do it?

I am a real-life Mitzvah-planning Mom with upcoming Mitzvahs in both 2010 and 2012. I found my friends were a wealth of knowledge having been through it all before. I did some research and discovered there wasn’t an online resource to house all this great mom-to-mom advice.

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I have two children. My daughter is 12 and my son is 10.

How long have you been running your business?

I left my job at Elle Magazine one year ago to take a big chance and launch this new business.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or
successful, however you choose to measure success?

A few months after we launched (November 2008) we started getting emails from Moms thanking us for the clever, useful and entertaining ideas. Then the calls started coming from various Mitzvah vendors wanting to advertise. They never had a way to reach this specific audience of planning families.

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

My kids were thrilled that I was no longer commuting to NYC for my job and that I would be around more. My husband has been great and very supportive.

Easiest part of your job?

There are two easy parts: the first is the commute! After commuting to NYC for over 11 years, the commute to my kitchen is very easy. The second is that I’m the target audience, so it’s easy to decide what our reader might want to know.

Hardest part of your job?

The hardest part is working from home with no beginning and end to my day.

What skill would you most like to improve?

Internet marketing. I’m a public relations executive, but would like to better understand how to drive traffic to your website using online resources.

What, if any, tools or advice do you wish you knew then that you know now?

Patience. After working in corporate America for so many years, I was very used to all the resources a big company can supply. It’s taken me a while to realize things happen much slower when you are on your own.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

We are signing an agreement with a national Mitzvah magazine and will become their official Website enabling us to reach their 220,000+ readers.

Favorite part of a typical day?

Being able to take a break and drive carpool and make dinner for my kids.

Anything else I should have asked you that you should answer?

Any advice for a Mom thinking about starting their own business?
Get out there and network! Take a good look at your friends, family and former colleagues. You probably have connections to companies and resources you haven’t realized.

A few more questions, just because American Express should be
featuring more momtrepreneurs…

Childhood ambition….to work in the entertainment industry.
Fondest memory….my summers on Fire Island.
Indulgence….dark chocolate.
Last purchase…..Steve Madden high heels.
Favorite magazine…..In Style.
Inspiration…..my Mom.
My Life…..is going great!