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FEATURED MOM INVENTORS > NINA RESTIERI
Meet Nina Restieri, President of momAgenda and mom to Andrew (9), Jenna (7), Matthew (5) and Jamie (2). Whew! This is one
busy mom who needed the product she created! MomAgenda is an original day planner created for mothers. This stylish and
functional planner helps eliminate chaos and restore order to the scheduling challenges that go with parenting. Its unique,
week-at-a-view layout features separate spaces for mom and each child, allowing moms to manage multiple schedules with ease!
Designed out of necessity, it is a perfect example of how a personal challenge was turned into a marketable product for the benefit of other moms. MomAgenda was featured on the Today Show on December 6th! I interviewed Nina so that we could hear her inspirational story. How did you get started? What inspired you? How did you think of your business idea? I was a stay-at-home mom with 4 children and could not find a way to stay on top of all their activities. It occurred to me that brides have a wedding planner to plan one day of their lives, yet moms dont have their own planner and they need one every day! What process did you follow to determine your products marketability (is there a need, would people buy it?) I spent about 6 months researching the viability of my idea before spending any money on developing momAgenda. I spoke with hundreds of moms, both working and stay-at-home. I learned that moms really wanted their own planner, that they wanted it to be stylish and fun, and that they wanted it to specifically fit their lives. 
What process did you follow to find a manufacturer for your product?I talked to a lot of people across various industries about my idea and these contacts led me to my manufacturer. What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product? Publicity is critical in this business. I have learned that you earn tremendous credibility when your product appears in print, on television, or in the hands of a celebrity. I hired a publicist who secured publicity for me in various media outlets, the Today show being the most important for sales! Hiring the publicist was a big investment for me, but I decided to make the investment because it seemed like the best way to build a brand name quickly. My publicist also got my product into the hands of Kelly Ripa, Katie Couric, Jennifer Garner, and Reese Witherspoon, among others. What was the biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your product? It was developing the perfect pitch; what would really resonate and get moms to pay attention. We decided to position momAgenda as a functional accessory, a "must-have" item for moms on the go. What kind of support system do you have in place personally and professionally? Well, first and foremost are my husband and four children, who are all so supportive of what I am doing. Having that love and support in my life gives me incredible strength. I am close with my extended family and have supportive friends as well. What has been your greatest success or "high point" in the process? My launch at the National Stationery Show in May 2005 was the high point for me. I finally got to present my product to store buyers; I sold out of my first run of books with over 120 orders. I had been working on developing the product for over a year so it was an incredible affirmation of all the work I had been doing. Have you experienced a "low point" and if so, how did you rally yourself to get back on track? Yes, absolutely. My manufacturer let me down and my second run of books was almost 4 weeks late during the critical back-to-school season! All my store customers were calling and complaining and there was nothing I could do. It was devastating as a new business. I had to accept that I had no control over other peoples actions. How have you dealt with the competition? So far I have not had much competition, but I know that will not last for long! I plan to constantly introduce new products to keep my brand fresh and relevant. What differentiates you? We understand moms lives because we live them every day. Our products are created by real moms, to meet the needs of real moms. How have you financed your company? Thus far I have paid for it with my own savings literally the kids college fund. Hopefully my kids are young enough that I will have time to replenish it! What advice would you offer other moms developing their products/ideas? Believe in yourself and what you uniquely have to offer. When people give you advice, use it to confirm your own gut feelings, and throw out the rest. Realize that creating something new is a process and that it evolves over time; your initial idea may bear little resemblance to your final concept! Thank you Nina for sharing your story! What an inspiration. To find the momAgenda, please visit www.momagenda.com. Nina can be reached at nina@momagenda.com. | ||||||
