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FEATURED MOM INVENTORS > LINDA TURNER, T & J DESIGNS, LLC.
Meet Linda Turner, mom to Courtney (now 27 yrs. old ---12 years old when Linda began this journey) and inventor of the Bellybra® which is a product made by her company T & J Designs, LLC. The Bellybra is a bra that supports a woman's belly throughout her pregnancy. It equally distributes weight between the shoulders, is non-constrictive, lifts weight off the pelvis and has no snaps, hooks, or Velcro.
Linda considered herself an artist not a business woman when she began developing her product. "Developing the Bellybra definitely changed the direction of my life. I could not have imagined at that time in my life that I would become a businesswoman, manufacturing a product overseas and selling it all over the world. Sometimes it's still hard to believe," says Linda. WHY DID LINDA START HER BUSINESS & WHAT WERE HER FIRST STEPS? Linda designed and created the Bellybra® about ten years ago while in an exercise class observing a pregnant woman struggling with a big belly. The first step she took was to design a prototype. "I actually put the first prototype together myself. I bought a jog bra, a girdle, elastic and some stretchy material. It was pretty raw but it worked. It hangs in my office today." WHAT PROCESS DID LINDA FOLLOW TO DETERMINE IF HER PRODUCT WAS MARKETABLE (IS THERE A NEED, WOULD PEOPLE BUY IT)? "The first thing I did was research the patentability of the product. There were few items in this area. I also did research with hospitals, doctors and Lamaze class instructors. There seemed to be tremendous amount of interest so I knew I had something that would fill a need." WHAT PROCESS DID YOU FOLLOW TO FIND A MANUFACTURER FOR YOUR PRODUCT? "For the first two years, I manufactured here in the United States. I find the best way is by networking and asking others who are in the business. I have found that inventors are eager to share their resources. I now manufacture overseas and found that manufacturer through my partner who has extensive experience in that area." Linda says that the hardest or most challenging aspect of developing this product was finding the best fabrics. LICENSING VS. MANUFACTURING 
When a product is being developed, a mom needs to ask herself if she plans to license the product to another manufacturer or manufacture and sell the product herself. Linda has experienced both with her product which is highly unusual, "I licensed the Bellybra® to a baby products company and signed on as their first employee. I was determined to see how they took my product to market. I paid close attention! That company laid a great foundation for the Bellybra®. It acquired a good reputation among OBGYN's who recommended it to their patients regularly and was widely accepted among the general pregnant public. I left the company after about five years and pursued other professions, but the Bellybra® was, and still is, my only true passion. Because of the good relationship I maintained with the baby products company, I asked to be released from the agreement and they consented. Linda now manufactures, packages, markets, and sells the Bellybra® herself. HOW DOES LINDA MARKET THE BELLYBRA®? "I sell retail on a dedicated website for the Bellybra®. I also sell wholesale to small specialty stores throughout the US. Other Internet companies also purchase the Bellybra® at wholesale prices from me. I now have exclusive distributors in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Ireland." WHAT SECRETS HAS LINDA LEARNED IN TERMS OF PUBLICITY AND MARKETING YOUR PRODUCT? "I think the most important thing I have learned is 'exposure'. You just have to be a constant in the public eye; whether it is a tradeshow, a magazine ad, publicity give-aways or contest samples. You must be seen. If I don't make it in a major pregnancy magazine for one month, my sales reflect that." WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST 'LESSON LEARNED' IN TERMS OF MARKETING YOUR PRODUCT? "I made a huge financial mistake by hiring a PR firm. They did absolutely nothing that I had not already done. If you have the time and determination, you can do it yourself!" HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET YOUR PRODUCT FROM IDEA TO MARKET (CONCEPTION TO PRODUCT LAUNCH)? "This is awful to admit but I talked about it for two years. After I finally quit talking I made the prototype and it was only another three months before it was ready to go. I would like to add something important here. I think this is a big problem women make when they have an idea. I was afraid it would not be accepted as legitimate or might be laughed at. I finally just made it and took it to a friend I respected. This gave me the courage to move forward." HOW DID YOU FINANCE YOUR BUSINESS (PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, LOANS FROM FRIENDS & FAMILY, LOANS FROM BANK, CREDIT CARDS, OUTSIDE INVESTORS?) "All of the above." WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST SUCCESS OR "HIGH POINT" IN THE PROCESS? "I think the high point for me in this process is "the process." I love what I do every day. I don't feel there is an 'arrival' point. Just like I look at life, it's the journey that counts." WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER OTHER MOMS DEVELOPING THEIR PRODUCTS/IDEAS? "Too many women are just afraid to move forward with an idea. Fear is the ever-present emotion that debilitates us in so many ways in all areas of our lives. Fear of success is almost unimaginable but it does exist. There are many that fear someone my take their idea if it's not patented and end up not moving forward. Then, before you know it someone else is making it and making a fortune. I talk to women that are afraid to show the product to manufacturers. How can you ever get it made if you don't trust to show it? The point I am trying to make is, quit worrying about what "might" happen. You just can't predict the outcome anyway so if you are passionate about your product, then go for it. There are very few, get rich quick, overnight ideas. It just doesn't happen. It's a long, dedicated, frustrating journey but well worth it if you believe in your product and yourself." Thank you Linda for sharing your story. If you would like to reach Linda directly, please visit her website: http://www.bellybra.com or email: info@bellybra.com 
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