Kati’s gourmet cupcakery relies on delicious cupcake recipes, many of which were inspired by her mother and grandmother, as well as Kati’s background in fine arts, which lets her create mini edible masterpieces.

With designs ranging from cartoon characters for kids’ birthday parties to elegant flowers and abstract designs for weddings, each order is custom. And though she’s only been in business for a year and a half, Kati is already turning a profit, taking orders online and working with local New Jersey restaurants and offices.

Kati shares how she has built a business that feeds her creative side, uses social media to market her high-end treats, and gives back to her community with monthly charity cupcake competitions.

Mom Invented®: What were your initial goals for your business?

Kati Angelini: I wanted to show my clients that cupcakes could not only taste great but also look amazing and be beyond what is traditionally thought of as standard baked goods. I wanted to wow my customers and bring the art of cupcakes to a whole new level.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I grew up in a house where baking and cooking were a mainstay. My mom, grandmother and those before her came from a long line of ancestors who baked. I always had that in my blood. My children's birthday parties were always a treat for me because I got to showcase my talents. My husband and children love helping out with the cupcakes now and I couldn't have done it without them. My children, Alexis (11), Christian (9) and Matthew (7) are my number-one taste testers and fans!

What was your 'aha' moment when it came to starting your business?

I realized that no one was doing quite what I was doing with cupcakes. Yes, there were others making them, but no one was using the cupcake as a canvas to showcase specialty themes and custom designs for people. I said, “I can do this--I can make people feel that they are really being listened to and given something specially handcrafted just for them.” I've created Harry Potter themed cupcakes for a young fan, Phillies themed ones for a baseball lover, Winnie the Pooh and Friends cupcakes, a Parisian themed tower and so many more.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

Cupcakes are very popular right now, especially in this economy. People want to indulge in a little treat, and buying a cupcake is affordable and reminds us of the happy and joyful things in life. They make us feel like a kid again.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of starting your business?

Figuring out the pricing, ordering, and expenses. I wasn't pricing the cupcakes right at first, so I wasn’t really covering expenses. Finally I have figured that out. The baking and creating was the easy part.

Through what markets are you selling?

I sell primarily online, however I've marketed myself to local restaurants and also work with VMeals, a company that provides offices and firms with vendor services. I also do work on corporate gift orders as thank yous for clients.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing?

One of the biggest things I've learned is to stay active with social media. I am constantly marketing myself on sites such as Facebook (almost 1000 followers), twitter (over 1500 followers), Flickr, Tumblr and many other sites. Joining as many sites and media outlets as possible has done wonders for getting the word out about my business.

I use Flickr to upload all of my photos and join groups on there. I also write a blog on my website to keep people aware of what I'm doing. I check in on all of these sites daily and usually throughout the day to keep people aware that I'm here, I'm working and I'm making beautiful delicious cupcakes that they, too, can have at their next event.

I also host a monthly cupcake competition in my hometown and the proceeds benefit local charities. I feel great that I am helping others through cupcakes. We've raised money for organizations such as Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Haiti Relief Fund through the RedCross and FoodBank of South Jersey. We most recently had a cupcake competition on May 23 for the Animal Welfare of NJ to help our four-legged friends.

How did you finance your business?

We've invested about $7,000 from our own personal savings. We are going on the second year of being in this business and we are finally starting to see a profit. Doing what you love really helps during the times when you aren't seeing a profit.

Our turn to profitability has been due to positive press and word of mouth, a lot of work through social media, and finding the right providers for our supplies, such as cupcake packaging, cupcake towers and cupcake sprinkles. We can see that the future will be bright. The business is growing each and every day.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

It's difficult to try to manage it all. I talk with my husband often about how challenging it is to balance being a mom and a business owner. I am not very good at scheduling time for myself. I've actually gained some weight since starting because I can't find time to exercise or cook meals. It's all about eating on the run and work, work, work. We actually have family meetings from time to time about what works and what doesn't. My goal is to find a balance between doing what I love -- creating beautiful and delicious cupcakes -- and finding time to care for myself and spend time with my husband and kids.

What kind of support system do you have in place personally and professionally?

My family is my biggest support system. They are always telling me how proud they are of me! I have a great group of people around me including a great web designer, SEO guru, marketing person, wonderfully supportive friends and family, and a cupcake helper who pitches in on super big jobs.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

Don't give up, hang in there. If you love what you do, it will all work out.

Thank you, Kati, for sharing your story! To learn more about Kati’s Kupcakes, visit KatisKupcakes.com.

If you have a great story to share about your product or business, we’d love to hear it! And if you’d like to connect with other amazing women inventors and entrepreneurs, join the Mom Invented Community!

Conceived of as an educational tool, the U-Play Mat is a U-shaped pad with 15 clear card-holding pockets that puts the child at the center of the activity. It's intended for use with children ages one and up to help them learn to talk and develop social skills.

The most important part of the patent pending U-Play Mat is not its design, though -- it’s the instructional manual that accompanies it, with exercises to engage your child using the eight available educational card decks.

Jennifer brought her product to market in the fall of 2009 and it’s currently available online, in catalogs and in small shops in the U.S. and internationally. The U-Play Starter Set includes the U-Play Mat, a tote, an instruction book and two card decks for $49. We caught up with this busy mom of four to hear how she started her business and how she manages juggling her kids, her career and her startup.

Mom Invented®: Why did you start this company and when?

Jennifer Canter: My "Aha!" moment arose during a speech therapy session with her son.  He was focused and engaged while playing a simple interactive floor game involving a large paper poster and picture cards. As a typical toddler would, he crawled on top of the paper poster during the game, nearly ripping it and causing the cards to fall off. I thought, "We should have the mat curve around the child -- rather than the child sitting on the mat."

The child being the focus of the U-shaped mat was like a light bulb going off in my head.  It opened up a tremendous amount of ideas for U-shaped play.  The first, our U-Play Mat, focuses on speech and language play with young children.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I am a pediatrician with two sets of twins who were 2 and 5 at the time I came up with the idea for U-Play.  As an experienced mom of toddlers and preschoolers, I understand the value of low-tech, interactive floor play and how it doesn't always come easily to parents.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

I found an amazing manufacturer through word-of-mouth and had my best friend, a designer create drawings.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

We went to the New York Toy Fair in 2009 and found an awesome, reliable, honest, amazing manufacturer.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

To expect time delays and prepare for them.  Also, I thought we'd sell out in a week!  Product ideas and manufacturing are very different from distribution and sales. Now I am bridging relationships with other companies to develop avenues for distribution -- something I didn't necessarily understand at the beginning.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product?

Being a pediatrician and a mom of two sets of twins has opened up doors -- it gives me credibility as a parent and a professional.  I Twitter, Facebook and blog as myself, and I'm honest about the multitasking motherhood madness that goes with having four kids, a full time job, business and a husband.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your product?

Social media rocks, but, I have to be careful to set priorities.  It can be very time consuming.  I had a great PR firm help at the start (Ann Noder of Pitch Public Relations) and that got the ball rolling. I also have a nice balance of professionals and non-professionals using and loving the product, so that has helped with word-of-mouth.

How did you finance your business?

The business is self-financed and I have invested more than $100,000 -- a fair portion of which was legal.  Number one to us was protecting our ideas and understand how to do that properly.  I feel that this is a solid investment in an amazing idea, and we're already seeing success.

We're currently exploring direct sales and partnerships for licensing our intellectual property.   Taking development costs aside, we're profitable already and expect a lot of growth in 2010.

What has been your greatest success or high point with your product or business?

We had phenomenal licensing discussions at the New York Toy Fair with various companies interested in totally different applications of our ideas. One CEO of a toy company I greatly admire was exceptionally complimentary about our idea, about our philosophy on U-shaped play, and the unique angle of being a pediatrician with a toy was super-cool. But, the coolest has been my daughters and how excited they are to be part of this process. They came with me to a meeting at a magazine recently, and it was wonderful to share this with my daughters.

Have you experienced a low point in business?

There have been a few pockets of time when I felt overwhelmed and shortly thereafter made decisions to delegate parts of the business.  We have help with public relations, fulfillment and wholesale outreach now. That's been a big help.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner, doctor and mom?

I have not changed my regular full-time work load.  I love my job and have no plans to give up being a pediatrician.  I work after the kids go to bed, early in the morning, and get as much help as I can at home to spend quality time with my four kids. When it comes to U-Play, the kids are part of it as much as possible.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

Network, network, network. The answers are usually out there with a little bit of research, and most problems are easily solved.

Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer! To learn more about the U-Play Mat, visit PlayThisWay.com. Do you have a great story to share about your product or business? We'd love to hear it!

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You just place your spoons or other items in the Spooneez’s pockets, fold the top over, roll up, secure and you're done. No more yucky spoons stuck to the bottom of your diaper bag. No more having to lick baby food off your little one's spoon before packing it up. And they come in different sizes and patterns to suit the style- and space-conscious mom.

Though it took many prototypes and a lot of late nights to bring Spooneez to market, Maythi and Robin’s year-old product is now in boutiques and online stores, and they've moved from manufacturing in their homes to outsourcing to a local North Carolina textile manufacturer.

Maythi shares how she came up with the Spooneez concept when her daughter was an infant, how she developed a prototype without knowing how to sew, and how she and Robin manage juggling parenthood and business.

Mom Invented®: Why did you start this company and when?

Maythi Calvert: We started the company because we felt we had a wonderful product that moms everywhere would love. I used our prototypes, which were very rough sketches of our final product, when I was out with my baby and would get questions from people about where I bought it and could they buy one too. I also got a lot of "Wish I had one of those when so-and-so was a baby," and we knew we had to turn this idea into a reality.

We started the company in December 2008 and launched our product in April 2009. Our eco-friendly line is BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free as well as machine washable, and all materials used in the production of Spooneez products are manufactured in the USA.

What were your initial goals?

Our initial goals were to simply sell to our friends, family and local stores and boutiques. However, we have gotten a great response and our products are in two local boutiques -- one of which has sold out 4 times -- and Spooneez are also currently available on three online retail sites. Last summer, we made it on our local news as a "Favorite Summer Must Have for moms" and have received several positive reviews.

What is your background and how does it relate to your business?

I am a stay-at-home Mom to two beautiful daughters. I do not have a background in anything business related, although my Mom would say that this is my calling since I always had a "business" as a little kid -- everything from a hair salon to a bookstore. However, I truly believe that being a mom is the best preparation for successful multitasking.

Robin is also a stay-at-home Mom to three daughters. Her background is in accounting -- thank goodness! She is amazing with Excel and keeps all of our books in order.

What was your 'aha' moment when it came to starting a business?

When I had my first child, I decided to stay at home with her and couldn't believe how much goes into caring for a child day in and day out. As much as I loved being home, I needed something else to feel like I was using my brain. My first child was a horrible sleeper. I would sit in her room brainstorming about what I could do that would allow me to still stay home, but be able to feel productive. Many late nights led to the design idea for the Spooneez utensil carrier.

How did you develop a prototype?

The idea for Spooneez products came well before I had read The Mom Inventors Handbook. The only thing I could think of doing at the time was drawing my idea. I cannot sew, so trying to create one was out of the question. A few months later, my mom made the very first Spooneez prototype. It was nothing like I had envisioned, and she and I kept tweaking.

I then let the project sit, as I had my second child and was very busy. Then, I showed my friend Robin the product and she was onboard after I explained it to her. She is now my business partner as well, and together we continued to tweak the product until we were satisfied. We kept all our prototypes because we were amazed every day at how far we had come. We created, sewed and tweaked every prototype ourselves.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

We had such a great response from friends and strangers that would see our Spooneez utensil carrier that we felt it was worth giving it a shot. We also conducted a focus group prior to the product launch and had so many amazing suggestions and advice. It was overwhelming, but incredibly helpful. We also have friends who do PR and marketing, and they were blown away by our product and have helped us a great deal.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

At first, we didn’t have enough money to go out and find someone to make our products, so Robin and I decided we'd create our own assembly line of sorts and we single-handedly made the first batch ourselves. Once we got to a certain number, however, we began to need some help. At that point, we would assemble them and found a local manufacturer that agreed to "finish sew" them for us.

Once we started having higher demand, we outsourced most of the production to our local manufacturer. However, we still make some ourselves, mostly to save on cost, since we are still a fairly new startup. We also decided it was incredibly important to us to support our local economy and were proud to have them manufactured right here in North Carolina. Many of our textile manufacturers have shut down due to outsourcing to overseas facilities, so supporting them was very important to us.

Did you have any setbacks in product development?

For anyone creating their own product, there are setbacks. We had so many prototypes we lost count. We wanted the final product to be perfect. Finding the perfect fabric was tough, and once we found it, a lot was out of stock or backordered, so some of the patterns we had counted on and marketed were unavailable all of a sudden. Fortunately, we were able to replace them with other wonderful fabrics and have had a great response.

What was the biggest learning curve in product development?

It is amazing how much tweaking is involved. I used to see a product and think, "Geez, I could have thought of that -- how easy is that?" Then you start working on something yourself and realize how much went into that one simple-looking product. I certainly look at everything with a different perspective these days and have a great appreciation for mom-invented -- and any other invented -- products out there.

What secrets have you learned in terms of marketing your business?

Take any free publicity you can get! And the internet is an unbelievable place for marketing. There are millions of mom blogs and baby blogs out there that can get your product in front of a large number of people. Also, advertise within your local market. We found a wonderful Mom blog that attracts many moms and dads in our area and they had a special "mompreneur" rate for their advertising -- we got 50% off on a 6-month ad that runs on their site.

What has been the most difficult part about marketing your business?

Realizing that not everyone thinks you have an awesome product. You put so much heart and soul into it that you forget not everyone is as invested. Also, it takes time. You can't expect to just get out there and hit all the major magazines or publications. Just as the product took time to come to fruition, so does the marketing.

How do you manage to balance the roles of mom and business owner?

It is very hard, especially since right at the beginning I had an infant. Robin and I have all girls that all get along and love to play together, so when we meet for business the girls all think they are meeting for a play date.

Our families come first regardless of what is going on and we always make time for our children and our spouses. We normally try to meet while our children are at school and do our computer work at night or early in the morning. It is not easy to juggle, but it is possible if you prioritize. It also helps to have a supportive spouse.

How did you finance your business?

We each decided to put in $1,250 and see how far we could take it. We did great until we started to grow and had to purchase larger quantities of materials. We then opened two credit cards and have needed to use one of them so far to finance some of the bigger purchases that we have had to pay up front. We hope not to have to take out a loan, but know that might be something we look into if we end up with a large order.

Right now, we are not turning a profit, but we hope to be able to break even at the end of this year and pay off our small debt.

What has kept you going in your business?

Watching our children be excited for us and our products. You know it’s a big part of your life when one of the words in your 20-month-old’s vocabulary is “Spooneez”. Our girls see their moms working hard at something they love and believe in. It has been such a great opportunity to teach our children, and especially our girls, that anything is possible if you put your mind to it and that success is not measured by money or material possessions, but by doing your best and trying your hardest.

What advice do you have for other moms bringing their ideas to market?

No matter what anyone else says, if you believe in your product, go for it. Use all the resources you can find. It is amazing how many people have helped us, many for free, because they are excited for us or remember what it was like when they were a new business.

And don't give up. It sounds cliche, but it’s true. There are many ups and downs, but focus on your product and you will make it happen.

Thank you for sharing your story, Maythi! To learn more about Spooneez, visit RollUpTheMess.com. You can also interact with Maythi in the new Mom Invented® Community. And if you have a great story about your product or business, we’d love to hear it!

Jennifer (left) and her friend Lisa Church (right) are both fashion-forward women who love the style of wearing jeans tucked into their boots. But they hated how their jeans wouldn’t stay in place properly. Lisa, who rode horses as a child, remembered using a product to keep her riding pants in her boots, and the two women went about redesigning the original clips, first hand-sewing a prototype, then testing all sorts of different clasps and strap configurations, making sure their product was comfortable and secure enough to wear all day.

Launched after a year of development, Stiruppz quickly started getting a lot of media attention, from DailyCandy to the Today show, and the product is available online and in many retail stores nationwide. It has also inspired a number of knock-off companies.

We talked to Jennifer about how she raised $50,000, got her product to market and manages being a single mom and the owner of multiple businesses.

Mom Invented®: What were your initial goals?

Jennifer Crittenden: Our initial goals were to create a functional yet cute product that everyday boot-wearing women would like.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I am a single mom who put herself through college and bought a business -- a Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Healthy Eats franchise. I have never gone the traditional route. I bartended through college and still do. I own my store as well as creating Stiruppz with my business partner and dear friend.

Having to raise a child at a young age taught me very early on the importance of hard work and responsibility. I have worked my tail off every single day since I had my son. Everything I do I give 100 percent because my fight is not just about me -- it’s about my son, who is now in middle school. He is my fight, my love and my inspiration.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

Lisa and I hand sewed a prototype. I then found a technical drawer to create a CAD that I could submit to manufacturers.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

We surveyed countless women and did countless searches online and found nothing that solved our problem.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

I used a website called MFG.com and eventually found a manufacturer’s rep based here in the U.S.

Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome?

Quality Control. My manufacturer was not producing the quality that I needed. We're still working on improvements.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

Every step takes months. One simple change involves so many people and takes so much time.

How did you finance your business?

We have invested around $50,000 from credit cards and investments from family and friends. I am comfortable with my own personal investment, but I get nervous about failure because of my friends’ investments.

What has been your greatest success or high point with your product or business?

Our greatest success has been getting picked up by two retailers that put us in multiple locations.

Have you experienced a low point in business? If so, how did you get back on track?

Our lowest point was finding competition that has not only ordered our product and copied it, but basically stole our website. It’s frustrating, yet we try to be flattered.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

I have managed both well due to the fact I work in the evening and am able to work all day long while my son is at school. He loves Stiruppz as much as I do at this point.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you going?

I am inspired by all of the stories I read. Finding Mom Invented has inspired me even more. Sarah Blakely, who started Spanx, might be my biggest inspiration. I just love to hear of other people's successes. It pushes me and validates what I have been working towards.

What surprised you most about the process of starting your business?

I guess the most surprising part is how long everything takes. Nothing is overnight and anyone who thinks things happen without a lot of sweat and tears is plain crazy.

Is there a resource that proved to be invaluable that you would like to share with other moms?

Simply talking to people. I have met so many people who have offered so much help by just talking and learning what people do. So many resources have come my way through conversation. Talk to like-minded people. They will inspire you and push you!

Thank you for sharing your story, Jennifer! To learn more about Stiruppz, visit Stiruppz.com. And if you have a great story about your product or business to share, we’d love to hear it!

During the 155 nights Zachary spent in the hospital, Yamile spent at least 10 hours a day with him in the neonatal intensive care unit, but she hated leaving him at night. She had learned from the nurses how to use her hands to comfort him -- how to hold him and how to touch him to give him boundaries, but she wanted something to continue to comfort Zachary in her absence. So she sewed hand-shaped pillows, which she slept with to give her scent, that she could leave with her son to keep him feeling warm and secure.

She could see a difference in Zachary’s monitors when he was being cradled by the pillows, and seeing that he was at ease helped Yamile feel more relaxed. Two weeks after she finally brought Zachary home, Yamile got a call from the development director at the NICU to see if she could make her "little hands" for the other premature babies, and she knew this was how she could keep her promise to help babies and their parents.

Yamile spent the next three years refining her hand-sewn design and bringing The Zaky to market. It’s now available in many retail and online stores, is used in hospitals nationwide, and has won numerous product awards.

Yamile shares with us how she went from working in construction to infant products, how her product has affected other mothers, and where her business is headed now.

Mom Invented®: What were your initial goals for your product and company?

The Zaky hand-shaped pillows

Yamile Jackson: I invented the first Zaky for my son when I had to leave the hospital without him. I wanted to decrease the association of touch with pain, and of movement with stress of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I also had two distinct goals: that I offered a product that fit everyone -- no "small/medium/large" or "light/medium/heavy"; and that the product could be used with the sickest of the sickest of the babies in the NICU, so the specs were very strict.

I created Zakeez Inc. to use ergonomics and human factors to develop products that help babies and parents feel closer to each other. Our products also help by providing neurological, sensory, and developmental stimulation for babies.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I am a very lucky woman. I have a wonderful husband for 13 years, and we have Zachary, who is healthy, smart, and very loving 8-year-old. I am a native of Colombia and came to the USA when I was 21 pursuing my dream of earning a PhD. I have 4 degrees in engineering, including the PhD in ergonomics and human factors engineering. I worked for the engineering and construction industry for over a decade and taught engineering management and MBA courses in different countries and universities.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

I spent 3 years on the research and development of The Zaky, testing prototypes in the NICU where Zachary was born, and with focus groups that included neonatologists, therapists, nurses, parents and babies.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

My personal shift from offering services to engineers to goods to the medical industry, and going from the most professional type of work environment to dealing with the most personal and probably the most traumatic time in a mom's life -- when she delivers a sick baby.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product?

The best marketing is word of mouth. We spend very little money on advertising because we choose to use that money to donate items to sick babies.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your product?

We had to start with education. We are overturning methods that, in my view, are sometimes cruel practices, such as leaving a baby to go to sleep from exhaustion from crying. We are also helping parents help their babies by providing a non-medicinal alternative to colic and not being able to sleep that has not been offered before. What is nice is that mothers get the purpose of the products after the first night of not being able to sleep because their baby feels unprotected or scared in the new environment.

How did you finance your business?

The company is self-financed. We used personal resources to pay for the research, and by continuing to work as a consultant and trainer until I could devote all my time to Zakeez in 2007.

I have spent a lot of money, and a big part of the proceeds are donated to help sick babies around the world. My business is not about money -- my business comes from the heart -- and the emails and stories I hear about how we are helping families of healthy, sick and special needs children are more than a reward.

What is your company's current financial picture and what are your projections?

The Kangaroo Zak skin-to-skin contact top

We are very healthy and stable financially. Our projections are to continue developing more products. We recently introduced the Kangaroo Zak, a top that facilitates "Kangaroo Mother Care," also called skin-to-skin contact, for the first couple of weeks for a full-term baby, and for preemies until their due date. We are also developing and starting to market a clothing line for preemies size 3-7 in the NICU, and for the sensitive subject of bereavements of babies 1-7 lbs.

What has been your greatest success or high point with your business?

Every day brings a big success -- emails from moms and medical professionals that write to me telling me how our products help them. One email that still makes me emotional is one of a mom that told me that the Zakys were what allowed her to bond with her baby that only lived for 3 weeks, and she buried the baby with one Zaky and kept the other. Moms of healthy babies also write thanking me for allowing them to comfort their babies and help them sleep.

Businesswise, a high point in 2009 was when our company brought home our 11th award, "2009 Outstanding Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year" from the SCORE Foundation sponsored by Constant Contact in Washington DC.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you going?

My son. He was born to save my life and for that I will be forever grateful to him. To me, he suffered the most incredible pain, he survived the unimaginable, and still he never gave up. He is an example of perseverance and love. He went through so much, and he held in there. He is a miracle, and he is my son, my teacher, and my loving inspiration. He is the reason I have my company, and he is our CIO -- Chief Inspirational Officer.

What keeps me going is thinking that he never gave up, so why should I? I'm also touched by the thousands of emails and conversations that I have around the country and internationally with families, medical professionals, and child-care providers that have been touched by our products.

Is there a resource that proved to be invaluable to you?

I believe SCORE is the best kept secret. They are "America's small business mentors" -- they give counseling to small business owners at no cost, and their intentions are to help you succeed. The SCORE's Houston District has been my "fee-free consultants" that continue to help me in my journey.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

First, follow your heart and be passionate about what you are doing. Then do your homework. Prepare, prepare and prepare, and test before presenting a product to market. Learn about the process of developing a product, and don’t cut corners.

Thank you for sharing you story, Yamile! If you want to learn more about Zakeez, visit Zakeez.com. And if you have a great story about your product or business, we'd love to hear it!

She also knew she wanted something attractive and fun that would help indicate who the present was from without wasting too much paper or costing too much, so she created Move Over Cards -- small, double-sided gift enclosures made from 100% post consumer recycled paper.

Nicki spent four months designing the cards and getting them ready for market, and she launched her company in October 2008. Move Over Cards are now available online and at several retail outlets, including specialty kids' stores and stationery stores, and Nicki is looking to expand into even larger outlets.

Hear how this Ohio mom went from getting laid off to starting her business in a matter of months and how she turned her creative inclinations into a growing gift card venture.

Why did you create your product line?

As a mother of triplet girls, I could not believe the number of birthday parties I was attending when the girls started school. I knew that what I really needed was something to indicate who the present was to and from without wasting so much paper.

Move Over Cards are an environmentally responsible way to give gifts. Our gift enclosures are made from 100% post consumer recycled paper and reduce paper waste by using no envelopes. Move Over Cards' uniquely packaged six-pack enclosure sets provide organization and save time.

What were your initial goals for your business?

To help parents save money and become more organized. There were times I knew I had a card somewhere in the house but I couldn't find it. Also, I liked the price point of less then a dollar -- our tags retail at 66 cents each.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I have a BA from Kent State University in Communications. I worked in Corporate Relocation for 12 years and was laid off in 2008. I felt the timing was perfect to start my business.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

I have a software program that I had been using; I started with several sizes until I felt a 3-by-3-inch square was the perfect size -- not too large or small.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

Once I started attaching my cards to my own presents, other moms started asking me where I purchased the tags.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

I do all the designing and found a great printer to handle the printing and cutting.

Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome?

At first I had every design developed, I was just so excited. I should have found out what would be my best sellers and then ordered those in the larger amounts.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

Not everyone is going to think your product is a great idea. When I first started I thought, I save people money and time, what’s not to love? It's hard to step back and do a real reality check.

How did you finance your business?

My initial costs were quite low since I did all the designing and packaging. My husband and I paid for everything on our own. We have invested about $3,500. It would have been less had I not printed so many cards, but I chalk that up to "that's how you learn." I am very cautious about money. I also have a patent pending product that is going to coordinate with my tags.

What has been your greatest success or high point with your product or business?

My products are in a specialty toy retail store, and when I was at my doctor’s office for a checkup, she said that she purchased one of my tags for her son’s gift. It made me feel good.

Have you experienced a low point in business? How did you get back on track?

I thought I would be in more retailers at this point. To get back on track means to make a commitment to call and stay in contact with buyers and I have resolved to do that more effectively.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

I am very clear on my priorities: I love my daughters and husband very much and ensure they understand that in order for me to feel good about myself I want my company to succeed and that I need time on the computer or away from home.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you going?

I get so inspired when I meet other entrepreneur moms. Here we are trying to juggle so many things to make our dreams come true. We might not make it to the Big Box but we should still be proud.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

Before you spend one dollar, do some research. Ask people if they would be interested in the product or service you are considering.

Thank you for sharing your story, Nicki! To learn more about Move Over Cards, visit HelloMOC.com. And if you have a great story to share about your product or business, we’d love to hear it!

In 2008, she made the first Carry-Her backpack, a doll carrier for 16- to 18-inch dolls, like American Girl Dolls. It's lightweight, folds up into a mini backpack -- that can conveniently fit on the doll or in a purse -- and is made in the U.S.

After getting a great response from other moms at craft shows and on the street, Roberta decided to mass-produce her backpacks. Four months later, they were on the market. Carry-Her backpacks are now sold online and in specialty doll shops.

Roberta shared with us how she brought her idea to market so quickly, her biggest business successes to date, and her advice for other mom entrepreneurs bringing their ideas to market.

Why did you start this company and when?

I made my first Carry-Her in November 2008 for my daughter. After many other moms were asking where they could purchase one, I started selling at craft shows. We were overwhelmed with the response and decided to mass-produce. We found a great U.S. manufacturer. We officially launched in March 2009.

What was your 'aha' moment when it came to starting your business?

I have been lucky to have more than one "aha" moment. Our first was selling out of our handmade backpacks at a doll tea, and the response from the moms. The second came a month later. We were visiting NYC for the day. We were stopped all day by moms and dads asking where we bought my daughter's Carry-Her. At these times we knew we were onto something big.

How did you finance your business?

We did not want to go in debt when we first started out. We used our savings. Unfortunately, my husband got laid off early into our business and we had no choice but to get a small loan.

We now have under $20,000 invested and our financial picture looks good. We have so many other plans for the Carry-Her brand. We are hoping to triple our sales in 2010.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

I made about twenty different backpacks. I had my daughter test each and every one. She made the final decision. Our main goal was for it to be lightweight and easy to use.

Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome?

Yes, our first sample from the manufacturer was not up to our standards. After, many phone conversations back and forth, we decided to go meet in person at the factory. We were able to sit down with the owner and work out the kinks in a few hours.

How long did it take to get your product from idea to market?

It went quick. We officially launched four months after making our first prototypes. I feel it happened so fast due to our manufacturer being only a few hours away.

We are now selling in a few specialty doll shops. We are also selling on our website, Amazon, and Womentorz.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I am a mom of a 9-year-old daughter, Emily, and a wife of ten years. I have been a stay at home mom since my daughter's birth. I have always loved being creative -- friends and family call me Martha. I owned my own business before the birth of my daughter. This has helped because I know how to run the business end of Carry-Her.

What has been your greatest high point with your business?

I feel like being a mom inventor is like being on a roller coaster. One day you are up and one day you are down. I've had many high points. One of my favorites was a retail shop we sell to was so excited about Carry-Her, they put in on a mannequin in the front window display of their very busy store.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

That has been a challenge. I try to work when my daughter is in school and after bedtime. The housework has fallen by the wayside, and unfortunately so have my volunteering services. I believe being a mom is the most important job I will ever have. My family still comes first.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration?

My daughter always inspires me to be my best. Just seeing the excitement in her face when she talks about Carry-Her keeps me going. Proving to her that she can do anything makes this all worth it.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

Join all the social networks. There are so many women just like you. One thing is for sure... you can't do this alone. There are many women inventors willing to help you free of charge.

Thank you for sharing your story, Roberta! To learn more about Carry-Her, visit Carry-Her.com. And if you have a great story to share about your product or business, we'd love to hear it!

The idea was simple, but there was nothing like it on the market and it solves a huge need at a low cost. OnTray encourages your child's independence and frees up your hands to shop more efficiently. It’s also BPA free, made in the USA and is available online and in stores like Buy Buy Baby, Babies"R"Us, and other gift shops and grocery stores.

Launched in June 2007, Laura is still running her company, 42 Kids, from her home, and is expecting her business to continue growing at a steady pace. She shared with us what keeps her inspired, her philosophy on helping children succeed and how she got herself back on track after wanting to quit during OnTray’s 2 year development process.

Mom Invented®: Why did you start this company and when?

Laura Hamrick: A few of years ago, I was at the grocery store with all three of my boys. Jack and Luke were "driving" the shopping cart that looks like a truck.  Ty, not even a year yet, was up front in the child seat part of the cart. I was handing him one snack at a time from a container that I carried with me everywhere I went. I was trying to shop, contain my little truck drivers, browse through my coupons, keep Ty happy and get all of the items on my list. Needless to say, I came home with a bunch of junk that Jack and Luke threw in the cart and was completely frazzled. I swore never to go shopping with the kids again!

That day, while the children were napping, I did some research on the web and found there wasn't a product available that would free up adult hands to shop and keep little hands busy. OnTray was born.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I am married to the most supportive husband, Chad, and have been for 12 years now.  We have three loud, energetic and fantastic boys, Jack, 8, Luke, 6, and Ty, 4.  Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I graduated with a degree in early Childhood Development.  I know that having gone through that type of education program, helping children be more independent, was a catalyst in developing OnTray. I wanted to help children succeed in a situation -- shopping -- that is maybe not the most enjoyable for them. Being able to help themselves to a healthy snack or even a small toy helps the child feel a bit accomplished.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

My Patent Attorney had done some work with a local design company with a focus on plastics. I called them, and set up an appointment to show them my idea.  Meeting with them and showing them my really bad Play-Doh mock up is what got things rolling.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

The design firm I used for all of the CAD drawings and prototyping recommended a plastic manufacturer in my city. It was a great way to see the process unfold. Unfortunately, the partnership was not the best and I met my current manufacturer thanks to a reference from another mom inventor friend of mine.

Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome?

My first prototype was just awful.  Don't get me wrong, I approved the drawings to go to prototyping stage, so I have no one to blame for the mishap but myself. Once I had the working model in my hands, however, I could just tell it wasn't going to work. I gave up. I told my husband I was going to cut my losses and walk away. I was crying and just a mess. Chad left and came home with a shopping cart he borrowed from our local grocer. He said, "Okay, now you have a cart in the garage. There's no way you can fail when the cart -- my muse, as it were -- is sitting out there waiting for you to study it." That was the turning point. How silly really, but I studied that grocery cart like I was going to have to take a test on it.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

The biggest learning curve for me was realizing that no one was as invested in seeing OnTray come to life as much as me. I would get so frustrated that my web designer wouldn't get right back to me, or that my mold was taking 6 weeks to be built, not the 4 weeks as promised. Basically, having to rely and depend on others was something I needed to learn how to do.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product?

I have learned that if you are diligent enough and good about researching, you can find free resources that give you media leads or queries from reporters. In fact, I have an interview coming out in Parents magazine’s March issue. All because I did my research.

I've also had a tremendous amount of success with my local papers and news outlets. Being a mom inventor has proven to be a great news story for my local outlets.

How did you finance your business?

I financed OnTray with our personal savings and credit cards. I never kept a running tally of how much was spent at the start. I found that when I looked at all of the money spent I wanted to just stop and walk away from it. I would say that it's at about $65,000.

42 Kids had sales of about $40,000 in 2008 and we are looking at almost $60,000 in 2009.  My projections for 2010 is to reach sales of at least $80,000.

What has been your greatest high point with your business?

My high point has seen how proud my husband and children are of me. My children like to tell people that I'm an inventor. They also like to show me what they've invented. My husband, who is usually less optimistic than me, has always believed in OnTray. That's when I knew I needed to trust my gut and go for it. It makes me smile when I think about how much support I have in my family.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration?

Not to be hokey, but Tamara has been my biggest source of inspiration. From the day I accidentally discovered her book at my library to this day, Tamara's words from The Mom Inventors Handbook have resonated with me. Whenever I felt stuck, I would thumb through her book and get re-inspired.

What surprised you most about the process of starting your business?

What has surprised me the most has been how many hours a week I work. I don't keep track, but know it's almost as much as my husband, who works outside our home. I'd love for one of my goals in 2010 to be cutting back my hours. Not cutting back on OnTray, just working smarter, not harder.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

My biggest piece of advice is to surround yourself with people who know more than you. People are usually very willing to help those who are just starting out, so don't be afraid to ask. Admire another mom inventor? Send her an e-mail asking for some advice. She may just e-mail you back and inspire you. It might be what you need to keep you going and could save you time and money.

Thank you for sharing your story, Laura! To learn more about OnTray, visit OnTray2Go.com. And if you have a great story to share about your product or business, we’d love to hear it!

She contacted her cousin Shilpi Goel in India and ran the idea past her. Shilpi had recently had a baby and was looking for an opportunity to work from home, and Lizzie Lou Shoes was born. It took nearly a year to bring the shoes to market, and Sheena's fabulous handcrafted jeweled flip flops launched at high-end specialty boutiques in San Antonio, Texas, and online in May 2009.

Sheena, a mom of 3, shares how she got her shoes to market, how she had to change her business focus and how she balances being a "working stay-at-home mom."

Mom Invented®: Why did you start this company?

Sheena Edwards: Being a stay at home Mom, I'm always interested in new opportunities to work at home. Shilpi had sent me many samples of products she could help produce from India, but never did either of us imagine we would embark on such a challenge.

What were your initial goals?

Lizzie Edwards wearing her Lizzie Lou Shoes

To create a high quality, uniquely styled flip flops for mother and daughter. After field-testing our first shipment, we decided to focus solely on the women's line. The children's line presented too many challenges for a startup business. It was hard to wholesale the children's shoes and maintain a reasonable price point for the consumer. Currently, the three original styles of children's shoes are available only on my website while supplies last.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

I have 3 children: Emily, 9, Lizzie, 6 and Vince, 2. My husband, Matt, is an attorney and I have been blessed to be able to stay at home since Emily was born. I sacrificed working outside the home and achieving business success to work at home, but this project has allowed me to have the best of both worlds.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University and have experience in marketing, public relations and project management. The experience I use most, though, is the practical knowledge I have picked up from being a mom, and from listening to my friends and neighbors.

Living in Central Texas, flip flops can be worn nearly year round. The problem with most flip flops, though, is their lack of support -- and often, style. I knew that if I could marry comfort and style, I could really make an impact in the lives of other busy women like myself. Bringing together the ease of just slipping on a shoe along with the style of boutique brands just made sense.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

Working closely with my cousin, we began the task of designing and developing our product. Finding the right components and manufacturers proved to be very difficult, especially working from a different continent. Luckily, Shilpi's connections in the clothing manufacturing industry in India led us to the right supplier.

Finally, in March 2009 -- after several samples and design changes -- we finalized our first three styles. In July, we introduced six additional styles that are equally as popular as the first.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

I researched other designer flip flops on the market. When I started the process, there was only one competitor. Since we launched our line, the competition has grown in number. Luckily, our product is still very unique.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

The importation process, including dealing with Customs, is quite overwhelming. I had to find a shipper and learn the laws and duties of importing into the U.S.

Through what markets are you selling?

My first Lizzie Lou sales were through local boutiques. I hope to expand that market throughout Texas, and outward from there. Eventually, of course, I'd love for Lizzie Lou Shoes to be carried at every high-end retailer in the country, but we've got to take it one step at a time. We also sell through our website and Womentorz.com.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product?

As a small, start-up business, my marketing budget is relatively small, so I had to be creative about getting the word out. The power of social marketing has amazed me. Sites like Facebook and Twitter have really helped me to expand my market and led me to people and companies whose goal is to promote mom- and woman-owned businesses.

What has been your greatest success with your business?

Sheena Edwards and her family

Being in several popular, high-end boutiques in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas. There's nothing quite like seeing your labor of love being enjoyed by the women around you. I love doing something that I can share with so many people. I've had more support from my fellow moms and friends than I could have ever imagined.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

I have to constantly remind myself that my business can always wait and that the kids are why I am where I am today. Sometimes I slow down and remind myself that my goal is to be a working stay-at-home Mom.

What surprised you most about the process of starting your business?

I have not enjoyed all aspects of running a business. It sure would be nice to have someone help me keep up with the finances and inventory.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their products/ideas?

Stay focused on your goals and don't give up. I had so many chances to quit and I am thankful that I didn't.

Thank you for sharing your story, Sheena! To learn more about Lizzie Lou Shoes, visit LizzieLouShoes.com. And if you have a great story to share about your product or business, we'd love to hear it!

She came up with the idea of putting together a type of modern-day hope chest full of items that would help them begin their teen years and feel more connected to women as a whole. Marianne’s product, the RaeCole Goddess Box, a hand-crafted treasure chest full of natural bath and body products, note cards, gift items and more, took about two years to develop and is now sold online, in specialty stores and through private parties.

Bringing this unique concept to market has had its ups and downs, and Marianne has been learning every step of the way. From her first forays into social media and marketing to turning a home-grown craft project into a viable business, Marianne shares her triumphs and her troubles along the way, and gives us a glimpse into her dream for helping tweens transition gracefully through their awkward years.

Mom Invented®: Why did you start this company and when?

Marianne Impal: As a wife and mother of two young girls I started taking a close look at how the media was affecting girls today. Putting so much emphasis on how girls should look and act on the outside has left tweens and teens lacking in self-esteem on the inside. Even though my girls were only ages 3 and 5 at the time, I was already thinking of ways to help them accept their future changing bodies. Every adult woman can relate and remember such a time during adolescence when the many changes, be they physical, hormonal or emotional have left us feeling awkward and abnormal.

It was obvious to me to make such changes for my daughters as positive and accepting as possible. I took an old fabricated box and began filling it with anything I could think of that women used to help nurture themselves in a positive and caring way, age-old advice to pass down... anything.

That box turned into RaeCole Products, started in the summer of 2007 and named after my two inspirational daughters. Our signature product is the Goddess Box, a unique gift given to the young adolescent girl going through puberty, given by the parent or guardian who wants to promote a healthy body image and self-esteem for what can be an awkward time in a young girl’s life.

What were your initial goals?

My initial goal was that this gift be put aside as a sort of a modern day treasure, and when the timing was right -- be it her first period, when conversation lacked between us or seeing a sprouting body that needed to be supported with a healthy outlook -- I would take this box down as if it were a treasure handed down from one woman to another. It would be our conversation starter, her keepsake gift to keep in her personal space or even a gift to eventually pass down to her own daughter.

What is your background and how does it relate to your company?

After working corporate for many years, my husband and I thought it best for our growing family that I be home with our girls and raise them. I took to this new role with excitement and determination to give my girls the best quality of life possible. To do that, I in turn did much self-reflecting work on myself to better me as a person and a role model to these two beautiful girls.

I began teaching yoga and got certified in Shiatsu Acupressure as well as other types of modalities. It is here I learned about natural ways and natural products that enhance a healthy well-being. This I knew was something I wanted to pass down to my girls as well.

What was your 'aha' moment when it came to starting your business?

After spreading this idea and concept around to many friends with daughters for years, there finally came a day when a friend actually used the concept. I'll never forget how she pulled me aside eager to tell me her version of the future Goddess Box. I was beaming inside just knowing that this teen got to feel an overwhelming sense of love coming from her mother's special treasure that had a positive message behind it and would last a lifetime.

After continuing my discussion with other moms, grandmothers, aunts, etc., it seemed all women wanted this special moment with their daughter or loved one, but once reality kicks in, most just wanted the perfect gift already there, ready and waiting. I knew here it was my destiny to have such a product available for both mothers and young girls.

What process did you follow to develop a prototype?

At the time I really didn't think "prototype," I just followed my vision of what a Goddess Box would look like and bought fabric, beading and tassels, and put together my version of it. My first box was given to a special friend whose daughter I knew was the perfect age. She and her daughter loved it so much I began making more boxes upon request. I still have many sample prototypes in my home that are special to me.

How did you determine your product's marketability?

What seemed obvious to me wasn't so obvious to others. Not only was this a new product, but an entirely new concept. I was and still am pushing the edge to get women and girls to talk about their experiences and feelings. I do feel there's a huge need in today's society to keep the natural lines of communication open between mother and daughter.

How did you find a manufacturer for your product?

I'm a big believer in putting things "out there" that you want to show up in your life. When it became clear that these boxes needed to be bought wholesale and a business be created, I looked down at the box I was using from the craft store and contacted the manufacturer to see if they would sell to me wholesale. I began a conversation with them and told them what I was doing with each box. They told me that fabrication was something they could do for me, and the rest is history.

Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome?

There were really no setbacks as far as the actual fabrication of the box was concerned. It took a few prototypes to get it right, and we were set to go. The products inside the box are another story! It took much longer to perfect each item in the box to my standards and keep them within a budget, and I am still continuing to tweak them. I am always looking to better the Box as both of us evolve.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product?

Patience! I didn't realize until I began this business how much I wanted things to happen right away and how much of a perfectionist I was with this product. When my ideas kept coming, I expected everything else to follow suit, and that was just not the case. Timing and patience is everything and all good things come in due time.

Through what markets are you selling?

Currently, we sell via our online store at RaeCole.com and have recently branched out to Womentorz.com. We are also in a few local retail shops and have added private parties to better educate moms on this concept as well as give them a chance to earn a free Goddess Box. On occasion we do expos, craft fairs and trade shows.

What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product?

For me it was worthiness. Although I felt I had a great idea and a great product, there were many times I didn't feel up to today’s inventive standards. When great opportunities came, I often shied away thinking I wasn't worth it. Truth is we are ALL worth it, no matter the product, no matter the competition.

About a year ago, I forced myself to become familiar with social networking and the success and support from that has been indescribable. It's amazing how like-minded people can help support each other across the country when they have never met in person. Social Media is a must have in today's world because it's free and it gives you the freedom to connect all over the world.

What was the biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your product?

My biggest learning curve in terms of marketing came from not knowing that I even had to market at all! That's how naive I was as far as running a business. I should've known when I told people my idea the very next question was "How are you going to market it?" I didn't realize this was going to be the single most important factor in a successful business. I eventually learned how to fine tune my audience and the places that would capture that audience.

How did you finance your business?

Silly me started out with what seemed like a craft project that turned into a business. Because it was like crafting, I had no idea how expensive it would be to make, let alone fill each box. I also figured since I didn't have overhead to pay for or office space that it wasn't going to cost much, but that wasn’t the case. Much of my expenses went to product inventory, business insurance, advertising, trademarking, website design and fees, photography, etc. We opted to use a separate credit card to keep track of all business expenses.

We’ve invested over $15,000, but I think much of it is unaccounted for. When times were rough, we used our personal money to pay for many things. It doesn't sound like that much money, but I still can't believe it cost that much already.

We’re heading into our third year of business and have more connections than ever.  Although we have not made a profit as of yet, we are forecasting a positive future.

What has been your greatest success or high point with your product or business?

Marianne Impal's Daughters

The greatest success comes from hearing the multitude of testimonials and positive feedback that we get from satisfied customers -- especially the girls! We also get many suggestions as far as uses of the box. Recently, we've had customers start using this concept in place of a Purity Ring or for Bat Mitzvah occasions.

Have you experienced a low point in business? How did you get back on track?

I think in no way you can start a business or any journey for that matter and not have an ultimate low point. Mine came when I first began using social media. We sort of had this love/hate relationship. I knew it was good for business, but I had a hard time keeping up with what I thought needed to be done regularly and systematically. Since I had a hard time, I backed off completely and my business suffered. After a huge reality check, I realized I can only do what I can handle and to pay attention to what I can do, not what others do.

How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom?

I still continue to put my kids and family first as much as possible, but I am learning now that my girls are older and more self-sufficient, it is mommy's turn to shine. I know that by doing this, I will role model to them what a successful woman is all about.

What kind of support system do you have in place personally and professionally?

My heart pours with gratitude every time I think of my huge network of support both personally and professionally. It is through the help of my family and friends that pushes me to go forward. I have written about this journey so many times that I even dedicated a special place on my blog where I list all the important people that have had some kind of impact on my success.

Who has been your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you going?

My girls are my biggest inspiration in so many ways. Without them this idea/concept would not have been born to help empower other girls. It is also because of them that I look closely at myself as their role model, not just as a mother, but a woman, wife and business owner.

Is there a resource that proved to be invaluable that you would like to share with other moms?

Someone said to me, "Don't try and let people find you… you have to find them first." Not a very talkative person myself, I forced myself to reach out to like-minded women. I joined groups, I learned how to blog and share my experiences, and I continue to network with now what seem like good old friends via social media.

What advice would you offer other moms developing their ideas?

Don't rush! Enjoy the idea and product making first. Don't assume that because you think it is a fabulous idea that everyone else will automatically think the same. It may very well be a good idea, but how you market that idea will turn a customer either for or against you. Continue to make your prototypes as long as you can so that you build a history of sales behind you and get the demand up before the supply.

It is quite a ride my friends, so hold on, stick with it and if you're lucky, you just might be able to let go and enjoy the breeze blowing through your hair. If you have the vision, the rest will come in due time.

Thank you for sharing your story, Marianne! To learn more about RaeCole Products and the Goddess Box, visit RaeCole.com. And if you have a great story to share about your product or business, we'd love to hear it!