Gibbs Smith - Movers, Shakers, Mommies, and Makers

Movers Shakers Mommies and Makers

Success Stories from Mompreneurs

Movers Shakers Mommies and Makers

Success Stories from Mompreneurs

Digital Edition 1.0

Text 2016 Ali Fenlon,

Photographs credited as noted throughout

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means whatsoever without written permission from the publisher, except brief portions quoted for purpose of review.

Gibbs Smith

P.O. Box 667

Layton, Utah 84041

Orders: 1.800.835.4993

www.gibbs-smith.com

ISBN: 978-1-4236-4430-9

Being an entrepreneur is no joke... being a mompreneur is simply the next level. I remember when I first started my venture, Rags To Raches; I was juggling kids, home, and business all at once. I was, and am, constantly being asked, How do you balance everything?

My honest answer is, I DONT! What I have managed to do is always keep my priorities in checkmy family, my body/health, God, and business.

As a working mom and entrepreneur, you are never off the clock. But I have learned that if I can keep my priorities in check, balance will come. Being a mompreneur has been a crazy ride. There is nothing quite like it. The highs are soooo high and the lows can slam you to the ground like a ton of bricks, but one thing we all have in common is we always get back up, shake off the bad, and keep on rockin.

Rachel Nilsson

Creator and CEO of Rags to Raches

@rags_to_raches

Rags to Raches

Rags to Raches

ragstoraches

Emmy Lowe Photo

Movers, Shakers, Mommies, and Makers: Success Stories from Mompreneurs is a collection of essays from eleven entrepreneurial women sharing their experiences about starting a business from the ground up with little more than a vision and some drawings. These inspirational stories reflect the difficult decisions, financial hardships, struggles, and disappointments each woman endured, as well as highlight their determination, grit, gumption, and creativity to make their dreams a reality.

These women saw a need in the marketplace for quality child-related products, and they successfully set about creating them while at the same time devoting attention and focus to their children and spouses. It is this juggling act between family and business that makes them noteworthy mompreneurs.

While each story is unique, there are common elements present in all of themthe leap of faith needed to start an enterprise; the learning curve involved in running a business; managing expectations for producing a product and growing the company; understanding the need for and accepting help, as it really does take a village to make things work; and finding the new normal between running a business and a family and making both successful.

Ali Fenlon (Sage & Harper), DeNai Jones and Korie Conant (Petunia Pickle Bottom), Katie Richardson (Puj), Andrea Falkner Williams (Tubby Todd), Amy Richardson (June & January), Annalisa Thomas (Oilo), Courtney Gray (Tnees Tpees), Elle Rowley (Solly Baby), Stacey Bannor (Bannor Toys), and Jahje Ives (Baby Jives) all graciously and enthusiastically offered their stories for this book, not to create a how-to manual for starting a business, but rather to share what they have learned and to give hope and encouragement to anyone reaching for the stars.

A portion of the proceeds earned from the sales of this book will be donated to Girls Inc. to help the next generation of movers and shakers find their place in the world and attain their goals.

Leap of Faith

Ali Fenlon

DeNai Jones and Korie Conant

Every business experiences that leap of faith moment when decisions are finally made to shut out feelings of doubt and just go for it. It is when you give your business wings to flyand usually start spending the big bucks. It is both a scary and an exhilarating time.

While all of the mompreneurs in this book discuss their leap of faith moment, or multiple moments, depending on the business, Ali Fenlon of Sage & Harper and DeNai Jones and Korie Conant of Petunia Pickle Bottom have particularly engaging stories about leaving behind paying jobs, making the decision to leap, and filling their need for creativity and innovation.

Fotofly Ali Fenlon (left), Kim Corona (right)

Sage & Harper

Ali Fenlon

sageandharper.com | Sage & Harper | @sageandharper | @SageandHarper

In the Beginning

As a young girl, I spent precious time with my grandma in her very humble home. In her basement was a sewing workshop of sorts. When I picture this room, I can still smell the aroma of a warm wood-burning stove and hear the pitter-patter of a Seattle rainstorm outside. This special room was filled with everything that one could need to create just about anything. Thimbles and spools of vintage threads lined the shelves of wooden cabinets on the walls; the closets were overflowing with colorful, retro fabric scraps and hundreds of used patterns; pins and scissors were scattered about; and I loved to be in the chaos alongside my grandmother.

Her gift was incredible. She could take something ordinary and turn it into the extraordinary. Those piles of wrinkled fabric could be totally transformed. I was amazed that with a vision, a steady hand, and a sewing machine, the results could be anything from an elaborate, gorgeous ball gown to a hip, sporty jogging suit. Her passion for perfection and attention to detail was evident in all her work. She eventually began designing for various organizations and sold many of her original patterns and designs. I loved to parade around in her endless creations and to pretend that I was all grown up and working as a fashion model on the runway.

I was taught to sew at a very young age. My mother taught sewing classes, so by default, I was always a student. Sewing, unpicking, and resewing seams became irritating, and I soon learned to do all of my projects right the first time. Stitches were to be straight and perfectnothing less would dowhich instilled in me an eye for detail and quality.

My experiences as a young girl helped to lay the foundation for what would later become my business, Sage & Harper.