Mom-E of the Month

Melissa Peebler
Owner, Me Too! Cafe
Mom to Max, age 6 months








Brief biz description:
We are a restaurant with a built-in babysitter.  Our goal is to give parents a refuge to take some time and reconnect while we play with the kids.
 
Target audience:  
Parents would love their kids, but also want to be able to talk to other grownups over a glass of wine with great food. 

Job held before you started this biz:  
Blowing stuff up for kids as Public Programs director for a Dallas children’s science museum, and recruiting here in Oregon.

Initial Start-Up Costs:  
A healthy 6-figures….

Initial Funding Source(s):  
Personal savings

First "woohoo!" business moment:  
One of the first weekends we were open, we had a couple come in clearly cranky with each other.  After a glass of wine, and an hour or so they moved from their table to our couches and giggled with each other over dessert.  They left holding hands, and refreshed.  It was so fun to see the transformation!

Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment:          
Our first couple of events were a little nuts & just too much. We are much better now at capping the reservations for events, and knowing when to say we just don’t think we will be able to serve you well tonight - can we book you for our next night.  Also, my husband is the smartest most wonderful man I’ve ever met – but an AWFUL waiter.  I’ve fired him 3 times, but he’s great at greeting!  Lol.  It’s about knowing who & what you are.

How you feel about competition in your industry:   
It’s always a challenge – and sometimes frustrating – to compete against the big chain restaurants.  It’s really a tall order to compete with them, given their economies of scale and marketing budgets.  Our advantage is that we’re truly a local, community establishment, in every sense of the word.  We get to know our customers, and their families – we try to treat them like guests in our own home.  
 
The other thing I always keep in mind about competition is the old saying that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’. It’s always fun to see other similar businesses copy our ideas and events – it makes me think that we must be doing something right!
 
Greatest source of clients for your biz:   
Word of mouth!  If you do a great job for Moms, they’ll definitely spread the word!

Your inspiration:
I started this business before I had my first child.  I was inspired by all my mom-friends who were desperate to find a place where they could relax, take a break and have an adult conversation, while also knowing that their kids were having fun as well.

These days, I’m inspired by my son, Max.  He regularly reminds me what’s truly important in life…
 
#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow:   
It sounds obvious, but it really is all about doing everything you can for your customer.  We aren’t big on rules, we just do whatever it takes to create a place you would want to bring friends and hangout.

#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance:
The best thing that ever happened for my business was getting put on bed rest.  It really forced me to ‘Work on my business, instead of in my business’.  It’s made all of the difference in the world.  Now, I set  specific time for café work, and that’s it.  Knowing I have those hours coming allows me to focus on Max without feeling like I need to be working.

Tonya Lance
Owner, Varo Designs
    
Brief biz description: Interior Design and Space Planning

Target audience:  Home, Business and Motor Yacht Owners

Job held before you started this biz:  My last job was Senior Interior Designer / Project Manager with Carol Williamson & Associates.  Before that I worked with my interior design idol, Henry Brown.

Initial Start-Up Costs:  Due to the nature of my business I was able to have very low start-up costs.  I began my business very conservatively using an existing personal computer and working from a very modest home office.

Initial Funding Source(s):  I drew just a small amount from personal savings, less than $500.00.  

First "woohoo!" business moment:  I sure think being named MOM-E of the Month is pretty neat! It was also very exciting the first time a new client called me out of the blue to hire me based on a previous clients recommendation.  I was so shocked by the call that I forgot to get their name and contact information.  Somehow I managed to piece it all together without the client knowing.       

Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: So far - my biggest mistake has been to hire the first accountant that was recommended to me vs. seeking the perfect fit.  I've learned that not having the proper professional support can be extremely costly.            

How you feel about competition in your industry: There are many very talented Interior Designers in the Portland Metro area. I'm proud to call some of them my close friends.  It's so nice to trade stories and discuss feasible solutions with colleagues who face similar issues.        
 
Greatest source of clients for your biz:  Referrals have been an excellent source of clients for my business.    

Your inspiration: Love

#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow:  I have two rules of thumb #1. Strive to always be honest with yourself; outsource your weaknesses and tap into your strengths #2 Don't buy anything you can't afford.   
 
#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance:  For me it's important that I simply remind myself of how fortunate I am every day.  When having it all seems like too much I strive to remember that I could be working for someone else, missing even more precious time with my beloved family.

Marie Sherlock
Editor, Metro Parent Magazine
 
Brief biz description: Parenting magazine serving the Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA metropolitan area
 
Target audience: Our readers are parents of kids, mostly ages 14 or so and under. Our advertisers are trying to reach this demographic.

Job held before you started this biz:  Editor of Portland Parent, Metro Parent's predecessor (before that, I was a freelance writer/editor/author and - in a previous life! - a lawyer)
 
Initial Start-Up Costs: about $85,000 (and slave wages for the first year or so)
 
Initial Funding Source(s):  Personal savings

First "woohoo!" business moment: I don't know if it was the first such moment but winning multiple awards from Parenting Publications of America (a national trade group for parenting magazines) certainly was the biggest "woohoo!"- especially this past year when we won seven. It's far more gratifying to get that kind of feedback - that we're putting out a quality publication - than it is to make money at this (although that's important, admittedly!).
 
Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: I think the biggest mistake we've made (and continue to make!) is not getting enough help - as in, trying to do too much ourselves, especially in the tight economy...
 
How you feel about competition in your industry:  Everyone locally is very kind, super nice - and I think we're all struggling with the economic downturn.  
 
Greatest source of clients for your biz: For the most part, our salespeople just keep their eyes and ears open and approach those businesses that they feel would be benefited by a presence in the magazine.  

Your inspiration:  Since I was a young child, I always loved to write. I got off track - going to law school, trying that for awhile - but fate took me back to writing. I think being the editor of Metro Parent (and one of the owners) is sort of what I was meant to be. That sounds corny when I write it down - corny but pretty accurate.
 
#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow:  The same advice I give my kids about life in general: follow your passion. Life's too short to work hard at something you don't love.
 
#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Haven't figured this one out yet!

Info coming soon!

 

Brief biz description: Online boutique specializing in organic, safe, sustainable gifts and essentials for mom & baby

Target audience: Pregnant women and new mamas who seek high quality, eco-friendly products for themselves and their little ones, plus their loved ones buying gifts.  

Job held before you started this biz: Special education assistant, then SAHM after Joseph was born

Initial Start-Up Costs: $7,000
 
Initial Funding Source(s): personal funding

First "woohoo!" business moment: When I had a blogger seek me out to write about Clementine NW because they loved the products and website so much!

Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: I had two orders that were both going out to Illinois. I was trying to do both at once and ended up switching them up! That was a huge mistake and one I have vowed to never allow to happen again.

How you feel about competition in your industry: I feel that all of my true competitors and I are all seeking the same thing- to lessen our impact on the environment while providing safe, high quality, and stylish products for a vulnerable population. Of course, there are companies out there just paying lip service to the green movement, but the public is smarter than we give them credit for and the backlash against greenwashing has already begun.

Greatest source of clients for your biz: Word of mouth is number one!   

Your inspiration: My kids! I started this business because I was appalled to learn about the toxic ingredients in products I was putting on my children, especially after being so careful about what I was putting in them. I also know that it is important to me to be with my kids as much as possible without totally losing my mind!

#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow: Be true to yourself. Find your story, find your voice, and be passionate about what you are doing.  

#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Well, this is a work in progress for me. I started scheduling everything for the day the night before, which makes it much easier for me to carve out pure work time, pure family time, and even pure me time. I spent a lot of months trying to do it all at once and nothing was getting the attention it deserved. 

Meet Brenna and check out Clementine NW's great mom & baby products at Mom Shop 2, April 18th at Oaks Amusement Park.

Target audience:  Families with children ages 6 months - 2 years (approximately).

Job held before you started this biz: I worked in corporate outside sales before having my son, Ethan, almost four years ago.  After his birth, I was lucky enough to stay at home with him.
 
Initial Start-Up Costs:  Approximately $30,000
 
Initial Funding Source(s):  Personal Savings

First "woohoo!" business moment: When I met someone at my son's school, and they heard that I teach parents how to make their baby's food. She asked, "As in Gaia Baby Food?" For an extremely small business in Portland, that has done little advertising, I was so surprised that someone knew of my company.  I knew at that time, the ways I had gotten our name out was working.   

Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: Our target market was too slim and the time period that baby's would use our product was too short.  It was very hard to build long term repeat customers.  It seemed when we gained a new customer, we lost a customer.  I re-evaluated the company, and changed the company's focus from food production to the education of making baby food.  It broadened our target market significantly.   
   
How you feel about competition in your industry: I believe competition makes you stronger.  There's no other company in Portland who does the same thing.  My competition locally is cookbooks and information on the internet.  

Greatest source of clients for your biz: Referrals and word of mouth.  

Your inspiration: My children are my inspiration. I want every baby in the US to have the same advantages as mine did when they were introduced to food.   

#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow: Listen to other people's suggestions, but you know your business the best so listen to your gut.   

#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Having designated "kid" days where no work is done, and email is checked minimally.  Those days, I plan something fun for us to do, and my attention is completely on the kids.   

Our MOM-E of the Month for January 2009 is Fara Heath, owner of Sound Roots School of Music. The music school is located in Portland, Oregon and was founded in July 2008. Fara is also the mother to Miles, age 2.
 
Target audience: Music lovers, appreciators, and knowledge seekers of all ages and skill levels.
 
Job held before you started this biz: I tend to be a serial career jumper but in a nutshell, I have spent time as a counselor to troubled teens, a web designer in Times Square, the owner of a 85+ member art collective, an interior designer, and as a partner in a daycare.   I think most of all, I really gravitate towards jobs where I work for myself and feed both my creative and entrepreneurial spirits at the same time.  A music school is a long time dream come true for Chris and I, born in the early days of our relationship.
 
Initial Start-Up Costs: About $25,000
 
Initial Funding Source(s): Personal savings and loans

First "woohoo!" business moment: I would say the very first was the day we held our first class in the school.  We had a lot of hurdles in nailing down our location and when our beautiful foursquare was finally filled with music, I was really overwhelmed with accomplishment. 

Since then, my personal highlight has been at the finale of our Thanksgiving Rocks! camp.  It was our first holiday rock camp ever and it could not have gone better!  We did the final showcase at a local music venue and the kids (some of whom had never picked up an instrument before camp) were incredible!  They worked so hard and had a blast!  I was so proud to be a part of such a wonderful adventure and so grateful to be able to call this my job!
 
Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: We have only been open for 3 months so I am sure there will be plenty more to come, but so far, I would say when we put on free promotional Rookie Rock classes for kids ages 0-6 with no RSVP required.  We ended up with 40-50 toddlers and their folks!  Our regular classes are maxed out at 8 kids, for obvious reasons.  What we thought was going to be a great marketing opportunity possibly ended up giving people a negative first impression instead.  We were totally unprepared for the large attendance - and it simply didn't work.  It was a good lesson in quality vs. quantity.  Offering free services is a great marketing tool, but it is very important to make sure you can make a top notch first impression or it can actually work against you.

How you feel about competition in your industry: Every music school is working towards the same mission as us and anyone who is offering a quality, positive, self-confidence-building music education has our full and complete support. Because each music school offers their own individual style and teaching methods, we are not really at competition with each other but rather can be seen as complimentary to one another.  Luckily, Portland residents value music education so there is plenty of business to go around.

Greatest source of clients for your biz: Word of mouth, web sites/blogs.

Your inspiration: Music and how it moves people. And of course, the students.  I am inspired by the fact that they are not afraid to be vulnerable or challenged and there is nothing better to me than seeing a student have that "a-ha" moment when they really begin to "get it". 
 
#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow: Don't be afraid to take risks.  People are always telling me how much courage it takes to go out on a limb and start a business - especially in this economy.  I often joke that some people may call it courage while others call it sheer insanity.  But seriously, the way I see it -- adventure is what life is all about.  And really, if it is not going to kill you, then what is the worst thing that can happen?  Money and material things can always be replaced.  In my eyes, the potential benefits of the risk greatly outweigh the potential loss. 

#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Be present in the moment.  When at work be at work and when at home be at home -- and be sure to take time for yourself.  This is especially important when you are business partners with your spouse!

The December MOM-E of the Month is Stacey Lynn Fisher, owner of Stacey Lynn Talks, a professional voiceover company for radio and television commercials, narration and phone messaging systems. Stacey is mom to three boys: Griffin (6) and twins Cameron and Christopher (2).
 
Year business was founded: 2008

Target audience: Advertising agencies, production houses, businesses looking for a fresh new voice to represent them

Job held before you started this biz: Radio personality.  And I'm actually headed back to morning radio next month! (not allowed to announce the station yet but listen for me on the radio 5-10am starting January 5th!)

Initial Start-Up Costs: $4500

Initial Funding Source(s): myself

First "woohoo!" business moment: The first week my studio and website were up and running I had six voiceovers!

Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: Always buy the replacement warranty for your computer!  Especially when your business is conducted solely on your laptop. Oh yeah, and don't have liquids anywhere near your laptop. I spilled a glass of water and it cost me $600 to fix my computer and another grand or so in lost business during the interim.

How you feel about competition in your industry: Competition is crazy in voiceovers, especially now with the struggling radio industry. As radio personalities lose their jobs they're turning to voice work. However there is always an opportunity to get work as every voice is unique and someone out there will find that your voice is THE voice they've been looking for.

Greatest source of clients for your biz: Word of mouth!  When past clients are talking about how happy they were working with me, they'll pass it along.

Your inspiration: My boys are my inspiration, my motivation, my reason for being.  My mom never got to do what she wanted for a living, and we struggled financially.  So to be able to do what I love and support my family is a blessing I'm thankful for every day. What an amazing example to set for my kids! 

#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow: Do your homework!!!! Know your industry, your competition, and what your niche is.  Why will your product or service be better than your competitors?  

#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Have a schedule that includes time for work, time for play with the kids, time for my marriage, and time for me to mentally shut down. That's A LOT to fit into a day.  I had some big guilt issues in the beginning.  Working from home it's a lot harder to separate things.  I finally set a work schedule, moved my studio/office upstairs, and let myself do what I needed to do.  Once I set that schedule and shared my goals and expectations with my family I lost the guilt and became a much more productive business owner AND mother. 

The November MOM-E of the Month is Megan Thomas, owner of Peekaboo Picks, an online magazine based
near Seattle, Washington. Megan is mom to Aiden, age 2, and Ireland, age 7 months.
Year business was founded: February 2007
Target audience: hip moms everywhere
Job held before you started this biz: Prior to Peekaboo, I worked as a Marketing Coordinator in the Real Estate arena.
Initial Start-Up Costs: Very minimal; We designed and built our online magazine ourselves.
Initial Funding Source(s): We are completely self-funded
First "woohoo!" business moment: Running Peekaboo Picks Magazine has been a constant series of "woohoos!" both for ourselves and for the companies we partner with.  When an owner emails me to let me know their traffic doubled the day they were featured on Peekaboo, that's such a great feeling.  We've also helped companies land wholesale accounts and be picked up by major media outlets and for me, that's what it's all about!
Biggest Mistake-Turned-Teaching-Moment: Over the past year, Peekaboo has grown by leaps and bounds.  When companies started to take notice of our site, I was flooded with product review requests and buried in a never ending inbox.  I made the mistake of thinking I could do it all myself and I ended up falling way behind.  Then a friend of mine suggested The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss, what an amazing book!  After reading the book, I decided to bring on a team of writers and product reviewers as well as a product review coordinator.  I'm now able to focus my time on growing the business as well as work on my new business.
How you feel about competition in your industry: I've spent many hours researching our competition.  When I started Peekaboo Picks, I had no idea what I was getting into but since then I have truly honed my Internet research skills.  There are now hundreds, if not thousands, of mom review sites so it was important for us to stand out from the crowd.  Peekaboo Picks is not just a review blog, it is an online magazine.  Each week we feature a fresh issue including five regular columnists, along with a "Peek of the Week" and a weekly Fab Swag Giveaway.  Other features of the site include our trendsetting product blog, video casts, and a lively hip mom community.  We're also lucky enough to have an in-house graphic designer (my husband) who makes Peekaboo really stand out from the crowd with it's amazing "look" and professionally designed email newsletters.
Greatest source of clients for your biz: Word of mouth!  We also have a great return on investment from our editorial placements.  Companies who have been featured on Peekaboo have such a great response that they often return to us for their advertising needs as well.
Your inspiration: My kids, of course!  With two small babies, it was important for me to find a way to be home with them during the day.  They are the fuel that keeps me working until the wee hours of the night!
#1 piece of business advice everyone should follow: Do what you love and the money will follow.  I absolutely love running Peekaboo Picks and consider it a privilege that I am able to do it - regardless of the money (or lack thereof).  It has opened up so many doors for me, and has led me to new opportunities that I am thrilled to be pursuing.  I believe that quality of life is the most important thing.  If you're not happy doing what you're doing, then it really doesn't matter how much money you make.  I also find that general happiness, a positive attitude, and passion for your work is where success happens.
#1 sanity-saving tip for work/life balance: Never wish away your time with your children.  As working moms, quality time with our kids might be limited so make the most of it.  I'm my most productive after a quality day spent with the kids (I do a lot of my work in the evenings).  And if you work from home, make sure you get out of the house (even if it's just a walk around the block) every day!