Can you hear us, world?
Valentines Gifts Quick, Homemade!!
There are so many great Mothersofinventiontv moms who have creative business, products and services that will make great Valentines Day Gifts…Look at the links below and go support these moms in business. Just for fun here is my video take on some great gifts you can make at home for under 5 dollars in a flash!
Here are some great products made by creative women…I love em all go check these out at Esty.com
  
http://www.etsy.com/index.php
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From Ladies Who Launch two more Mothersofinventiontv heros!
Victoria Colligan the founder of Ladies Who Launch is helping moms spread the word about the business they are working so hard to grow and promote. I love this contest she is having with Startupnation if you want to see the power, the creative flair, and the drive of a women please go check out all the moms in business and vote for a few.http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-2009
Below are two women that Ladies who Launch have featured on their web site and I wanted to pass this story onto you.
Romy Taormina and Carla Falcone
June 16th, 2008 ·
Co-Founders, Psi Bands
www.psibands.com
Many women know that pregnancy will ultimately give them a little bundle of joy, but for Romy Taormina and Carla Falcone, it also gave them a booming business venture.
Their company, Psi Bands, was born out of both women’s morning sickness. While Romy was helping with Carla’s baby shower, the two rejoiced in their discovery of acupressure bands and how much they helped, but bonded over the fact that despite their efficacy, the bands weren’t so pretty to look at. Surely, they thought, someone could be doing a better job with this uber-useful accessory. With the help of third partner Pieter Schouten, who brought engineering and design to the table, Psi Bands was born.
What we learned from Romy: “Grow at a manageable pace. Don’t go for the gusto, because the gusto could put you out of business.”
Style Meets Function
Romy: “We wanted to make bands that were stylish and more functional. The products that were on the market weren’t even waterproof. These are acupressure bands that have been scientifically proven to relieve not only nausea from morning sickness, but also nausea from motion sickness, anesthesia, and chemotherapy. For a product to help relieve motion sickness, you need them to be waterproof. We wanted our bands to be not only waterproof and comfortable but we wanted to be able to adjust the amount of pressure that is being applied. And we wanted to customize the fit. That’s why we created a watch-style band.”
Filling in the Gaps
“Carla and I both have business backgrounds and had worked at PR and advertising agencies. We realized we needed additional expertise, and that’s why we brought in our third business partner, Pieter. He has the engineering and design component that we lacked. Pieter is a product designer by trade, this is what he does, so we started with the napkin sketches and talked about the inadequacies of competing products.”
What’s in a Name
“‘Psi Bands’ is a play on words. ‘Sigh’ as in ‘breathe a sigh of relief’ and ‘PSI’ as in ‘pounds per square inch,’ which is a unit of pressure.”
Prototype to Physical Product
“Pieter went to his computer and sketched it out, then we hired an engineer to create the design file. The design files are then shared with the manufacturer, who we found through personal relationships. A lot of our success has been based on who we know or asking for help. We went through several prototype revisions and fine-tuning, making sure that all the t’s were crossed and the i’s were dotted until we were pleased. That’s when we launched into production.”
Then, the Production Process …
“The production process is when the engineer comes into play, because he specs it out spatially, then the design file is sent to the manufacturer. Pieter works directly with the manufacturer testing different materials—what works well, what molds together well. We had to hire a fulfillment center, which we also found through word of mouth. Once the product was shipped from overseas it was sent to the fulfillment center, and then directly to our retailer. Our first account was Longs Drugs: 500 stores.”
Networking at the Mommy Group
“Carla had her first baby and was in a mommy’s group, and one of the moms sitting next to her happened to be the daughter-in-law of the president of Longs. The woman told her father-in-law about the product and he put the buyer in touch with Carla. From that point we set up an in-person meeting, met with two buyers, rolled into two different departments of their store, and that all was based on a prototype. We have an MSRP of $14.99-$19.99. We are rolling out into 5,000 Rite Aid stores this month. And we will be on QVC.”
Waiting on the FDA
“Getting FDA clearance was our biggest challenge. We are not a typical start-up company, in that we have a Class II medical device. We have to adhere to certain government regulations. We are an FDA-cleared product.”
Money, Money, Money
“Our initial investment was probably $150,000, which came from investments and home equity lines of credit. We split the cost evenly. We financed it for quite a while and then it got to a point where we got a bank line of credit. It’s our goal within the next six to nine months to start paying that money down, but right now it’s important to keep putting any money that we do earn back into the company.”
The Patent Truth
“You can patent a design, but you cannot patent an idea. Anybody can create an acupressure device, but our design is unique and that’s what’s patented.”
Sharing the Vision—Or Not
“Our biggest mistake was partnering with people who did not have the same long-term vision we share. For example, we are on our third Web site programmer, and we finally feel like we found the right one. The Web site is an evolving platform, and we need someone who will continue to grow with us.”
A Balancing Act
“It’s a juggling act. I primarily work when the kids are in school, when they go to bed, and on the weekends. I try to balance that with trying to make sure that my relationship with my husband is strong, so I need to know where to draw the line; if it’s not urgent it can wait until the next business day.”
Believe and You Will Achieve
“The personal gratification I feel is on many levels. I have extreme empathy for people who suffer from nausea after experiencing such very difficult pregnancies of my own. Being able to provide people with something they feel good about wearing, not only from a fashion standpoint, but also from a physical standpoint, is great. I was taught as a child that if you put your mind to something you can accomplish it. I enjoy that I am a role model for my children.”
This Featured Lady was profiled by Kristin Herold, a freelance writer and entertainment reporter in Los Angeles.
Ladies Who Launch & Startupnation Cool sites and Gals!!
16 years ago when I was getting ready to Launch a Chicago media company created for moms by moms, I only ran into brick walls. That was a time when a company who wanted to market to moms only wanted to use print and TV. When I started a radio program with a web site most big business told me busy moms don’t go on the web and they never listen to the radio. It took a few years but thanks to you and all these wonderful “Mompreneurs” a word created by two of my fav radio guests back from the 1990’s Ellen H. Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe we have showed them. So a huge shout out to all of you. I can’t wait to have you all on my new show, until then check out these cool sites and contests they have going on!! Love Em!!
A Tribute to Moms in Business
Everybody knows one. Like a super hero, she balances running a family with the heroics of running her own business. We’re talking about moms in business, of course. And now, StartupNation is conducting its first annual ranking of these astonishing entrepreneurs and the businesses they run.
But, how do we know who’s the best of the best? We’re leaving that to you. Over the next few months, it’ll be your daily votes that will tell us who deserves to be named a winner. The list of the 200 winners will be published in May and will be ranked according to votes accumulated.
The competition has just begun taking entries, so sign up now. Or, if you know a dynamo mom who should enter, tell her to sign up! http://www.startupnation.com/leading-moms-2009
Mompreneurs: Real-Life Wonder Women
June 30th, 2008 · 3 Comments
by Christine Janssen,
Ladies Who Launch member, New York City, & Erin Higgins
Being a new business owner and a new mother are among the greatest challenges any woman can face. Doing both at the same time requires a certain set of skills and characteristics, including lots of determination, patience, and multitasking. (And perhaps that occasional glass of red wine at the end of a hectic day.) Introducing the “mompreneur” …
What exactly is a mompreneur? Intuitively speaking, she is a woman who simultaneously balances the roles of motherhood and entrepreneurship. The term is typically used to describe a woman who leaves the workplace to raise children and then launches a small, home-based business rather than returning to the traditional workplace. But this isn’t the only path to mompreneurship. Oftentimes women are first and foremost entrepreneurs and then become mothers.
More http://www.ladieswholaunch.com/magazine/mompreneurs-real-life-wonder-women/1537
Kudos to Thenextbigzing.com
The Next Big Zing is a new concept in watching videos on line, see great product reviews by a mompreneuer that loves to uncover these wonderful inventors and artists. You’ll hear stories about their “aha moments” and find that special gift for yourself or someone you love. Each week we will post new reviews, from skin care, to yoga wear to amazing baby and children’s products.
Go to http://Thenextbigzing.com and check em out!!
Meet Dhana Cohen Creator of “The Next Big Zing”
Late Spring 2007, Dhana Cohen a momprenuer was watching Oprah, with the young men who created youtube, at that moment Dhana’s ah ha moment was uncovered. I thought, how can I take the video concept and apply it to something I love…shopping. And that is how The Next Big Zing was born.
What is The Next Big Zing? A website and blog
of product reviews with amazing inventors and artists, a twist- shopping through watching video.
The Next Big Zing’s blog is now launched at
www.thenextbigzing.wordpress.com. Our plan is to launch the website 1st. quarter 2009. You will be > able to shop through the video reviews on the website.
We promise that the products you will see are unique and out of the ordinary, you’ll get to experience these wonderful products in action , find out why these inventors developed their ideas.
Boot Bop Created by Two Busy Moms
The Mothers of Invention T.V.
Moms and product pick of the week are the Boot Bop Moms.
Photo from productivity.net
Photo from Productivity.net
Alyssa & Kathy came up with their creative product while sitting at their sons’ basketball game. They noticed that many kids and moms were wearing Uggs or shearling boots, they came up with a creative way to make those boots look better, and give them a bit of personality. Boot Bop was born. The Boot Bop pins about the size of a penny that snap into the boots. The Boot Bop pins are versatile and can be attached to many items, hats, scarves, backpacks and any other fabric item. This past year Boot Bop has expanded it line and now carries Necklaces, Zipper Pulls, Bracelet Wraps, and Sneaker Bops. Check out their oh so cute web site at www.bootbop.com
We are ready to go! Thanks to our MOI Ali!! Thank you!!
It starts with a dream. Welcome to a place where your passion is exposed. We share products, services, events and businesses created for women, by women.
Meet the women, mothers, wives, and creative spirits who are today’smothers of invention. Hear how these women have overcome challenges, schedules, budgets, and much more and were able to bring their product, service or business to market.
We are a unique and dynamic group whose passions run deep and dreams are becoming realized.
Every show, hear profiles of three Mompreneur businesses and their stories, advice, tips, hints and more.
We know your target market because we are your target market.
Supporting each other is key: we need inspiration, education, information and old fashioned elbow grease.
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