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Part II Navigating the Manufacturing Process

 Posted: March 16, 2010 at 6:47 pm | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest

Kevin Zanardelli of Innovative Development answers the most common questions about working with a sourcing company. 

Beginning a Manufacturing Process – Part 2

Mar 16th, 2010

Part 2 of our “Beginning a Manufacturing Relationship” blog post by Erin Wilson, President and Chief Mama at Lots to Say Baby, a manufacturer and designer of funny pacifiers.

Bringing your idea to reality – Part II Finding a Manufacturer

Our last post talked about ways to research the manufacturing process.  Once you are armed with some information about production methods, materials you want to use and government regulations that may apply it is time to start narrowing your search to find a factory that can help you bring your product to reality. 

This step is a big one – full of important decisions and many questions.  To navigate some of these questions I asked for Kevin Zanardelli from Innovative Development’s professional feedback.  The Innovative Development team has been ingrained in the Juvenile Products business for over 20 years and have been working with companies (including Lots to Say Baby) to develop their products for 20 years with factories in the US, Europe and Asia. 

What is the best way to find a manufacturer abroad?

Networking.   The best resource you may have is from another business owner who is happy with their current overseas supplier.   Someone who has gone through the new product development (NPD) process already and has successfully been producing and shipping goods with the supplier for some time is an invaluable resource.       There are many, many overseas Factories that are trying to get your business.    An internet search for “China manufacturers” will yield thousands (millions, actually) of links.   Factories can vary widely in size, quality, and manufacturing technology.   If you do not have a fellow business owner that can point you in the right direction, there are some other options and questions you can ask to get a better feeling on how a factory measures up.  More on that to follow. 

Continue reading the entire post at:

http://www.equinoxbusinesslaw.com/blog/2010/03/beginning-a-manufacturing-process-part-2/

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Navigating the Manufacturing Process - Part 1

 Posted: March 15, 2010 at 10:50 am | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest

Here is a copy of the  guest blog post on Equinox Business Law’s Blog this week.  Chief  Momma , Erin Wilson shares her experience as an entrepreneur and mompreneurin bringing a product idea from dream to reality. 

http://www.equinoxbusinesslaw.com/blog/2010/03/beginning-a-manufacturing-process-part-1/

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A Community of Integrity - ideas from Dean Bruner

 Posted: January 4, 2010 at 3:12 pm | by
Filed under: Building a Business, Articles of Interest

I am a big fan of Dean Bruner’s blog.  I have always found his perspective insightful and interesting.  His latest blog post on integrity seemed perfectly suited for the new year so I thought I would pass it on.  Below is an excerpt - I recommend clicking to the link and checking out his other posts.

http://www.darden.virginia.edu/html/DeansBlog.aspx

Creating a Community of Integrity

“We can afford to lose money. We can afford to lose a lot of money. But we cannot afford to lose one shred of our reputation. Make sure everything you do can be reported on the front page of your local newspaper written by an unfriendly, but intelligent reporter.”

– Warren Buffett [1]

Last spring, a prospective student—someone who had been offered admission and was considering joining our community–approached me and said, “You talk a lot about ethics and integrity in your speeches, blog postings, and tweets.  Does Darden have an ethics problem?”  I replied, “No—precisely because we do talk about ethics and integrity pretty regularly.  They are not values that we store in a cupboard and only bring out on ceremonial occasions; they are part of our daily life.”  The person smiled politely and turned to someone else for conversation, giving no hint as to the kind of impression I had left.  A community of integrity is not everybody’s cup of tea; almost certainly, we lose some students who won’t make a commitment to a high community standard.  Thus, it was with a bit of surprise and satisfaction that I saw this person enroll last August.  Does all our talk about ethics help or hurt us? 

A truism in management and family life is “if you can’t talk about it, it won’t get done.”  Making progress on anything important is not a matter of …

continue reading at http://www.darden.virginia.edu/html/deansblog.aspx?id=20752&blogid=198

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Moms need some pretty cool driving skills

 Posted: August 15, 2009 at 10:54 am | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest, Cool Product Reviews

Elizabeth Davies wrote a great article about the driving skills mom all share!  This hit my funny bone particularly because I could relate to each “move” she described!  http://bit.ly/B3Mxi

 If you find yourself doing the Arched Back Pacifier Grab too be sure to check out my life saving finds - the PaciGrip and the SippiGrip at www.Booginhead.com.  Briggs loved to throw sippi cups and always through a fit when he ‘lost’ the cup..and I didn’t love being in the head with a cup :)  The SippiGrip and PaciGrip keeps their necessities right in hands reach - and they can still play the ‘throw’ gam!

Available at Babies R Us, Amazon and boutiques around the country!

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I am not a millionaire..yet by Jennifer Albin

 Posted: December 8, 2008 at 11:37 am | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest

I found this article this morning during my morning ‘email catch up’, mommy millionaire browse and first cup of coffee.  Jennifer’s perspective brought grace and honor to ALL parts of our lives as Moms who own businesses.  I thought it should be shared.

Here is the first paragraph of Jennifer’s article.  Please click through to the rest - it is worth the read regardless of if you own your own business! 

By Jennifer Albin

 

 

I’m not a millionaire. Yet.

That may sound over‐confident to the point of arrogance to some, but to me it is key in maintaining my Mommy Millionaire™ mindset. It’s more than just building a home business or being a female entrepreneur, although that’s certainly part of it. It means being a combination of Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins, June Cleaver, and Oprah.

 

 http://www.mommymillionaire.com/i-am-not-a-millionaireyet/2008/12/1/i-am-not-a-millionaireyet.html

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I am not participating in this recession!

 Posted: October 28, 2008 at 12:43 pm | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest, Off the shelf - what I am reading, About Me

I don’t know about you but I have been on information overload with the economy and the election - it is never ending!  You know it is bad when my MIL is screening calls because she can’t stand another political call (DC is the WORST place for tons of calls!)

Anyway, I have spent a lot of time contemplating how I feel about all of the events.  How I will vote.  How I will grow our business.  How will our family be impacted.

I have also gotten a lot of signs that things are going to be just fine.  Yes, we are in a tough economy in transition.  Things are going to change (we all hate change :) ).  But we are going to be fine.  Remember, no one actually DIED from buying Target brand shoes over Jimmy Choos!

Back to the signs..

Sean recently went to a networking event where everyone wore pins that said “I am choosing not to participate in the recession”.  LOVE THAT!

I heard a snippet of a story on NPR yesterday (B was screaming so I missed the rest :) ) that talked about how many Native American cultures consider being rich as a negative thing.  You aren’t sharing enough.

The sermon at church on Sunday was about tithing and reworking your budget in todays economy so it DOES work (ie. 86 the Choos).

Then I saw this video from Toilet Paper Entrepeneurs which basically explained HOW you make it through these down turns.

So the way I see it..we are going to be just fine.  The signs are there.  

Just think of it as a Diet.  We are all cranky the first week, then things get a bit better but it takes some time before you actually don’t CRAVE McDonalds.

THEN

  • You realize you have more energy from less.
  • You can run after your 2 year old a bit faster - heels are hard to run in anyway :)
  • Your mind is clearer.
  • You can’t ever imagine living the way you ‘used to’. 
  • Life was more complicated anyway with all of our ’stuff’!

It is time for the change.  Don’t run from it.  Embrace it with open eyes and smart decisions and you will come out of this transition just fine..and maybe even smarter and more confident than before.

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Rev. Run Says..

 Posted: August 1, 2008 at 12:56 am | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest, Off the shelf - what I am reading, About Me

I love Rev Run (as in Run DMC - circa 1980’s)!  His daily word is often just what I need to start my morning off right :)  Strangley enough it also always seems well  timed - like today’s message:

Good morning. Once in a while, throughout the day, stop, sit down, and become aware of your breathing for a few seconds or minutes. Watch your breath go in and out. Fully accept the present moment and the way you are feeling. Do not try or wish for anything to change, JUST BREATHE, LET GO AND LET GOD.

 
God is Love
Rev Run

Breath!  Why didn’t I think of that?!  Sarcasm aside..sometimes we need a reminder.  I actually DO forget to step back and breath for a moment :)

You can received RR’s daily words too by clicking here http://revrun.uber.com/wordsofwisdom

His daily words and quotes are perfect with your first cup of coffee!

-Chief Momma

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Lots 2 Say Baby in the News!

 Posted: June 5, 2008 at 9:36 am | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest, Media

Lots 2 Say Baby was part of an AM Northwest feature on KATU Portland.  The focus was on great gifts under $25 found at the Portland Gift Show!  Check out the segment by clicking on the link below. 

http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/19534874.html

No Comment (Our new saying!), Too Cute, Volume Control, Got Latte?, and ttyl were all featured.  It is always so exciting to see our products on TV - they look so cute! 

Have a great day!  It’s Thursday already!

Erin

Chief Momma

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Great Article on Mompreneur - Ingrid Carney

 Posted: April 11, 2008 at 2:54 pm | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest

I read this article this morning on my Blackberry as Briggs was building with his blocks. I was pondering a few of the business strategies I have been working on and loved the spark of energy Ingrid’s story brought me! It is not all fluff and fun - it strikes an honest cord that I found to be so helpful from a person farther a long the path of starting a business!

Enjoy!

Modern Mompreneur: Ingrid Carney Transforms a Tube Top Into a Must-Have for Moms

By Alison Singh Gee

Women always ask Ingrid Carney how she came up with the idea for her product, the BellaBand, a simple-yet-ingenious elastic band that allows pregnant women to gracefully wear their favorite clothes as their bellies expand. Like so many creators before her, Ingrid says that necessity was the mother of her invention. “I was newly pregnant and my belly popped,” says the mom of two daughters, Isabel, 6, and Sasha, 3. “I wasn’t big enough to fill maternity wear yet there was no possibility of buttoning my pants.” Out of desperation, she reached for an old tube top and found that it did the trick.
“I un-tucked my blouse, left the house, and no one knew my pants were undone,” she recalls. Ingrid wore that same tube top until it could no longer accommodate her blossoming belly, all the while wishing she could find something similar – although bigger and stretchier –to wear throughout the next few months. “It made me wonder if other women might want something like this,” she recalls.
The stay-at-home mom, who had previously worked as an executive in marketing and advertising, decided to go for it. “I did some research and my husband and I concluded that this could be a smart investment.” She took $30,000 from her personal savings and launched her company. With BellaBand in hand, Ingrid hit the pavement, visiting maternity boutiques throughout San Francisco, and challenged pregnant saleswomen and storeowners to try it for themselves.
Some seven years after starting up, BellaBand is a seven-figure company whose products are sold in 800 boutiques throughout North America and abroad. For many such stores, it’s a top-selling product. Ingrid lives with her advertising executive husband, George, and Isabel and Sasha in San Francisco, working out of an office in Pacific Heights. Even though she’s the boss, she finds that balancing family and her own company is not always so seamless. “Absolutely, there are time when I’d like to give the whole business up,” says Ingrid. “But luckily, the storm always passes.” Here, Ingrid shares her secrets for becoming a hugely successful Modern Mompreneur.
What was the inspiration for the BellaBand?
My “a-ha moment” happened when I was desperately trying to find something other than a safety pin or rubber band, not only hold up my pants, but appear smooth under a blouse. In a rush, I thought (without clearly thinking) a large band-aide would do the trick. Once I reached the first aide kit, I quickly realized it wouldn’t adhere well too clothing, but next to the large bandages was an ace bandage. This was my first leap from a localized solution to something actually wrapping around my body. The ace bandage wouldn’t stay in place as it was too narrow but I immediately considered tube-like items, like the top portion or hosiery or tube tops. While neither was perfect, they did the trick in the short term. Soon, I realized I was wearing my less-than-perfect, makeshift maternity accessory often.
What were you doing before you started Ingrid & Isabel, the company behind the BellaBand?
When I thought of the BellaBand, it was February 2001. I was shutting down a venture-backed start-up I co-founded with two women. We’d raised $6 million in financing, employed 20 people for nearly two years and created a great business. However, our business wasn’t lucrative enough to capture investor interest for a second round of financing in a failing market so we closed our doors early enough to offer severance and help some of our people find new jobs. I personally chose to not work, take it easy, enjoy my pregnancy and have my baby as a non-working, relaxed new mom.
What made you believe you could turn the BellaBand into a business?
The BellaBand solved a problem; it was an unmet need women had been living with for years and self-remedying with rubber bands, safety pins and upsizing to ill-fitting clothing alternatives. My training taught me to test a market prior to determining a market need, as I was merely a test market of one. So, I tested among many women in the Bay Area. The results were overwhelming. I knew I had something that would more than solve a need. It could help anyone who was pregnant and it would sell.
How did you finance the start up? What was your initial investment?
Ingrid & Isabel was self-financed with about $30k. With an invention, there were added costs such as patent research, application and prosecution. Having done the research to show a potential success, my husband and I concluded it could be a smart investment, and it was.
How did you choose the name BellaBand?
This is a funny story. When I was considering names, I first thought of “Belly Band” because it made perfect sense. However, when I Googled “Belly Band,” two subjects would come up: 1) a body harness to conceal weaponry often used by undercover officers, the FBI and so forth and: 2) a garment for dogs in heat. Needless to say, I had to move beyond the obvious and be more creative. When I considered my brand elements—including “Isabel” incorporated in the company name, the tagline (“Yes, you look beautiful”) and what women told us of how they felt or wanted to feel when pregnant—“BellaBand” was a perfect choice.

Click here to view the rest of the article: http://modernmom.com/working_mom/article/1914/P2/

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Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby?

 Posted: April 7, 2008 at 3:37 pm | by
Filed under: Articles of Interest

Hi Everyone!  - recently rearranged my site so that the articles I feature are all on my blog vs. a page on my site.  This is one of the articles I found crucial not only in my research phase of Lots 2 Say Baby - but as a Mom looking for answers!  I hope you find it as helpful as I did!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pacifiers/PR00067

Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby? 

For many parents, pacifiers are must-have baby gear. Here are the pros and cons, plus pacifier do’s and don’ts.Babies are born wanting to suck. Some even suck their thumbs or fingers before they’re born. Beyond nutrition, sucking is often an important method of self-soothing — a comforting, familiar and calming mechanism in a new world.That’s why many parents rank pacifiers as must haves, right up there with diaper wipes and baby monitors. But are pacifiers really OK for your baby? Although the answer to that question is often debated, the American Academy of Pediatrics gives pacifiers the green light throughout baby’s first year.

The pros

For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

  • A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they’re sucking on something.
  • A pacifier offers temporary distraction. When your baby’s hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to find a comfortable spot to nurse or to prepare a bottle. A pacifier also may come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.
  • A pacifier may help your baby go to sleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.
  • Pacifiers may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use during sleep and a reduced risk of SIDS.
  • Pacifiers are disposable. When it’s time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your baby prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.

The cons

Of course, pacifiers have pitfalls as well. Consider the drawbacks:

  • Early pacifier use may interfere with breast-feeding. Sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Some babies have trouble learning how to nurse properly if they’re given a pacifier too soon.
  • Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth.
  • Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections. However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest from birth to age 6 months — when the risk of SIDS is the highest and your baby may be most interested in a pacifier.
  • Prolonged pacifier use may lead to dental problems. Normal pacifier use during the first few years of life doesn’t cause long-term dental problems. If your child continues to use a pacifier persistently, however, his or her top front teeth may slant out or the upper and lower jaws may be misaligned.

Pacifier do’s and don’ts

If you choose to offer your baby a pacifier, keep these tips in mind.

  • Wait until breast-feeding is well established. Be patient. It may take a few weeks or more to settle into a regular nursing routine. If you’re breast-feeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to introduce a pacifier until your baby is 1 month old.
  • Let your baby set the pace. If your baby’s not interested in the pacifier, try again later — or skip it entirely. Don’t force the issue.
  • Choose the one-piece, dishwasher-safe variety. Pacifiers made of two pieces pose a choking hazard if they break. The shape and firmness is up to you — or your baby.
  • Buy extras. Once you’ve settled on a favorite pacifier, keep a few identical backups on hand. Many babies refuse a substitute pacifier.
  • Keep it clean. Before you use a new pacifier, wash it with soap and water. To keep fungus at bay, soak your baby’s pacifier in equal parts white vinegar and water for a few minutes a day. Allow the pacifier to air dry thoroughly before returning it to your baby. Resist the temptation to “rinse” the pacifier in your own mouth. You’ll only spread more germs to your baby.
  • Watch for signs of deterioration. Replace pacifiers often. A worn or cracked nipple can tear off and pose a choking hazard.
  • Use caution with pacifier clips. Never use a string or strap long enough to get caught around your baby’s neck.
  • Let sleeping babies lie. If the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth while he or she is sleeping, don’t pop it back in.
  • Try other ways to calm your baby. Don’t use a pacifier as a first line of defense. Sometimes a change of position or a rocking session may be all that’s needed. If your baby is hungry, offer the breast or a bottle.
  • Know when to pull the plug. Most kids stop using pacifiers on their own between ages 2 and 4. If you’re concerned about your child’s pacifier use, consult his or her doctor for suggestions.

The bottom line

The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Let go of any guilt or pressure as you learn what works best for your baby.

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