Meet Amanda Jenner, a mom who successfully created a business out of a need most parents have: a portable potty for their toddlers. Amanda stared her business, the My Carry Potty, in 2009, and her business is doing so well, she recently was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year in Dorset, U.K.
My Carry Potty is now stocked in more than 80 independent and 40 web-based stores in the U.K., with 22,000 units sold to date. My Carry Potty is being distributed in the United States by Regal Lager, and made its debut at the ABC Expo in October.
Meet two longtime childhood friends-turned business entrepreneurs: Jessie Gifford and Christie Bergstrom. Jessie and Christie first met in Kindergarten–how amazing is that to stay life-long friends and start a business together?
Jessie and Christie started their business, Little Miss Grippy, when they realized there was a need for little girls (and their mommies) who loved tights but slipped on hardwood floors when wearing them. Both Jessie and Christie had full-time jobs, so they worked on their dream in the evenings, seeking out help from their computers. They had questions ranging from something the very basics as “How much do retailers mark up products?” and as complex as “How do we get these things made?”. They sat down armed with only a computer and started searching for anybody who might be able to give them advice, especially local mompreneurs who already had products in the marketplace. They sent out emails explaining a little about their business idea and listed questions they had, and expressing how they would appreciate any guidance they could get.
To Jessie and Christie’s surprise there were many women who responded with some of the most valuable advice. They credit this help and encourage other wannabe mompreneurs to seek out help and support as they did-
“Two basic things kept us from giving up early on. The first was simply putting our questions out into the universe and letting the answers just come and lead us to the next steps. The second thing was staying excited about our new business and not letting the challenges become to overwhelming that we gave up.”
Have an idea for a business? Follow your heart like these moms did, ask questions, ask more questions, and stay excited–you can do it just like they did!
