Jill Leech: Mompreneur, Potty Queen
It seems every parent has an idea for a great product that would make life with young kids a little easier. But Jill Leech took her ideas and turned them into a business. Potty Tots is a potty training program that Jill developed for her third child. So how do you go from good idea to Mompreneur? Here’s the poop, I mean scoop…
How long does it take to go from ‘ah-ha’ to getting press in the magazines?
For Potty Tots, it took us two years from the idea phase to having a complete product that we could market. From there it has taken us a year to get some coverage in the media (mostly social media and local parent magazines). It is difficult to get into the major parenting magazines as a feature article. We are actively pursuing all avenues of marketing including retailers, children’s catalogs, and trade shows. We have even sent Potty Tots kits to over 50 celebrity parents! (even Hollywood stars have to potty train their children!)
How do you go about finding an illustrator?
I found most of my artists online at www.ifreelance.com. (illustrator, animator, musician, printer etc…) I was so fortunate to be able to find a talented illustrator (Jennifer Ware of Zenware Designs) who captured my vision of the Potty Tots and brought them to life! I am happy with the way everything turned out, especially considering I worked with most of the development and design team online! (very 21st century!)
Did you partner with someone who had experience starting a business or did you just figure it out as you went along?
Most of starting Potty Tots was learning as I went along (and I learned a lot! ) Luckily my husband had the business background and experience with manufacturing and sourcing in China and was able to find a great printer for us and handle the logistics of shipping etc…
Did you ever consider just throwing in the towel?
I never considered throwing in the towel. We launched Potty Tots right in the middle of a recession and I knew it would be tough. But I knew we had a great product and that there is a great need for help with potty training so I kept on believing!
You partnered with your sister. What do you say to the people who warn against going into business with family?
With family, as with any business partner, you have to make sure that you are on the same page when it comes to anything from ideas on how to develop the product to how much money you are willing to spend on production, advertising etc… My advice is to find someone with the same vision, excitement and work ethic and you will be successful.
ChefTony of Visions Restaurant: on sharp knives, social media, and my gazpacho
Chef Tony (@ChefTony on Twitter) of Visions Restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland is a social media guru… with a very sharp knife. We had a few moments to chat before last night’s DC Tweep Up and one of the employees was nice enough to hold my Flip camera…for 10 minutes straight. I don’t know his name but hats off to the camera work dude!
Chef Tony was also willing to taste my gazpacho, and show me the proper way to chop an onion. The one-handed egg cracking trick will have to wait until next time.
If you are in the DC area be sure to visit Visions Restaurant, and check out Sisarina for the next Tweet Up date.
Thanks Tony!
Janine
Balance is a Journey – You Never Reach the Top
We had the privilege at BlogHer to talk with Stacey Weckstein, author or Create a Balance and Life Coach. Her thoughts on creating a balance in your life, and how she is reaching out to young moms are inspirational…so much so she sent Janine a little OFF BALANCE…you’ll see in the video…
How did she come up with her vision? Stacey shares the how, why and when of her journey…
@JoeSchmitt: On stealing material from his wife and not wearing a hat
Recently I had the opportunity to interview “Mr. Twitter Funny Guy”, Joe Schmitt. And, I owe him an apology.
Sorry Joe.
Sorry for calling your ‘Mr. Funny Guy’ one too many times (in terms of interviewers I have lots to learn…or do I?).
Sorry for not taking your advice and heading into a quiet corner.
That said, Joe was a sport and lived up to his reputation for humor. He was also soooo very nice.
We talked about the fact that everyone thinks he is wearing a hat in his avatar picture on Twitter. We discussed where he gets his humorous material (lately he’s been stealing from his wife who is newly on Twitter herself so that’s going to have to stop) and we discussed why he has no reference to his ‘real’ job on his website or Twitter bio.
If you love @JoeSchmitt watch this (and try to ignore the background activity AND his mid-western accent).
We love you Joe!
Janine (@twincident)
Linda (@shortpumppreppy)
Let the Voting Begin! #bestlegs at #blogher09
July 31, 2009 by Linda
Filed under Behind The Scenes, People
Here are your top 12! You know judges…they can’t just decide on 10, so we came to common ground on this dozen HAWT legs.
Sometimes it was the pose, sometimes it was the SHOES, sometimes the well defined *please let that be me one day* calves, and sometimes it was *ahem* the tube socks.
But these were the 12 that the judges (Ok, Me, Janine, and Stan from Pacific Shaving Company) agreed were the HAWTEST legs at Blogher 09…and voting starts now and runs through August 7…
Vote for your choice by commenting (here or on the whrrl story) for the legs you love the most.
One Grand Prize Winner will receive a Pacific Shaving Company gift package including one (1) 2-oz. bottle of All Natural Shaving Oil (will last up to a year!), one (1) Nick Stick, and a fancy-schmancy winner button to proudly display on their blog.
Two Runners-Up will receive a 1/2 oz. bottle of All Natural Shaving Oil and a not-quite-as-fancy button to display on their blog.
Laila Ali: newborn baby versus DWTS and sucking it in
I had the opportunity to interview Laila Ali at an event that focused on fighting childhood obesity. As usual I go off-topic and get to the Mom of the Matter. This interview was originally posted here but every time I watch it I feel a little bit better about myself. Why?
Because Laila Ali admits she sucks in her tummy too!
I hope her publicist doesn’t see that and cringe because really – THAT is the stuff that makes a personality like Laila so much more appealing! She. Is. Real. And, more importantly, she is willing to admit it while taking the time to talk to ME…right after being interviewed by CNN (for Realz people).
Here’s to a real mom, and a real woman.
Janine is a mother of twins by day and a Mamarazzi by night. She writes about raising her twins, her neuroses, and reviews on TwoferMom.com.
Leslie Mills: on Yanni’s mustache, Twitter, and living the tour bus life
What’s a girl to do with that tiny bathroom on the tour bus? Is Yanni really that easy going? And what does a performer really think of bloggers and Twitter?
Recently I got behind the scenes of the Yanni Voices tour and got the real story from sultry vocalist Leslie Mills (@Leslie_Mills for you Twitter folk).
