What is your name & how many children do you have?
Cynthia Powell and I have 3 boys.
What’s the name of your company and the inspiration behind it?
My company is Chicks & Cubs. I was a Chemical Engineer in a glue manufacturing plant and did not want to keep doing that after I had kids. I took my oldest son to Atlanta at a month old to have his Patty-Cakes done (and to see family). I had always loved this product because my mother-in-law has them of her 4 children. While getting my son’s done, I found out it was a franchise type business. I did not stop until I opened my busiess with Patty-Cakes about a
year and a half later. The name of my business was developed by my husband. We both love going to zoos. When he came up with Chicks & Cubs. I loved it because the chicks part makes you think of girls and the cubs part makes you think of boys. Both made you think of babies. A good friend of mine from High School did the logo for me.
What is your current business struggle?
I have a hard time staying focused and getting something finished. I tend to twit back and forth and spin my wheels. NOT good for growing a business!!
What is your current business goal?
I would really like to increase my keepsake products. Add more to my line. I have been holding back a little because of the CPSIA issues that came up. But hoping that issue will soon settle out and I can get moving again.
What one quality do you think is a “must-have” for a mom entrepreneur?
Number One is stick to it’ness. I could have easily given up years ago but I am just now seeing the type of success I have dreamed of. Maybe I am a slow learner OR maybe I have done what I could when I could and maintained my
priorities of being a wife and a mom before I am a mom entrepreneur. But I love my business and I am not giving up!!
What 1 thing or person has been very instrumental in your success?
I will give a huge credit to my current success to Cricket Walker. Cricket offers free SEO classes via yahoo groups and following her teaching has gotten me to my success today.
What are your 3 favorite blogs?
Not including The Mogul Mom:
http://www.southernplate.com – The best recipe blog I have found.
http://www.dailyblogtips.com – GREAT infomation about blogging, technology and the internet in general.
http://www.typeamom.net/ – just a load of great MOM information
What is your favorite quote?
“If you are coming to see my house, that is by appointment only and I don’t take appointments. If you are coming to see me, my door is wide open.” I don’t know who said it. I heard it and loved it because it is about LOVING people, not their stuff or their power or their influence or their success. (1 Corinthians 13)
What advice would you give to a new mom entrepreneur?
Take the time to learn from others before you dive in. Set your mind to NEVER give up. Operate your business on NO Debt. Take care of your customers and they will take care of you.
How can we connect with you?
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This was a great feature! So nice to read about other women around the internet!! Great story!
Great to meet you Cynthia! And, what a beautiful business you have that reminds us of how precious our little ones are. I so have to get Patty Cakes done for my baby when I have one…lol.