Personal Touch

When ever I give a gift, I try to think of a way to make it personal. Either I chose a color I know a person loves, or perhaps a theme like sports, music or their favorite animal. This is particularly true when picking a baby gift, especially if it's not their first child. I know that there will be plenty of hand-me-downs, so it's nice to give something that is the baby's very own.

Many people have asked if there is a way to monogram or personalize the nomie baby car seat covers, and now there is! WWW.myembroideredgift.com will personalize your infant or toddler car seat cover, so it will have that special touch. Now whether it's a gift for a 2nd boy, the little sister, or distinguishing one twin from another, it can be their very own. Visit http://www.myembroideredgifts.com/nomiecarseatcover.html to send a baby present that is unique and shows that you really thought about just what they would love!

Picture says it all, or at least a lot!

One of the most difficult things about launching a new product is trying to describe it as quickly and simply as possible, while still being detailed. It's a trick, and one that I learned, was not so easy. I discovered early on that almost everything means something different to different people, for example, the price. I was determined to keep the price low enough that the nomie baby car seat covers could and would be able to be considered "must-haves" and no-brainers. However, I learned that some interpret low prices with poor or lower quality, so I had to figure out a way around that without raising the price. I also realized that "waterproof" might make some think of your grandmother's plastic covered couches - not so cozy to sit on for an infant or toddler. Therefore, it quickly became apparent, that I would have to be more, rather than less descriptive. The word "nomie" might mean "cozy" in our family, but it will take a while before this is universally understood.

Another piece of feedback I regularly received was the surprise at how soft and cozy the car seat cover is. People are pleasantly surprised. This I have found trickier to accurately describe in words, and have been relying on reviews and moms spreading the word to get the coziness out there. Then this summer I decided to take some more pictures of my little one in her toddler car seat with its lime nomie baby cover on it, and I think I was able to capture "Cozy, soft, comfy" with one smiling shot. So I guess when they say, "A picture says a thousand words" this is what they meant!

Momtrends: Nomie Baby Carry Beaner and Discount Code

Here's is a post and review from Momtrends on the nomie baby carry beaner. With back-to-school shopping upon us, it's the helping hand we all need for all the extra bags we collect as the day goes on! Thank you for the great feedback!

Momtrends: Nomie Baby Carry Beaner and Discount Code

iParenting 2009 "Outstanding Product Award"

Months ago I submitted the nomie baby car seat cover to be considered for the Disney company, iParenting "Outstanding Product Award." I filled out all the necessary forms, sent off a few nomie baby car seat covers to be tested by their dedicated team, and then quite frankly moved on to the next thing.

Since then I have been working on all aspects of the business including getting the word out, contacting editors, bloggers, buyers, customers and getting as much press and pr as possible. A few days ago I was sitting with a friend, my Blackberry vibrated, telling me that an email had come in. I didn't rush to check it out, since I was having my time with a friend, but when I did check, I had to check twice, before believing what I was reading, and bravely reading it out loud, since I knew by doing so would make it real.

The subject of the email was "Congratulations!" I have gotten plenty of emails telling me that I am the lucky winner of the lottery, and if I would just send my contact information along with my bank account numbers, I will receive the millions that they are promising. Therefore, it's understandable that when I first saw the word "Congratulations!" I wasn't instantly jumping. I guess that's what has happen, instead of being excited by the word, I have become unphased, or at least cautious. I eventually did open the email and read it, bringing back the memory of submitting a while ago. "Congratulations your product has been selected to receive the "iParenting Outstanding Product Award" for 2009! Wohoo! Confirmation, with a seal and everything, that, as Sally Field said, "They liked it, they really liked it!"

Pink Car Seat Cover turns Big Bro's to yours

One of the many great things that I have learned about the nomie baby car seat covers, is their many uses that I hadn't originally intended. I have found, from listening to my customers that they are thrilled that they are able to quickly change their hideous pattern into one that is sleek and clean, or that their son's car seat easily becomes their daughters with a pink nomie baby car seat cover.

I remember when my first daughter was born after my son, I didn't buy anything blue for her for years. I was thrilled to be able to make her completely pink. Of course, now years later, her favorite color is blue, but that's her choice now! However, I know I would have saved a lot of money by being able to change the boyish items into more girly ones, if that had been an option, and that's exactly what my customers are discovering, and telling me.

While I came up with the idea out of a need to make cleanups less of a hassle, I am delighted by the other equally worthwhile uses: re-cycle and reuse, turn something for a son into something new for a daughter, or making a hand-me-down that is a little worse for the wear new again! I have even heard that the coziness has made the seats cooler, and in a couple of cases has eased carsickness. Of course that's not a claim I am willing to make, but it's might be a nice coincidence!!

Giving Back

For years, I have been involved in various volunteer positions at Mt. Sinai Hospital, always finding them worthwhile and interesting. However, when I ended up in the hospital myself, 10 weeks before my due date with my youngest, I got to see the hospital from the other side, and was overwhelmed by the care, concern and professionalism of everyone I encountered. When my baby was born, she spent over a month in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and I was daily thankful for all that the doctors and nurses did for our whole family. It then became clear to me that this was the area where my heart was, and where I wanted to focus my energies.

When I started nomie baby, which happened by a happy accident, literally, since it resulted from a spill, I always knew that it would be more than a business. It was inspired by my littlest, and I knew that it would not only be a way to help parents solve their messy problems, but it would enable me to give back to the NICU. A percentage of all profits go to Mt. Sinai's NICU, which give me a larger mission, and make my desire to make it a real success even greater. Through much of my work, I have found that many women entrepreneurs use their businesses to help give back, which makes working with them feel as if we are going beyond simply the business at hand! Giving back has always been important, but now everything seems to have come full circle, and successes seem to have a larger impact.

Me, Myself & I

While it's certainly not easy running nomie baby with a staff of me, myself and I, it has provided me with insight into every aspect of the business, and allowed me to be in touch with everyone from manufacturing to pr to the customers. It's wonderful hearing the feedback from everyone, and being able to respond to it. I have also noticed that this is appreciated by everyone as well, since I am frequently hearing how happy they were that I answered their question quickly, or how I was able to respond to a pr request in time for the deadline. While I'm sure that when I grow, the people in these positions will be able to do the same, there is nothing like hearing things first hand. Receiving an email from a happy customer who wrote to say that she loved her nomie baby car seat cover, and she needed to order another one, because her kids were fighting over who got to sit in the "nomie" seat was a thrill, and so was getting an email saying that Sarah Jessica Parker loves her matching pink nomie baby car seat covers for her twin daughters!

Again, I'm sure I will love hearing those sorts of comments from people who will ultimately be in charge of those areas, but opening the emails first does make me smile!