People really do do the nicest things

There are so many lessons I have learned through the process of starting nomie baby. I have learned about website design, SEO, manufacturing, packaging, customer service, promotions, blogging, twittering, and the list goes one and on. However, the best lesson has been how incredible people are.

I have found that in all areas of building nomie baby as a company the people I have encountered have genuinely wanted to help me, and see me succeed. There are so many examples from my manufacturers who have taken me under their wing as their "pet" project, to the stores like Citibabes and Albees who took nomie baby car seat covers early on, and gave me a chance. Most recently I was struck by kindness when I was looking for helping in sewing new labels onto the covers for a co-promotion I am doing with Kid Car NY, which is a car service specializing in driving families with young children needing car seats. All of their car seats have nomie baby car seat covers, which is great exposure for nomie baby, and the hassle-free cleanups are fantastic for them. To enhance our co-promotion I created labels with a joint nomie baby/Kid Car NY logo. I asked my storage company, Elite Logistics in NJ if they could help. They are aware that I am just starting out, and counting all my pennies, but I couldn't believe it when Cindy, woman who works at the storage facility, called me from Ohio. She was there starting up a new storage facility, and said that she brought the nomie baby car seat covers with her, all 30 of them, because her grandmother is there, has a sewing machine, and she would be able to help me out! I couldn't believe what an incredibly thoughtful gesture this was. Cindy and I have never met. We have only emailed one another, yet she was willing to go to this trouble for me. What kindness!

I keep learning that people really do do the nicest things! This is definitely something I will pay forward.

Tweeting and Twittering Success!

When it was first suggested that I twitter about nomie baby, my response was, "What does that mean?" I was again feeling like a techno-rookie, but I had gotten over being ashamed about asking questions. I followed the directions, went on twitter.com, started an account, and began tweeting and twittering. I must say I was told what to type in 140 characters or less and started "following" people, which seemed a little creepy at first. Slowly people started "following" me, and I even began to get "DMs." I have to admit, I'm still not entirely sure how it works. It mostly feels like I am sending 140 character messages into the ether, but something does seem to be working, because a new store in Iowa is now carrying nomie baby car seat covers, and a number of product reviewer have posted reviews on their sites and blogs. I guess it really doesn't matter whether I completely get it or not, because others are "getting it!" Tweet Tweet!

The Spring Has Sprung

Happy-mess is as easy as 1,2,3!

It is starting to feel a little like spring, which I suppose means that we are shedding our layers, cleaning up and getting ready to be out more. I can't wait. I'm not thrilled about the cleaning part, but I have realized that there are some tricks that make it easier and more hassle-free.

When I first created the nomie baby car seat cover, I knew that if I had the problem with cleaning up, then other parents probably did too, and I was right. Now I see that there is an easier way of dealing with the ritual of spring cleaning. Here are my suggestions for cleaning out the car: get 2 bags, 1 for garbage and 1 for things you want to keep, but might need to wash or switch out. Now start attacking the inside of your car. I'm sure there are plenty of broken toys, spare mittens, and food wrappers littered around your car, and you can easily sort them into one of the 2 bags. After you have cleared out the winter's worth of stuff, take the nomie baby car seat cover off, shake it out and throw it in the washing machine to get ready for the next season of mess. If you don't have a nomie baby car seat cover yet, this is a great time to get one. There are 6 terrific colors, and if you enter "Spring" as the promo code on the website, http://www.nomiebaby.com, you'll get 10% off your order from now until May 1st. Now you'll be ready for those sticky ice cream fingers!

Here's to happy-mess!!

New Arrivals

I know I can't be everything to everyone, nor can nomie baby, but I'm trying. When I first started selling I went to one store in NYC, and while they loved the feel and ease of the nomie baby car seat covers, they felt that their customers would like colors that "blended" more with their car's interior.  The next day I went to Kidville, and they loved the "sherbet" colors, so my mind was spinning, and I was cautioned not to try to make everyone happy, but that's my nature.  Therefore, once things were up and going, and I started thinking about the next run, I decided to introduce new colors: navy and charcoal, and the response has been great!  They are sleek and chic, and let parents pretend that there isn't an ugly cow-print car seat behind them.

I also realized that while my website was fine, it wasn't great, and I wanted great.  I have been working with Collective-E on branding, getting the word out and pushing to the next level, so when Katie at CE suggested "cutification" I knew that's what I needed.  Once again, not my strength, but certainly Katie's, so we were off!  Now the nomie baby site is cleaner, has great features that allow people to click and buy more  easily, and is more in keeping with the whole idea of nomie baby, which is to solve problems for parents.  Please check out the new improved site at http://www.nomiebaby.com.  You can add a review, send it to a friend, and of course order all the colors now available.

I have also been told that I need more products, so keep your eyes out for the soon-to-be-introduced "carry-beaner."  It is the extra helping hand that everyone needs!

Once again, I am learning that while this might be my "baby," I can't do it alone, and having wonderful people around to give feedback and support is key!

Getting creative with parties!

It's time to get creative.  I am getting so tired of hearing how bad things are, how it's only going to get worse before it gets better, blah, blah, blah...  So instead of throwing up my hands, I've decided to roll up my sleeves.  I am not the only one in this situation, which is comforting, and allows for great brainstorming.  Therefore, when I was talking to those who inspire me at Colletive-E.com and my friend who started Kule clothing, I realized that the nomie baby car seat covers are perfect for house parties.

Right now it's a little tough to invite people over to spend money unless you are saving them money.  This isn't a riddle.  The nomie baby car seat cover can save people money, since it's perfect to use with a hand-me-down car seat to make it new again, and it also can help extend the life of your car seat.  Moms love to share their great finds with friends and families, and especially now if it's a great way to save money.  That's why I have decided to launch the nomie baby house parties.  Host moms can sign up at www.nomiebaby.com, or send me an email at katie@nomiebaby.com, and then they are on their way to spreading the word about a great new mommy-must-have, as well as making money for themselves.  The word of mom is the most powerful tool of all, no matter how scary it gets out there!

Out from Behind the Screen

On Tuesday I went to one of my stores, The Upper Breast Side, in NYC to put on a trunk show. It was a wonderful 3 hours for so many reasons. In this age of emails, blogs, facebooking, twittering and tweeting, it was great to finally meet Felina, after 5 months of virtually working together. She was incredible, so knowledgeable about all her products, and she knew just what each of her customers needed and how to handle them in their pre and postpartum states. She also provided a wonderful opportunity for me to showcase the nomie baby car seat covers, and talk directly to new and expecting moms face to face!

Not only did we have a terrific selling day for the nomie baby car seat covers, but talking to people, hearing their thoughts, and answering their questions was so helpful for me. I realized that having the covers displayed on the car seats made it much easier for people to "get it." I also heard how much people liked how soft and cozy they felt, but they didn't know that from the package or the website. This will be a challenge for me to convey virtually, since you still aren't able to reach through the computers - yet! Another interesting point that was brought up, was the fact that they assumed for such a reasonable price the quality would not be as good as it is! Hmmm, this is an interesting dilemma, since I don't want to raise the prices just to send a message that they are well made.

As wonderful as computers are for keeping in touch and doing business quickly and efficiently, there is still nothing that like face to face. All in all, getting out from behind this computer, meeting the store owners to hear their thoughts, issues and needs, as well as hearing from the consumers is something that I not only enjoy, but find invaluable and hope to do much more!

What's in a name?

Picking names has always been challenging. I remember when I was pregnant hearing a few helpful rules, or guidelines: 1. don't float ideas past friends and family, because if they hate a name and tell you, and then you pick it, you'll never forget it, 2. Don't pick a name that's too out there and creative, because your child will have to be really cool to pull it off, 3. don't spell things in a new funky way, because you will always be correcting people. I took these suggestions to heart when we were choosing the names for our children, but when it came time to think of a name for the new product I invented I was stuck.

I knew enough to know that "the removable, washable and waterproof car seat cover" wasn't exactly catchy, nor did it roll of the tongue, but where to go from there was leaving me drawing a blank. When I was speaking with my patent and trademark attorney he suggested I come up with a name that meant nothing. He said that many household names started that way, such as "crocs," "velcro," and "gibbitz," so it seemed like a good enough starting place to me. At that point, coming up with a name was easy. When my older daughter started talking there was a word that she used for anything that was soft, comfy or cozy, it was "nomie," and that stuck in our family. Friends even knew if a sweater or blankie was "nomie" it was a huge compliment, and something snugly! That's how nomie baby got it's name. I am hoping that the "nomie" word will continue to spread.