Today, for my Mom-preneur blog feature, I will be interviewing the Mama to the Gerber baby (see post below), Tara Clawson.  She is the owner of Kissy Cheek Boutique and makes the most DARLING car seat covers that are SO nice for keeping your baby protected from the cold and from germ-covered hands.

What is the name of your business?

The Kissy Cheek Boutique

How did you come up with that name?
My baby has the chubbiest cheeks around – just ask Kelli!  I love to kiss his ample cheeks and one day a friend saw me kissing his sweet face and said, “He has kissy cheeks!”  It was a match made in heaven as the “K” represents the first letter in my business partners’ last name, and the “C” represents the first letter in my last name.  Since my own baby was the inspiration, what better name could we come up with then one that describes us all.

How long have you been doing this?
The business end, about six months.  The sewing end, about 20 years.  My business partner is actually my mother and she has been sewing for 40 plus years and is the true seamstress behind the business.  We are a team and work well together.

Please explain a little bit about your product/business and how you developed the concept behind it:
The product we offer is a car seat cover that attaches to the handle of an infant carrier.  Our covers are made of high-quality designer fabrics.   We embellish each cover with a little something special to coordinate with the overall look of the cover.

Since I am the mother of five, and because I live somewhere cold, I have always protected my babies with a blanket draped over their infant carrier.  They only problem with a blanket is they fall off and blow up in the wind.  The solution was to make a stable blanket that would stay attached and provide privacy and protection for my baby which is exactly what our car seat covers do.

What makes your product/business so unique?

What makes our car seat covers unique is that they attach to the handle.  They are also designed to accessorize with mom and make her look her best as she totes her little one around.

Do you have a store-front/ website/ etsy?
www.kissycheekboutique.com

What is the hardest part or have been some of your struggles starting your own business?

I found creating our website to be the hardest part.  I have never done anything like designing a website before and did not even know where to begin.  Thankfully I have talented friends who held my hand along the way!  It was also a challenge (and still is) to figure out how to market our product on the internet.

How do you balance your business and your family?

I am only able to do this business because I am partners with my dear mother.  We have always been close and enjoy spending time together.  She picks up the slack where I lack and vice versa. I am also blessed with a great husband who knows I am happiest when I have a creative outlet.  He supports me and I love him for that!  I do have a young family and there are times when I have to stop working my business and put their needs first.  My business does not define who I am.  My first commitment is to my family and I want to be a good mother and wife.  When those roles are filled, I then take guilt free time for myself and devote it to my business.

What are you future business goals?

My short term goals are to find a baby boutique to carry my covers.  Long term goals would be to have Target or Babies R Us sell them!

Thank you Tara!  Tara is giving all of my blog readers 20% off for mentioning France Photography during the month of January.