Esther has generously offered to share some of her experiences as a work-at-home mom. Let's hear what Esther has to say!
Work From Home Momma: How many years have you worked from home?
Esther: I started my business in 2005 and it has evolved and grown since then. I love working from home and I can't imagine working any other way. I probably work more during the day than I did in an office.
Work From Home Momma: What made you decide to start a home business?
Esther: After moving to a rural area, I needed to find a way to use my skills. The local job market is limited and lacks many opportunities. While searching for employment, I read books on starting and marketing a business on the Internet. I taught myself HTML and researched e-commerce options. I made a lot of mistakes but I have learned from each one.
After a year of job searching with little luck, I decided to start my own business. As my business grows, I hope to provide employment opportunities for women that have previously been non-existent and introduce a new type of industry to the local area.
Work From Home Momma: Why did you choose to market children's clothing?
Esther: I have ten years of experience in the fashion industry, specifically in children's clothing. I have worked as a pattern maker, technical designer, and designer. At each of my previous jobs, I had the opportunity to cross-train in other areas, develop programs, and learn from others. I have had the wonderful opportunity to be involved in the product development of clothing that has sold to big box retailers and specialty boutiques. I have learned so much in the last few years and I am grateful to the people who have taught me.
It seemed a natural next step to develop my own children's clothing line. As easy as it sounds, it has been a challenge.
Work From Home Momma: What is your biggest challenge?
Esther: I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head, but only enough time to focus on one concept. A fashion designer is not as glamorous a job as television depicts. To succeed, you must be focused on your dream and not flit from one project or idea to another. There is a lot of time spent in the trenches doing boring grunt work. Detailed spec sheets, pattern grading, cost analysis - they are all essential aspects of running a fashion-related business. Still, I know what the end result can be and that keeps me motivated to work hard and reach my goals.
I have the additional challenge of working a part-time job at a library. I love the library job because it gets me out of my office and allows me to interact with lots of interesting people. The library job helps to pay bills while I work on developing my business. The challenge is my reading wish list, which keeps growing.
Work From Home Momma: What is unique about your children's clothing business?
Esther: I have spent several years designing girl's special occasion dresses. As fun as that is, I saw a need for pretty, but sensible, girl's dresses. Over the last few years there have been fewer dress options available in department and boutique stores. Dress choices are too fancy or too casual. The fancy dresses have become very rich, dry-clean only pieces that little girls can't wear and play in at the same time. Department stores sell casual skirt sets consisting of a denim skirt and t-shirt.
My line, Prairie Roses, consists of dresses that are suitable for every day, but pretty enough for special occasions. The dresses can be worn to church, school, or for a pretty portrait and then worn outside to play. All of my dresses are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable. The line is inspired by Jane Austen. Many of her stories are set in the country and I try to show a country sensibility in everything do.
Work From Home Momma: Where do you see your business going in the next year? In the next five years?
Esther: Over the next year I will continue to develop and promote my brand name, Prairie Roses. I will introduce Spring/Summer 2008 and Fall/Holiday 2008 collections. I currently offer my dresses in infant and toddler and I would like to expand my size range to 4-6x. In five years, I would like to wholesale my dresses to other boutiques.
Work From Home Momma: Is there anything else about your business that you'd like to tell the readers of Work From Home Momma?
Esther: There are a lot of WAHM's who are interested in starting their own children's clothing line and I am happy to share my experience with others, as time permits. Many people have helped me on my journey and I want to give back in the same way. I write a blog, Design Loft, where others can watch the progress of my line and pick up industry related tips specific to children's wear design. Another fantastic blog is Fashion-Incubator by Kathleen Fasanella - a blog edicated to helping design entrepreneurs work through the technical maze of apparel manufacturing.
Do you have more than two years experience in a home business? Would you like to share your story on Work From Home Momma? Contact me at Laura [at symbol] workfromhomemomma.com.
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