Baby and Children's Products
Some businesses lend themselves more easily to moms than others, and this one is a natural. Young moms see the needs of their own children and invent new products. One of the most successful stories is that of Julie Aigner-Clark, who came out in 1997 with www.babyeinstein.com, educational tapes on fine art, classical music, and poetry for infants and toddlers. It was bought in 2001 by Disney and now records sales $150 million, annually.
www.parentsofinvention.com offers licensing deals to parents who have ideas and manufactures and markets the products to national chains. It started in 2002 when mommy-of-two Laine Caspi first began selling Ultimate Body Wrap, a versatile carrier that allows parents to tote babies in the front, in the back, or on the hip. It became a runaway success and is now sold in over 60 stores nationwide including Babies 'R' Us.
www.jenklair.com is the most common example of how many moms come up with ideas after they see how beautiful certain clothes look on their children. Jen Klair's mother, Sue Hodson, hand-made unique and beautiful chenille blankets for her two children, and she started her Web site in 2001. While Hodson still takes orders for handmade blankets and pillow cases, jenklair.com now offers over 1,200 products made by others.