Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in infant and baby products but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sheila McGoldrick, Founder of Handy Burp'ems, located in Croydon, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My customer base is anyone with an infant in their lives. , Including, but not limited to, parents, caregivers, grandparents, hospital nurseries, NICU, and daycares.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a mom of 3 who invented Handy Burp'ems® after my firstborn son Tyler, who suffered from terrible reflux. At that time, I also discovered I had an unknown allergy to a preservative found in most of his toiletries. The allergy left me with huge underskin blisters that caused excruciating pain when washing my hands due to being covered in spit-up. Other burp cloths just didn't cut it. I had to do something to solve the problem I was having and to help other parents so they wouldn't have to go through the same problem. I remember saying to myself, while crying, "I need to make something to protect my hands from spit up." So, I taught myself how to sew and invented the perfect burp cloth to protect my hands long enough to keep the mess at bay and the laundry at a minimum. I continued to use these with my other two children, Brody and Laney, and they were the perfect protector for spit-up! I continue to work hard on bringing awareness to Handy Burp'ems because they truly saved my sanity when my baby and I were going thru such an emotional and painful time. If this can help more parents and caregivers who are also dealing with infant reflux and spit-up issues, I will keep pushing forward.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was when Handy Burp'ems made it into a few local stores, including Babies R' Us. That was an extremely proud moment for my family and me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Juggling it all while taking care of my family and everything else that needs to be done. When it's your business, and you are just starting out, you have to wear every hat and learn what every hat needs to do. That, by far, has been the hardest part for me, but it's also very rewarding.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- If you are looking to patent an invention, make sure you do your research first. I spent hours upon hours researching the USPTO database before spending thousands moving forward.
- Network, network, network! Still, something I work on every day, and LinkedIn is a great place for that, but don't forget about the other platforms; they are extremely helpful too. I have met some amazing people through these social media platforms, and I am truly grateful.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.handy-burpems.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HandyBurpems/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handyburpems/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BurpEms
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-mcgoldrick-09684b9/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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