Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
Like many people, when COVID hit I needed to find a creative outlet to keep myself busy and not feel so isolated. My son Aaron was born 6 weeks early in October 2019. I was scheduled to end my maternity leave at the beginning of March 2020 and did not feel ready to go back or that I could go back to a corporate fashion role and be the mom I wanted to be. As we all know with COVID hitting, my actuality of being a stay-at-home mom was drastically different than I had envisioned and it was very easy to feel alone. I took to my creative background to make things for Aaron in my spare time (sunglasses, jean jackets, hats) as an outlet for myself and quickly found friends who wanted to buy everything I was making for him. I created an Instagram in July 2020 and since then, I have continued to grow and expand my business and have begun working with some known children's brands (Butterscotch Blankee, Oh Mint, Top Trenz, Baby Steps/Mish). through Aaron & Otto, I love being able to work with parents, grandparents, etc., and make the perfect gift for the little one in their life. There is nothing more satisfying than getting a customer photo back of a smiling child with a product you made!
What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
Meeting new people and learning from others
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
COVID
What was your background prior to starting your own business?
Production and Product Development at LOFT, I went to Syracuse University for Fashion Design
Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
No, I thought I would be in the fashion world forever
Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?
I didn't really have much of a strategy as I started Aaron & Otto as a hobby through word of mouth. I have definitely grown significantly in the last 2 years, so I guess it has worked :-)
What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?
Every day brings about new challenges. Social media is a big part of my business and how I get new customers so I am continuing to learn every day in regard to posting, customer retention, etc.
What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date?
I recently hit the 2-year mark of Aaron & Otto so that is definitely a significant accomplishment for me! I never thought I would be shipping orders from NYC to California, Florida, and even Canada so every day is a new accomplishment in this journey
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
YES! I am a stay-at-home mom of 2 who runs this business independently with no employees. My kids always will come first, but I make it a priority during nap time and at bedtime to carve out time for myself whether that means working or just sitting on the couch in silence :-)
What's a piece of advice you can share that you wish you'd known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
As with anything, you will only get out of it what you put in!
What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?
I recently signed on with Leo & Laine who I met through Entrprenista! I am so excited to be investing in my own business in this way and finding people who are just as passionate about the brand as I am.
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
I am going to continue growing my business and find new products, brands, etc to partner with to ensure there is always something new for the Aaron & Otto fans!
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About the Author
Entreprenista Team
