In Conversation with Jodi Caden of Belly Bandit & Proof

Describe your business in a few words?

Belly Bandit provides solution based products to women during and after pregnancy and Proof provides patented leak proof underwear for women of all ages.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

My sisters and I wanted to work together for as long as I can remember. We all have different strengths and thought if we put them together we would be an unstoppable team!

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was a kitchen designer and house flipper.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yep, I’m the oldest child so I’m naturally bossy. I have had my own companies since the age of 14.  One of my first big ventures was as an artist when I was 17. I painted and sold to art galleries which allowed me to put myself through college.

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?

Our motto was “go big or go broke”, so we took out full page ads in all pregnancy magazines.

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it?

Never put all of your eggs in one basket. Having multiple manufactures allows you to handle growth and ensures that you are not 100% reliant on any one manufacturer.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

Making products that help women. Selfishly, it makes me feel good hearing that we have helped women through challenging times or helped them gain confidence. I still read every review and learn from them.

How has your business or industry been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

We have been one of the lucky companies as we have seen significant growth.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Growth, new products, and celebrity partnerships.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2020?

That we can work remotely and don’t need physical office space . Also that family is really everything.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business?

Surround yourself with the best people as they will lift you up.

How have you managed to stay grounded this year?

We are from the midwest…being grounded is in our DNA.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

I do and it is a constant challenge when running 2 companies. It is something that I work on and strive for daily. Hiking everyday, dinners with family and hanging out with friends helps balance out my life.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a black belt in Karate and love to flip homes.

What are your top 3 tips to stay productive each day?

I have a to do list that I live by, I work out in the middle of each day to refresh my mind and body and hike each night with my sister to do a debrief on the day.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

Making something out of nothing then making it all come to fruition.  Also knowing deep down that failure is not an option and if you keep jumping over the hurdles, you will be successful.