Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that everything Princess is “So In” right now.  So we knew that the Princess Fib had to be special.  It took a few tries before we think we finally got it.  But  knowing Kristen, I know she’ll continue to improve upon the current design.  This is how the Princess Fib design has evolved.

My baby product recommendation for today:  I visited Midway Utah and went to Swiss Days last week.  I was blown away by how many people show up to this event when Midway is such a tiny little town.  Anyway, my favorite booth and product, The Car Seat Canopy! It’s a cute canopy that drapes over the top of your baby’s car seat to protect them from the sun, germs in the air etc.  The canopy itself comes in a variety of styles and colors and is very chic!  Check them out at www.thecarseatcanopy.com

As for Fibs, I’m looking for a company to manufacture our bibs because it is just too time consuming for us to sew them all ourselves.  Kristen loves the design phase but not the production phase.  I’m not much of a seamstress myself and prefer working on the business side.  So to make life easier for both of us, we need to find a good company, preferably in the U.S., to produce a good quality product.  Once we get an idea of how much it is going to cost to produce, then we can start looking for ways to fund our business.  Wish us luck!

by Rachel

The other day, Kristen and I went to the Women’s Expo.  It was a collection of booths all carrying goods and services that women would be interested in.  We went to have a little break away from the kids, but mostly to get an idea of how these expos work.  We wanted to see what kind of baby goods they carry and how each vendor priced their items.

I was actually surprised to see how expensive everything was.  Of course I’m not a boutique shopper.  I get everything I need at Walmart or second hand stores.  But apparently a lot of women ARE into these higher end expensive items and I can see why.  There were so many unique ideas, adorable baby and kid outfits and accesories.

There are so many women entrepreneurs out there.  They are experiencing first hand problems mother’s deal with.  Then they come up with a product to solve that problem and get out there and sell it!  Wow!  Totally inspiring!  I think, if these women can do this, SO CAN I!  But then I have all these insecurities and there is so much I don’t know.  What if someone asks me a question I don’t know the answer to?  Well, I guess I just need to find out the answer then.

Kristen and I both have husbands who own their own business and have always been very entrepreneurial.  We have been the supportive wives who stay at home, take care of the kids and generally spend a lot of time without our husbands because they’re off making a living and trying to make their business fly.  I don’t think either of us ever considered that we could do that too.  Granted, we are finding it difficult to launch a business while holding a heavy baby on one hip, stirring a pot on the stove with a phone tucked between our neck and shoulder.  Yeah, those husbands have one up on us.  They have wives to take care of everything else so they don’t have to!  So yes it is challenging, but back to these women.  They’re making it happen, and so can we.

There was one business I was particularly impressed with.  They sell bibs of all things!  But different from ours.  They are very functional and incredibly cute,  and their sole purpose is to keep your child’s clothing clean.  Check it out!  I absolutely loved the bibbie!  www.dillydallychic.com.  We talked to the owner about how she got started and she shared a lot of useful information with as well as some great marketing ideas.

I’m so excited to get this thing going.  I think our biggest challenge remains a lack of time and absolutely NO money.  What do THESE women want?  How about a little cash!

by Rachel

3 months ago I gave birth to my daughter after a very rough pregnancy.  I had been on bedrest for 3 months due to preterm labor.  My very good friend Kristen was so supportive the whole time; frequently watching my other 2 children for me, making meals for our family, and helping to clean my house.  Malia was born 5 weeks early but was perfectly healthy.  Being a cancer survivor, I am so grateful for this little miracle baby.

Malia had her baby blessing in our church recently.  It is similar to a Christening and likewise, she wore a beautiful white gown.  Malia has pretty bad reflux and is constantly spitting up on EVERYTHING. Kristen, being the caring friend that she is, and also a super talented seamstress, threw together a beautiful white bib to go over the blessing gown so Malia wouldn’t spit up all over the costly garment.  I was so impressed with this little bib and told Kristen she could sell bibs like that.  She modestly brushed that aside, although admitted that many people had told her she could sell her bibs.

Well I wasn’t going to let her get off that easy.  I was convinced there was a market for bibs like this.  We began talking, brainstorming and came up with ideas for other bibs that basically “imitate” baby outfits.  Kristen began sewing like crazy, producing 1-2 new bibs a day; completely original and unique.  We began to form a collection of baby bibs that were more like costumes than anything else.  Each bib looked like the front of a specific outfit; from suits to tuxedos, princess dresses to ballerina outfits.  Hula girl, Tarzan, pirates and firefighters.  We knew we had something special.  But what could we call it?  They weren’t just bibs, they were something more.  Bibs imitating costumes….And so FIBS was born!  Moms and dads can dress their babies up in these bibs and “Fib” their friends and family into thinking their baby is wearing an actual outfit our costume.

All this has come about in the last month and a half.  I’ve been working on our logo, website and marketing.  Kristen has been furiously designing and sewing away!  The bib designs are almost completed, although Kristen is constantly coming up with new and improved design ideas for her bibs.  We are trying to figure out how to mass produce our product so we aren’t sewing all day trying to fulfill orders.

Kristen and I both have 3 kids and are stay-at home moms.  We are running carpools of kids to school, going to ballet lessons and soccer practice, cleaning, cooking and changing diapers.  We already have our full time mom jobs, but this has been a much needed fun and creative outlet for us.  We are excited about our little business and in our spare time (I know…WHAT spare time?) we really want to make this work.

Rachel and Company

Kristen and Company