Interview with Work at Home Mom – Kathy Jones of Mama Says Wash!
Tags: Business, Entrepreneur, Kathy Jones, Mama Says Wash!, The Work at Home Woman, WAHM, Work at Home Mom
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Do you work at home?
Yes!
How many children do you have?
Two.
How many hours do you work a week?
20-30; more during holiday season.
Tell us a little bit about Mama Says Wash! and how you got started.
Mama Says Wash! started by accident! I was a corporate woman turned stay-at-home mom, raising two preschool kids and feeling like my brain was turning to mush amidst the dirty diapers and Barney re-runs. I first started making soap in my kitchen for Christmas gifts for family and friends in October 2002. I wanted to create a gift that was handmade, unique and useful; one that I could personalize for each person on m list. Plus, it gave me something to do for myself, while the kids were napping or at preschool. Friends and family raved about my soaps and starting asking to buy them to give as gifts themselves! That’s when I realized that I could actually make money and have fun at the same time and hence, Mama Says Wash! was born.
I heard you just got your Texas Longhorn Soap officially licensed, just in time for the National Championship Game; tell us a little bit about this.
Well, I could write a book about the journey to licensing the Longhorn Soap….it all started back in 2002. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say that for many years The University of Texas was not interested in licensing any soap products, period. I tried hard to persuade them that it was a great product to license, but they simply weren’t interested. Then, in 2008, they changed their mind and we met and discussed licensing. I’m not sure why they changed their mind, but I am glad that I continued to pursue the license. I can tell you that licensing collegiate products is not for the faint of heart…it’s a long and sometimes frustrating process, not to mention expensive. But, yes, my license was granted a few months ago and it’s a great time to be bringing this product to market with the Longhorn Football team headed into the BCS National Championship in January.
How would you rate your success from 0 – 10?
I would rate my success as an 8.5. There is always more to learn and more to improve on, but I am very pleased with the path my business has taken in the past 7 years. I’ve set goals for myself and have achieved most of them, with the Longhorn Soap being a long-sought after goal. I’ve changed the course of my business a few times during those 7 years, learning as I go what the market is looking for, how to be successful and how to balance work and family.
How do you manage all of your personal and business activities?
I rely heavily on email and my Outlook calendar to keep myself organized. All of this feeds into my cell phone so that everything is accessible to me wherever I go – whether it be sitting at a swim meet with my kids or in my shop making soap. All of my business and personal commitments, to-do’s, etc. go on my calendar so that nothing gets forgotten. I also use a sports wristwatch that has multiple alarms to remind me when I have to pick up kids from school, when the next batch of soap is ready, etc. It’s not the best looking watch, but it has saved me from crisis many times!
What has been your biggest business struggle?
My biggest struggle has always been time. Maintaining a balance between family and business is tough. I try to keep it all in balance, but I don’t always succeed. Funding has also been difficult at times. I have self-funded my business so far and done everything I can to keep the overhead low (like work at home!) and avoid having to take on debt.
What are your 3 favorite websites or blogs?
I don’t think I have any favorites. I know there are lots of great sites and blogs out there, but I have had to avoid them because I simply don’t have the time!
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
Be prepared to work harder than you ever did at your previous job! On the flip side, follow your passion, make smart decisions and enjoy the freedom of being your own boss. Find a network of other entrepreneurs that you can learn from – owning your own business is not easy and you’ll need all the help you can get.
Thanks Kathy for sharing your story! For more information on Kathy, please see: Mama Says Wash!
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