www.easylunchboxes.com

Marketmommies:  Tell us about your business.
Kelly:  My EasyLunchbox System makes it simple to organize, and quickly pack healthy lunches without wasting money, time, paper or plastic.  It makes it very easy for anyone in a hurry – even those who don’t consider themselves “morning people” - to pack a healthy lunch fast and get out the door. Born out of my response to unhealthy school lunch programs, EasyLunchboxes.com started from the desire to send my 3 kids to school with a nutritious meal, using little to no wasteful packaging.

Marketmommies:  How did you get started?
Kelly  I started by pulling out my hair - I have three daughters who were attending 3 different schools and mornings were extremely hectic, to say the least. I would plan lunches, but then I would spend too much time digging through cabinets and drawers trying to find the right-sized containers and plastic baggies to pack the lunches. It just came to me one day that what I needed was a simple multi-compartment container that would fit perfectly into a lunch bag that also had enough room for other items like a drink, ice block, etc.

Marketmommies:  Is there a person in your life that inspired you to go for it?
Kelly: My inspiration came from a basic need, but my husband inspired me to actually turn it into a business. He did this 15 years ago when I had my decorative switchplate biz (Art Plates), and he’s cheerleading me every step of the way with this EasyLunchboxes. I like to joke that I only come up with a great idea every 15 years or so, but when I do, he supports me 100%.

Marketmommies:  What has been the biggest learning curve?
Kelly:  Social Media didn’t exist when I had my other business (which I sold 4 years ago). I’ve had to very quickly learn all the ins and outs of Twitter, Facebook, and blogging, but I’m grateful to my customers who guide me and communicate with me through these easy and effective  methods of interaction.  I really listen to feedback and suggestions – I read every comment and answer every phone call personally. I love that part.

Marketmommies:  What are the pros/cons of having your own business?
Kelly:  I sit down in front of my computer first thing in the morning and, with the exception of a few breaks to eat, exercise, or drive/take care of my kids, I often don’t leave until 11 o’clock or midnight.  The upside is, of course, that I can leave any time I want and don’t have to answer to anyone, but the downside is all the work that I will have to catch up on.  As my business grows, however, I do feel that I’m being rewarded for the hundreds of emails, blogs, and tweets that I’ve written, and the countless hours of staring at my monitor.

Marketmommies:  How do your find your balance between your family and your business?
Kelly:  I don’t think I’ve found the right balance. When you’re starting a business (EasyLunchboxes launched in Dec, 2009), there is nothing but imbalance. It goes with the territory, because you do all the work yourself and because there is a big world out there on the Internet where you are simply lost until people start to find you – and that only happens with constant perseverance.  I’d like to improve my balancing act, spending less time in front of the computer, but for now, it helps to involve my kids in the business. They make bento lunches, take pictures of them, contribute to blog reviews, and generally enjoy that their mom is the ‘lunchbox queen’ lol.

Marketmommies:  What advice do you have for moms with their own business, or moms who are thinking of giving it a try?
Kelly:  Do your due diligence. With the ease of the internet you can easily answer these vital questions: Do I have any real competition? Does anyone do this better? Does anyone really need/want my stuff? Can enough people afford it? If the answers are NO, NO, YES, YES, then you can get ready to work harder than you ever thought possible to turn your fabulous idea into a successful business.

Marketmommies:  Tell Us about your family.
Kelly:  I’m blessed beyond words to be married to my best friend for almost 22 years. We’re both actors living in Los Angeles, so our lives are pretty focused within that arena. Our three daughters (10, 12, & 17) are healthy, bright and talented, and all seem destined to pursue the arts as well. We teach them to appreciate their many blessings and be kind and polite to others. Our oldest is going away to college in September, so a whole new phase of our lives begins soon.