So many moms I have talked to have a business totally unrelated to their careers before children.  Michelle from Kids Decor, Inc. was an Audiologist before becoming a stay at home mom.  Recognizing the uniqueness in every child led her to start her own business selling room decor for children.  I love Kids Decor, Inc.  I am getting ready to start looking for ways to personalize Hogan's big boy room and I can't wait to work with Michelle to find his "decor personality!"

In honor of being our Featured Mom, Michelle is offering a 10% discount for Marketmommies.com readers!  Use the code Market10 to get your discount.  Some exclusions do apply and are noted in product descriptions.  Offer is good through 12/31/10.  Thanks Michelle! 

Featured Mom: Michelle Miller and Kids Decor, Inc!
www.kidsdecorinc.com


      


Marketmommies:  Tell us about your business.
Michelle:  Kids Décor Inc. is an online boutique that features room décor for children.  We take pride in offering unique items that add a special touch to your child’s room.  The independent designers, artists, and companies that we have chosen to work with are committed to making quality products that are sure to become treasured keepsakes.  Currently, we have over 1800 products available including bedding, furniture, wall décor, lighting, rugs, storage solutions and much more.  Some of our favorite designers include Three Little Ziglets, New Arrivals, Inc., Maddie Boo, Trend Lab, Oopsy Daisy, Badger Basket, and Levels of Discovery.  We are always on the lookout for new products and designers to complement our existing lines.  
 
Marketmommies:  How did you end up starting your own business?
Michelle:  As our youngest child neared the time to enter Kindergarten, I began to think about going back to work part-time.  I knew I didn’t want to work full-time as I wanted to be available for our children when they got home from school each day.  My plan was always to go back to my previous profession, but circumstances steered me in a different direction.  At which point, I found myself at an unexpected cross-road in my life that forced me to make some difficult decisions.  I began to consider starting my own business.  I have always found great joy in watching our children grow and develop their own personalities.  So, I was naturally drawn to the idea of an online business that offered customers a one-stop shop where they could find unique products that fit their child’s individual personality. 

Marketmommies:  What are the pros and cons of being a mom with her own business?
Michelle:   I would say one of the pros of being a work at home mom is the flexibility that it offers.  My biggest concern with returning to the work force was that my involvement at our children’s school would be more limited.  However, owning my own business has allowed be to be involved in their activities both in school and outside of school.  Another benefit of owning your own business is that it allows you to tap into skills that you may not know you possessed.  Personally, it has given me the confidence to come out of my comfort zone and fulfill new dreams.

As for the cons of having your own business, I think it can be difficult to balance the daily demands of life.  As a mom you wear many different hats and juggle many priorities.  When you are a business owner you wear many different hats as well.  Sometimes, you wish you could get just a little more time for one role or the other.  It’s important to make a commitment from the very beginning to put your family first so that you will always keep your focus on what is really most important.  Along those lines, the only other con I can see is that sometimes you have to learn to say “no” to an opportunity in order to keep your balance.  That has been a hard lesson for me, but one that I needed to learn.

Marketmommies:  Hindsight being 20/20, what would have done differently?
Michelle:   Wow, that is a hard one.  The only thing I think I might have done differently is that I might have decided to wait a little longer to start the business.  The reason I say that is because I was planning to enjoy a little “free” time when my both of our children were finally in school.  Instead, I jumped right into a new adventure of starting the business.  So, I try now to build in a few hours during the week that are just “my” time.  I think all moms need time for themselves to recharge and rejuvenate.

Marketmommies:  How do you balance your business life with mommy life?
Michelle:   At first, I would say I was having a bit of a hard time balancing everything.  When you work from home, you have the convenience of a home office and the inconvenience of a home office.  When I say inconvenience, I am referring to the fact that it can be hard to disconnect yourself from the business.  The hardest times to balance are when my children are on a break from school.  We are in year-round school and they have breaks throughout the year.  Since those breaks are their “summer vacation” I want to be able to spend as much time as possible with them.  During these breaks, I have established a schedule for myself that allows me to work for a bit in the mornings and then we spend the rest of the day together.  I generally work in the evenings as well after the kids are in bed.  My children have to come first, they are the reason that I have chosen to work at home.  So, if I need to walk away and color a picture with my daughter or do a puzzle with my son, then I have the freedom to do it.
 
Marketmommies:  What advice would you give to a mom thinking about starting her own business?
Michelle:   I would say to remember some advice that a good friend gave me when I was considering going back to work.  She told me, “you are not getting a job, you are getting a second job”.  Your responsibilities to your “first” job as a mom will not be change.  Just make sure you are ready to take on additional responsibilities of “second” job.  The other advice I would give is that you should never sell yourself short.  One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is learning that I can accomplish things I never knew I was capable of doing.  
 
Marketmommies: What did you do before owning your own business?
Michelle:  Well, I was a full-time stay at home mom for seven years.  Prior to that, I was an audiologist practicing full-time at an Ear, Nose and Throat physician’s office.  

Marketmommies:  Tell us about your family!
Michelle:   I have been married for over eleven years to my high school sweetheart.  We have two amazing children.  Our son, who just turned 8, is a sweet boy with an inquisitive mind and a love for Legos.  Our daughter, who is 5 ½, is full of life and loves all things girly and colorful.  They are truly the best of friends.  What a blessed life!