Cleveland Mompreneur Guide Podcast

In this episode, I chat with the incredible Robin Barber, founder and owner of The Baby Fairy Shoppe.

Robin shares her heartwarming journey of starting her unique gift-giving service, which delivers anonymous gifts to expecting moms throughout their pregnancy, only revealing the sender at the end.

The idea was born out of a personal experience with a friend who had difficulty conceiving. Robin and her husband wanted to sprinkle some joy during her friend's pregnancy, which led to the creation of the ‘baby fairy.’

Robin discusses the emotional reactions from her friend upon discovering the identity of her 'baby fairy' and how this inspired her to turn it into a business.

In this episode we dive into:

* the love put into each product (some hand sewn by Robin herself- thanks to her grandma’s influence and training)

* the joy of wrapping and sending these thoughtful packages

* and Robin's background that supports her in this business.

Towards the end, we talk about the potential for businesses to get involved and how a thoughtful gesture like her new corporate gifting package, can change a work environment and show true care for employees.

Robin's story is filled with love, compassion, and a drive to make every expecting mom feel special. If you want to become a baby fairy or just get inspired by Robin's journey, this episode is a must-listen!

Connect with Robin

The Baby Fairy Shoppe Website

Facebook

Instagram

I am extremely passionate about the philosophy of photographic practice and how we can continue to become more of ourselves through this tool that is usually a trigger for most. To use photography as a tool and a portal to really get truer and deeper into our own self discovery.

The portal being the pictures, the taking of the pictures- as far and as wide as you want to go with it. I feel like we have the opportunity to make every part of that process something that supports us and affirms every part of who we are rather than using it to just showcase one facet of who we are.

Megan: I feel like you've really helped me with that in our own conversations and picture taking. We were just talking about how one of our clients is also one of your clients and we've had this joint feeling of:

* It's so helpful to have these pictures

* And it's layered and can be almost confronting to see yourself in such a true way.

Especially as a business owner and a podcaster, integrating these visuals into telling your story more is really helpful.

And at the same time you're like: Ooh, that's me and what sides of me do I want to show and how willing am I to show up fully as myself?

I have opened my eyes so much to the layeredness and the depths that, if you allow photography to have, it can have if you're open and willing to it.

And I love our intersection between the two, it's same-same with podcasting, right? Yours is in the visual and mine is in the audio, but we can have those same experiences in in both worlds especially by storytelling on Substack through this authentic photography medium.

Connect with Bianca

Website

Podcast

Instagram

I'm so grateful to have my friend, Michelle Venorsky here with me today to talk, about content, getting off the hamster wheel and how to really market your business with ease.

Michelle is amazing. She has introduced me to so many people (like Sarah and Ellen at Flipfort, Josie and Nicolette at Broadview Eye, Charity D’Amato at Studio Chartreuse and Shari Hunter at Two Cafe) and helped me reintegrate back into the Cleveland area after having a local business and then going online for two years.

Marketing is not this clear cut precision, like brain surgery, right? It's a mix of art and science. You just got to roll with it and adjust as you see fit.

It's about being more mindful. There's constantly trends and, personally, I tend to sort of ignore them because the space changes so much.

I feel like if you are always true to the basics, then you don't have to worry about hopping on the latest bandwagon or whatever it may be. Always being mindful, genuine and transparent- those are always in style.

Connect with Michelle

Website

Instagram

My friend, Sara Shookman and I met a few years back in 2017, when she was an NBC news anchor and I owned my wardrobe styling business,  The Style Foundry. Together we'd create style segments to help the women here in Cleveland feel confident in their clothes.

Fast forward 7 years later and now we're both mompreneurs who have expanded both into new businesses of our own and families too.

I was so grateful to sit down and reconnect with Sara in our studio where we not only reminisced on life and our TV segments before kids but also dove into her life update- launching StoryGlow Studio too. 

Connect with Sara

* ​LinkedIn: Sara Shookman & StoryGlow Studio

* Instagram: @sarashookman

* Visit StoryGlow Studio's website 

I think having a child allows you to recognize and appreciate the little things in life.

It makes you take a step back and see life through their eyes. It just makes you appreciate every day.

My new tagline is: Happiness is life's tiny treasures.

I think through our discussion you can probably get a feel for the little things being important to me. Itty Bitty Bakeshop is the name of my business, but it really comes down to my thoughts and feelings about the little things in life, making people happy and all of those things.

Connect with Tiffany:

Website

Instagram

In this episode of the Mompreneur Guide podcast, Amy from Daisy Pops shares her journey from being a high school math teacher to starting a successful cake pop business while juggling motherhood.

She talks about the growth of her business, how she integrates her children into it, and the kind of mindset it takes to maintain your own brand.

We delve into important topics like growing consistently without burning out, delegating tasks so you can stay doing what you do best, and, of course, the mompreneur experience.

Amy also provides an inside look at her cake pop creation process, her innovative use of 3D printers in the business, and her plans for the holiday season.

Hearing how Amy builds her business around her unique skillset, leaving the 'shoulds' behind, was my favorite topic of all.

Learn more about Amy:

• Daisy Pops website


• Corporate Cake Pop Orders


• Holiday Cake Pops


• @daisypops_cakepops on Instagram

SHOW NOTES

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• Spotify

Follow us on Instagram: @mompreneur_co

Check out our Podcast Studio for Mompreneurs

Book a Studio Tour

Learn about our Events for Mom Founders

Join the Mompreneur Directory

In this episode of the Mompreneur Guide Podcast,  Dre Wien joins us in studio to talk about community, getting to know yourself better and in doing so, creating a sustainable business that lasts.

As a serial entrepreneur (she has 9 lives as she says), mom and coach I was enthralled by all the twists and turns our conversation took.

Learning more about Human Design was my favorite topic though.

Dre shared:

• Her unique approach to business and mentoring thanks to Human Design


• How she determined the  'hardwired' way she works best


• And how connecting to her personal values has not only given herself space and success as a founder but also has grown her community

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Dre:

• Ladder CLE website


• Dre's Human Design, Life + Business Coaching Services


• @laddercle + @drethementor on Instagram

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Follow us on Instagram: @mompreneur_co

Check out our Podcast Studio for Mompreneurs

Book a Studio Tour

Learn about our Events for Mom Founders

Join the Mompreneur Directory

Business partners, optometrists, and moms Josie Kosunick and Nicolette Scott from Broad View Eye Center visit the studio this week for an insightful conversation about building an optometry empire while raising families. With one of the largest privately owned eye clinics in Cleveland, we dive into how their people-focused culture makes them different and how their families contribute. Nicolette and Josie discuss what hindsight has taught them about worry, and how they have been intentional about choosing the aesthetic and staff for their clinics.

This insightful episode explores:

• Why networking moms were the key demographic for Josie and Nicolette's business boom.


• How welcoming change and trusting that things are working out for you will move you forward.


• Why separating your business and your family isn't always helpful or possible, and how blending the two can make your business even more special.


• Intentional ways to build a team that fits well with you and your demographic for a top-notch client experience.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Josie, Nicolette, and the Broad View Eye Center:

• The Broad View Eye Center website


• @broadvieweye on Instragram

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• Apple


• Spotify

Follow us on Instagram: @mompreneur_co

Check out our Podcast Studio for Mompreneurs

Book a Studio Tour

Learn about our Events for Mom Founders

Join the Mompreneur Directory

My friend Isabel Pritchett made the short walk down Main Street from her women’s clothing boutique — Sanity — over to the studio to chat with me today! We talk about why she loves retail and how she made her shop a place where women can come to get some sanity (in addition to clothing, shoes, and accessories).

Isabel also shares why she’s been able to stay up to date and on trend in the fashion world for all of her 15 years in business and counting. And she talks about the challenges of being willing to pivot and change with the times for the sake of her customers while still staying true to herself and her style.

We talk so much more about life as mom founders as well:

How she felt when she knew she wanted to pursue a different path than her family traditionally expected (doctor or lawyer)

What she’s showing her kids about connections, trust, and how her business is about more than just making the sale

Being happy with where the business is today and enjoying the moment instead of always feeling a need to do more

Learn more about Isabel and Sanity:

Sanity's website (psst: the gift shop is officially open for the holidays)

@sanity_style on Instragram

Check out our Studio for Mompreneurs

Sisters-in-law Katie Hanna and Emily Hanna Mayock are here at the studio this week, talking about starting up the business they’ve always dreamed of running as a team. They run a marketing and communications agency together, and it really felt like this conversation was a peek behind the curtain at how fun their day-to-day operations can be!

In this episode we really dove into the perspective shift from task taker to recommender. When Katie and Emily made that transition in each of their careers, it took a while to work and strengthen that muscle. One day they realized they had been doing it well for the organizations they worked for and recognized it was time to do it as women business owners themselves.

We also cover their mission to empower other women business owners through clear and confident messaging, the first client to fill out the intake form on their website (hint: it has to do with their kids being all-in on this business idea), and the storybook tale of how they met and their lives have intertwined.

SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Katie, Emily, and The Hanna Collaborative:

• The Hanna Collaborative website


• Mentioned in the show: nominating a non-profit or a small business. Each year, Katie & Emily select one Cleveland-based nonprofit—or mission-driven small business—to provide pro bono marketing and communications services. If you are part of (or know) an organization that needs support spreading the good word, they’d love to learn more! Their applications for 2024 are due Dec. 1.


• @hannacollab on Instragram


• The Hanna Collaborative on LinkedIn

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• Apple


• Spotify

Follow us on Instagram: @mompreneur_co

Check out our Podcast Studio for Mompreneurs

Book a Studio Tour

Learn about our Events for Mom Founders

Join the Mompreneur Directory