Our second Spotlight on Mommy moms this week are Kristin and Anna Forselius, creators of Oopsie Loopsie. I couldn't wait to share this interview and their product with you since I received a sample over a month ago. What I love most about their invention is how it works when you are pregnant and shortly thereafter. I have had the opportunity to use the Oopsie Loopsie product while I was pregnant with our 2nd daughter, Arabella, and have continued to use it since I gave birth back on 11/10. This product came in so handy and saved me $$, as I didn't have to buy pregnancy pants. Instead, I was able to wear my pre-pregnancy pants with the help of the Oopsie Loopsie.
I will share my on this product and my thoughts this Friday in my Feature Friday post, as well as offer a giveaway of a set of 4 Oopsie Loopsie's for one lucky reader to win. But, in the meantime, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy my interview with the two women behind this great invention.
Name: Kristin Forselius and Anna Forselius
Company Name/Product/Service: Oopsie Loopsie
Company Location: Guilford, CT
Company Website: www.oopsieloopsie.com
Facebook URL: oopsie loopsie
Twitter Handle: @ oopsieloopsie
Age of Company: 1 year
Favorite Inspirational Quotes:
“Anyone can do anything with a million dollars. Look at Disney. But it takes more than money to make something out of nothing, and look at the fun you can have doing it.” Tressa Prisby, folk artist (Kristin)
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” by Seneca. (Anna)
Favorite Book: Summer by Edith Wharton (Kristin) and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Anna)
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
From Kristin:
Being creative is a core part of my life and something I have in common with my two kids (boy age 8 and girl age 7). We each love writing, reading, and the arts. I lean towards writing poetry and painting; my daughter dancing and my son illustration. My husband still plays hockey, but he tolerates our eccentricities and we all love to skate. Which is a good thing, because we spend a lot of time with my sister-in-law’s family!
Anna’s family not only loves to skate, but hockey is a big part of family life. Her husband (my brother) played the sport his entire life and like my husband still plays today. Her oldest boy (age 9) preferred holding a hockey stick to a baby bottle. The second boy (age 8) followed suit and the two have been playing the game since age 2—they may have learned to skate before they could walk. Anna’s youngest, a little girl age 6, has become a rink rat. In her own time, however, she loves to dance and paint.
Anna and I have many similar interests, other than the hockey connection. We both love to garden and cook.
When we get together, it always involves a menu of lots fresh food (usually from our gardens) and my brother’s and Anna’s homemade wine. We both live in antique houses—mine a 1750s clapboard cape and Anna’s a 1850s brick Georgian. We both value our families above all else and are mindful about quality time and care with them.
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
Anna and I were having babies at the same time. Together we had a total of 5 children in 4 years. During this time, we shared everything, including tips and ideas of saving money and feeling healthy. One of my tips to Anna was the rubber band trick. It had been handed down to me by an older friend. I was so relieved to not have to buy more maternity clothes and to get back into normal pants sooner post-partum. One day, Anna and I had been talking about patent ideas—amazing how inspired you become as a new mom—and she suggested coming up with something more comfortable, more reliable, and more attractive than a rubber band to use on our pants—so began our journey to creating Loopsie.
What is a typical work day like?
Trying to do as much as possible and keep our sanity at the same time. Thank goodness for laptops—they allow for flexibility and portability. Perfect for working during sport or ballet practice!
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
The largest struggles are financing our initiatives and finding enough hours in the day to complete the unending list of things that need to be done.
The biggest challenge of starting a business is finding a balance between when workday begins and when it ends.
What did you do in your past work life?
Out of college I started Arts In Reach (AIR), today a thriving non-profit organization that provides arts mentoring opportunities for teenage girls in New Hampshire. I retired from running AIR and joined the board after the birth of my second child.
Anna has a Masters degree in school counseling and worked as a guidance counselor, as well as a researcher at Yale University in clinical studies. She also runs the office for her husband’s general contracting business.
What have been some of your major successes?
The two at the top of our list would have to be getting the patent and the trademark on Loopsie.
What have been some of your major challenges?
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
What motivates us most is knowing that we are bringing a great product to market. Loopsie helps women save money, reach their goals, feel like themselves again. It’s simple, practical, and cute! We love it!
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
You’ll be the first to know when we figure it out. Stopping to listen carefully to our kids and responding in a meaningful way seems to help. It’s amazing how satisfied kids can be with a thoughtful response. We also know the importance of shutting off the computers and cell phones.
At the same time, managing a business requires its own set of commitment, time, and focus. If you want your business to succeed, you have to put in the hours. Of course, a day only has 24 of them! We don’t watch much TV and you can’t believe how much time you can attain when you’re not watching sitcoms, talk shows, and dramas.
What is next for your business?
Just getting the Loopsie out there. We are continuing to spread the word and hope that our mom supporters do, too!
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?
Is it Nike that says “Just do it!” That’s what we say, and—‘no regrets’.
If your business is struggling, then you focus on one thing that is working well and build on that one thing first.
Get strategic about your initiatives and create a plan that includes dated action items.
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