What are Pyj-Amis?:
Pyj-Amis are the new solution to store your child’s pajamas during the day.
The pajama bags can be hung on the wall,
at the bed corner post or rest on the bed. Thanks to a clip-on strap,
all Pyj-Amis can also be carry as a backpack for sleepovers. They come in 5 different colors and 6 cute animal shapes. You can even have your Pyj-Amis personalized with your child’s name.
Each pajama bag is made with care and love, out of 100% polyester felt.
Pyj-Amis are handmade by DesignLaboratoire, a Rhode Island based Design company.
I will share my thoughts on the sample I was sent for Savannah this Friday in my Feature Friday post, along with a coupon code. But, in the meantime, please enjoy my interview with Sophie, the creator of these unique and fun pajama bags.
Name: Sophie Hones
Company Name/Product/Service: Company: DesignLaboratoire; Pyj-Amis
Company Location: Providence, RI
Company Website: www.
Facebook URL: www.facebook.com/
Age of Company: 1 year
Favorite Inspirational Quotes: “There are no problems, only solutions” (John Lennon, 1980)
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
I have 1 son: Morgan 5 1/2. my husband is German and I am French which makes him trilingual. I love traveling, discovering cultures (which is very inspiring for me), going to the movie and spending time with my family.
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
As a product designer I wanted to created useful and helpful products. as a mom, i was inspired by many situations I was involved in. this is how I started to show people my prototypes and was listening to their feedback and reactions.
What is a typical work day like?
There is not really a typical work day. or maybe I still didn't find out how my typical work day should be.in the morning I prepare and bring my son for school, and when I come back I usually work on my business: depending on the needs, I will rather work on the production, the marketing or the accounting. @ 3pm I pick him up and the work day is over. back to family and mom life. even though I try to use the time my son is at school to work, last summer, preparing a big production for some open markets in Boston, I was taking some work with me to the park, at the pool, or everywhere I knew my son could play and have fun while I would be able to go forward with my work. the great thing was that lots of mom saw my products at the park and I got some new orders! :-)
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
The hardest part with starting the company was to step in a completely new world. I had to inquire about everything: legal, accounting, taxes, resale, consignement... and as I come from Europe this was even harder as I don't really know the system in the US .
What did you do in your past work life?
I worked as jeweler and product designer
What have been some of your major successes?
Age of Company: 1 year
Favorite Inspirational Quotes: “There are no problems, only solutions” (John Lennon, 1980)
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
I have 1 son: Morgan 5 1/2. my husband is German and I am French which makes him trilingual. I love traveling, discovering cultures (which is very inspiring for me), going to the movie and spending time with my family.
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
As a product designer I wanted to created useful and helpful products. as a mom, i was inspired by many situations I was involved in. this is how I started to show people my prototypes and was listening to their feedback and reactions.
What is a typical work day like?
There is not really a typical work day. or maybe I still didn't find out how my typical work day should be.in the morning I prepare and bring my son for school, and when I come back I usually work on my business: depending on the needs, I will rather work on the production, the marketing or the accounting. @ 3pm I pick him up and the work day is over. back to family and mom life. even though I try to use the time my son is at school to work, last summer, preparing a big production for some open markets in Boston, I was taking some work with me to the park, at the pool, or everywhere I knew my son could play and have fun while I would be able to go forward with my work. the great thing was that lots of mom saw my products at the park and I got some new orders! :-)
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
The hardest part with starting the company was to step in a completely new world. I had to inquire about everything: legal, accounting, taxes, resale, consignement... and as I come from Europe this was even harder as I don't really know the system in the US .
What did you do in your past work life?
I worked as jeweler and product designer
What have been some of your major successes?
As
my business is not even 1 year old, each sale is a success for me but
the most valuable is when I see my products are being appreciated by
people I am not related to.
What have been some of your major challenges?
My
big challenge for now was to be ready for the open market last summer.
with no experience in that matter and a whole stock to produce in a
short time, combining with family life was quite a new challenge for me.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
I didn't invest me in this business to stop everything now without trying more. it's just too new to be done!
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and
family?
Explaining to my son what I do helps him a lot when I
have to work while he is home. But, I usually try to separate the two
situations.
What is next for your business?
I
want to expand the presence of my products in brick and mortar
boutiques. I am selling already in 3 boutiques around Boston and
Providence, but my next step is to reach New York City.
Do you have any advice for other
mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence
about starting a business?
Starting a
business is not really difficult as long as the product makes sense. you
need the have a strategy on how to promote it as well as how to
produce it. the rest will follow. then combining family and business
life is just as for any working mom: try to separate your time for each
duty.
We so need these for sleepovers what a wonderful idea thanks for sharing.
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