I am excited to share this week's spotlight mom with you, as Savannah just loves her sticker albums. I am talking about Debra Hartley, creator of RaeMa Creations. In addition, Debra is also in the running for Walmart's new entrepreneur contest, Get on the Shelf, where they will choose a winner, based on the most votes received, as add this product to their store shelves. How great is that? Please take a moment to show your support for a fellow mom entrepreneur and vote for Debra by clicking here. You can vote daily, until April 3rd for round 1. Then, the entries with the most votes will go onto round two, which begins April 11, 2012 to April 24, 2012, where the majority vote will win.
So what makes Debra's products so fun and unique?
Paper Posh, myfashion dolls are a reinvented paper doll past time made new. Dolls are pre-cut with a collection of clothes, shoes, hair and accessories that are held on by glue. Dolls and clothes are cut from heavy card stock paper. Then, you can posh each doll with your own style using, beads, sequins, glitter or ribbon. Each package features 8 dolls, with various skin tones, a collection of clothes, shoes, accessories, as well as and an array of hair styles; enough for each doll. Little girls will have so much fun with these stylish myfashion dolls, while parents don't have to worry about messy cleanups. These packages are great for on the go travel, as well as for rainy day activities.
“Paper Posh, myfashion dolls were created to spend hours creating this season’s fashion with pre-cut dolls and clothes instead of spending time on cutting or punching out dolls and their clothes,” said Debra Hartley, RaeMa Creations Owner and Creative Director.
RaeMa Creations creates children’s products that promote youthful imagination and inspire creativity. Other products available are “My Sticker Album” for girls and boys, and a game for birthday goers called “Pin the Purse on the Diva”. The Diva is illustrated to look like the birthday girl.
Please enjoy my Spotlight on Mommy interview with Debra Hartley, the creator of RaeMa Creations.
Name: Debra Hartley
Company Name/Product/Service: RaeMa Creations
Company Location: Indianapolis, IN
Company Website: www.raemacreations.com
Facebook URL: www.facebook.com/RaeMaCreations
Age of Company: 3 years old
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
People who know me best say that I’m creative, passionate and easy to be around. I enjoy having fun and making people laugh by being surprisingly goofy or saying something amazingly witty. I love encouraging people to see or meet their goals.
At a business college in Indianapolis, Indiana is were I mastered my illustration skills and accomplished computer layout and design in 1994. After I graduated I worked in the Graphic Design industry for eight years. I worked full time as a Graphic Artist at a printing company and then as an Art Director for a scrapbook company in Las Vegas, NV. Now on the side, I continue to paint murals and illustrate drawing of my own. Which is how RaeMa Creations sprouted.
I currently work full time and a mother of four kids; 11,13, 16 and 18 years old. Two of which are my bonus kids from when I remarried in 2008 to my best friend; my husband.
Company Name/Product/Service: RaeMa Creations
Company Location: Indianapolis, IN
Company Website: www.raemacreations.com
Facebook URL: www.facebook.com/RaeMaCreations
Age of Company: 3 years old
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How many children do you have? What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.
People who know me best say that I’m creative, passionate and easy to be around. I enjoy having fun and making people laugh by being surprisingly goofy or saying something amazingly witty. I love encouraging people to see or meet their goals.
At a business college in Indianapolis, Indiana is were I mastered my illustration skills and accomplished computer layout and design in 1994. After I graduated I worked in the Graphic Design industry for eight years. I worked full time as a Graphic Artist at a printing company and then as an Art Director for a scrapbook company in Las Vegas, NV. Now on the side, I continue to paint murals and illustrate drawing of my own. Which is how RaeMa Creations sprouted.
I currently work full time and a mother of four kids; 11,13, 16 and 18 years old. Two of which are my bonus kids from when I remarried in 2008 to my best friend; my husband.
Briefly explain your business. How did it come about?
RaeMa Creations creates products the promote youthful imagination and inspire creativity. I have a passion about allowing kids to be creative. When kids express their world around them in a creative way is, to me, fascinating. Encouraging and expressing our delight when the create something, builds great self esteem and confidence.
When my daughters were 5 and 4, we set out on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy the “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” (2005). Before we entered the movie, we were given stickers of Winnie the Pooh and all the characters in the movie. My daughters and I agreed the Heffalump was the cutest sticker on the sticker sheet.
When we arrived home my daughters asked about putting the sticker on the refrigerator. Yes, the refrigerator that I didn’t own at the time and my daughters wanted to put a sticker on it and probably another and another. So, I quickly turned it around and mentioned my sticker book that I had growing up in the 80’s. As a matter of fact, I was able to find it and we enjoyed some great moments leafing through many pages of my sticker collection.
I wanted to get them a sticker book of their own to start collecting. We spend time at book stores looking for sticker books without popular themes like Dora or Strawberry Shortcake. That’s were I was inspired to illustrate a sticker book for kids to collect stickers.
After working with different mediums, I settled with using the computer to illustrate the pages of the book. It was quick clean up and easier to transfer the pages digitally into a book verses using watercolors to illustrate the pages then scan them into the computer.
What is a typical work day like?
I work full time, so my days are full when I work and have the kids over at our house. Since I have a blended family, every other week I have no kids and that’s the time I work on my RaeMa Creations business.
RaeMa Creations creates products the promote youthful imagination and inspire creativity. I have a passion about allowing kids to be creative. When kids express their world around them in a creative way is, to me, fascinating. Encouraging and expressing our delight when the create something, builds great self esteem and confidence.
When my daughters were 5 and 4, we set out on a Saturday afternoon to enjoy the “Pooh’s Heffalump Movie” (2005). Before we entered the movie, we were given stickers of Winnie the Pooh and all the characters in the movie. My daughters and I agreed the Heffalump was the cutest sticker on the sticker sheet.
When we arrived home my daughters asked about putting the sticker on the refrigerator. Yes, the refrigerator that I didn’t own at the time and my daughters wanted to put a sticker on it and probably another and another. So, I quickly turned it around and mentioned my sticker book that I had growing up in the 80’s. As a matter of fact, I was able to find it and we enjoyed some great moments leafing through many pages of my sticker collection.
I wanted to get them a sticker book of their own to start collecting. We spend time at book stores looking for sticker books without popular themes like Dora or Strawberry Shortcake. That’s were I was inspired to illustrate a sticker book for kids to collect stickers.
After working with different mediums, I settled with using the computer to illustrate the pages of the book. It was quick clean up and easier to transfer the pages digitally into a book verses using watercolors to illustrate the pages then scan them into the computer.
What is a typical work day like?
I work full time, so my days are full when I work and have the kids over at our house. Since I have a blended family, every other week I have no kids and that’s the time I work on my RaeMa Creations business.
What has been a struggle while starting up your company?
Marketing. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social sites have played a major role in getting the word out about my products.
I also struggle with the balance of work and time with my family. I would take vacation days just to attend entrepreneur workshops and meeting with people who might direct me in the right way.
There is no straight answer on how to start a business. Everyone is different, every product is unique and every market has it battles. The biggest question for me was “How am I going to print my book”. With no education in import/export, no extra funds to tap into to start the business, I searched and prayed over it often.
I had the idea to sell the sticker book but I couldn’t figure out how to market or where to start. I always had that question in the forefront of my mind. When I would talk with other colleagues and networked with other entrepreneurs; if they shared the same or similar to my interests, I would ask many questions. “How did you start”, “Who did you talk with” , “What’s the name of the company you used”. So on and so on.
One person gave me a lead to a self publishing company. Then I began to search for others similar companies and I found a company that prints-on-demand. It basically works like this; when someone orders a book, the company prints it and ships it out. I have no inventory and my book is sold on the internet, in stores and it’s listed on a national distribution list for libraries and book stores to order. It’s a start.
What did you do in your past work life?
I was a Graphic Designer for 8 years. I currently work at an Account Executive for Personal Lines Insurance. It’s just a fancy name for Insurance Agent.
What have been some of your major successes?
Most major success is seeing my sticker book sold on Amazon. Last year I sold over 1,000 books world wide.
What have been some of your major challenges?
Additional funds and marketing. But, when I earned money from my business, I put it back into my business. It would take some time saving up for things I needed for the business, but I was worth it and there’s no debt.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
What motivates me the most is seeing these projects through and to their fullest. In my mind, I cant imagine walking away to not seeing the rest of my projects turn into products that I sell.
My husband encourages me and is my biggest cheerleader.
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
Family comes first.
What is next for your business?
I’m creating a video commercial for my paper dolls to put on “getontheshelf.com” It’s sponsored by Walmart. With Walmart’s backing and ability to reach a large market, I would like to see my paper dolls sold on Walmart’s shelf.
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?
1.) BUSINESS PLAN! Use a business plan to start. No matter if you know the answer or not, fill out a business plan. 2.) Tell people. People have a lot of opinions, but I turn those opinions into options.
Marketing. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social sites have played a major role in getting the word out about my products.
I also struggle with the balance of work and time with my family. I would take vacation days just to attend entrepreneur workshops and meeting with people who might direct me in the right way.
There is no straight answer on how to start a business. Everyone is different, every product is unique and every market has it battles. The biggest question for me was “How am I going to print my book”. With no education in import/export, no extra funds to tap into to start the business, I searched and prayed over it often.
I had the idea to sell the sticker book but I couldn’t figure out how to market or where to start. I always had that question in the forefront of my mind. When I would talk with other colleagues and networked with other entrepreneurs; if they shared the same or similar to my interests, I would ask many questions. “How did you start”, “Who did you talk with” , “What’s the name of the company you used”. So on and so on.
One person gave me a lead to a self publishing company. Then I began to search for others similar companies and I found a company that prints-on-demand. It basically works like this; when someone orders a book, the company prints it and ships it out. I have no inventory and my book is sold on the internet, in stores and it’s listed on a national distribution list for libraries and book stores to order. It’s a start.
What did you do in your past work life?
I was a Graphic Designer for 8 years. I currently work at an Account Executive for Personal Lines Insurance. It’s just a fancy name for Insurance Agent.
What have been some of your major successes?
Most major success is seeing my sticker book sold on Amazon. Last year I sold over 1,000 books world wide.
What have been some of your major challenges?
Additional funds and marketing. But, when I earned money from my business, I put it back into my business. It would take some time saving up for things I needed for the business, but I was worth it and there’s no debt.
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
What motivates me the most is seeing these projects through and to their fullest. In my mind, I cant imagine walking away to not seeing the rest of my projects turn into products that I sell.
My husband encourages me and is my biggest cheerleader.
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
Family comes first.
What is next for your business?
I’m creating a video commercial for my paper dolls to put on “getontheshelf.com” It’s sponsored by Walmart. With Walmart’s backing and ability to reach a large market, I would like to see my paper dolls sold on Walmart’s shelf.
Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business?
1.) BUSINESS PLAN! Use a business plan to start. No matter if you know the answer or not, fill out a business plan. 2.) Tell people. People have a lot of opinions, but I turn those opinions into options.
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