Spotlight on Mom Feature: Kim Strong and Jamye Baker, Inventors of the ciao! Baby Portable High Chair

After taking last month of with Spotlight Moms, I am ready and excited to begin sharing inspirational stories and products from mom entrepreneurs with you in 2015.  I don't know about you, but I love when I stumble across a product and find that it was invented by a mom and/or dad. Most products come about out of a need and not being able to find a product that makes life as a parent or caregiver that much easier.  So, whenever possible, I love to support these moms and dads by buying their product, sharing more about it to family and friends, as well as promoting their brand and products through blog posts like this.  With that being said, I would love to introduce you all to Kim Strong and Jamye Baker of Jamberly Group, Inc.  These two mommies invented the ciao! baby portable high chair, a must for families on the go.

So, what is the ciao! baby portable high chair and what makes it so special?

The ciao! baby® portable high chair is an innovative, practical solution for families on the go! travel, picnics, camping, vacations, tailgating, and grandma’s house!

• Free standing chair
• Requires no assembly
• Light weight and flexible design
• Easily unfolds, locks into place, and folds back up in seconds
• Durable material with a clear vinyl tray cover that easily wipes clean
• Built-in cup holder
• Comfortable lap belt securely holds child
• Tested and approved.
• Approx. Weight: 8 lbs.
• Approx. Open Size: 23″x23″x32″

Why ciao! baby?

makes a great shower gift

unlike any other folding chair

convenient to carry, stores in a bag, and an ideal portable highchair for outdoor use

ideal for children up to three years old

Pretty neat invention, huh?  I wish I had known about this portable high chair when my girls were a little younger, as it would have come in handy when we were on vacation, visiting the grandparent's or simply having a picnic in the park.  Both of my girls loved to run when we put them down (and still do).  This high chair would have provided us with a comfortable and sturdy chair to put them in, while on the go.  And, it seemed like whenever we would dine out, the restaurants would run out of high chairs or only have one, when we needed two.  

Even though my girls can't benefit from this portable high chair, I am making sure friends and family with little ones under three years of age know about the ciao! baby® portable high chair. And, the next time I get invited to a baby shower, or find out someone I know is expecting, I know what I will be giving as a gift -- the ciao! baby® portable high chair.

You can learn more about the ciao! baby portable high chair, as well as purchase one online for only $67.99 (plus $9 flat shipping rate (per chair). Orders shipping outside the 48 contiguous states, call 502-241-5515 for shipping rate).by visiting www.theportablehighchair.com.  And, make sure you head back here on Friday when I will be kicking off a 2-week giveaway, where one lucky reader will win a black ciao! baby portable high chair for themselves, or to give as a gift.  But, in the meantime, please enjoy my Spotlight on Mom interview with Kim and Jamye, as they share more about their portable high chair and how they manage work and family life....

Names:  Kim Strong and Jamye Baker

Company Name/Product/Service: Jamberly Group, Inc./ Inventors of ciao! baby portable high chair

Company Location: Louisville, KY

Company Website:  www.theportablehighchair.com

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/ciaobabychair

Twitter Handle: @ https://twitter.com/ciaobabychair

Pinterest Page:https://www.pinterest.com/ciaobabychair/

Age of Company:  8 years

Favorite Inspirational Quotes:  “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelo

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  How many children do you have?  What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc.

Kim has three children, 2 boys, 10 and 12, and a daughter 15.  We are very active in sports and school activities and a true "on-the-go" family.  Jamye has 2 daughters in college.  We are still adjusting to our "empty nest".

Briefly explain your business.  How did it come about?  

ciao! baby arose out of need when Kim's youngest son was still using a high chair.  It was a holiday at grandma's house and there had to be a better way to feed the baby.

What is a typical work day like? 

We work from separate sales offices and spend many hours on the phone each day with each other and customers.  

What has been a struggle while starting up your company?  

Brand awareness was huge in the beginning and still is something we never lose focus of...there are millions of babies...we just need get the word out....

What did you do in your past work life? 

We met while working for the same company in the home decor industry.  Kim was Director of Sales/Jamye Director of Marketing

What have been some of your major successes?  

Gaining placement in some major retailers such as Cabelas, Bass Pro, as well as in over 200 boutiques

What have been some of your major challenges?  

Managing inventory is always a challenge...a big guessing game.

On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?  

The love of our product and knowledge that we can make a difference in the lives of families on the go

What is next for your business?  

We have a couple of accessory items in the works, but it's too early to tell.

Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business? 

Stick with it and take it one day at a time.  When we get overwhelmed it really helps to break it all down and just baby step it.  Looking at the "big picture" isn't always easy, but breaking it down and outlining how to get from point A to point B can really help and make it seem more doable.