Monday, September 29, 2014

Moms on Mondays - Kim from Sweet Daisy Products

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This week I am proud to feature Kim from Sweet Daisy Products.  She makes balms, salves and soaps from all natural herbs that help heal your body's ailments.  I have been using the chapstick she sent me for months and I absolutely love it, I MUST order more!  And, Lemon loves the Baby Balm, we rub it on her feet at night to soothe her before she sleeps and her healing salve is great for all of Lemon's mosquito bites.  Kim's products are amazing and she had makes them all, including growing, harvesting and drying her own herbs!  You have GOT to get some of this stuff - go and check out her shop!  (Kim's shop is currently on hiatus, follow her on Instagram to see when she's back in business!)



What is the name of your shop and how can we find you?  

Sweet Daisy Products is my website and I am also on Facebook and Instagram


Tell us about what you make/sell in your shop.  

My main focus is herbal salves as remedies. I do dabble in things like lip balms, soaps, and other things, but I enjoy using my knowledge of herbs to create a product that really helps people with ailments and other things. 


How/why did you start making these products and open this shop? 

My son was diagnosed with Autism in 2013 at not even 3 years of age. Along with his diagnosis, our family was dealing with a multitude of other issues including financial problems. I've always been very "crunchy" and into making my own things, but I started making remedies to not only try to keep our family on a more natural path and help with the Autism, but also because we desperately needed another income. 


How long have you been in business? 

Almost 1 year!


What is your background (college/career/etc.)? 

I graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor's in Marketing, and then continued on in Management in retail stores. I enjoyed the customer service aspect and the business part, but retail is a HARD, demanding job and with little ones at home, it's almost impossible and far too stressful!


Tell us a little bit about your family. 

My husband and I have been together 15 years now (high school sweethearts) and have been married for 5+ years. We live in a house in a small town in Connecticut with our 2 sons (Joshua, 3 & Liam, 2). We are very into self sustainability and raise chickens, grow gardens (and almost all of the herbs that I use in my products) and work hard to maintain it.  [So cool, like my dream.]


How does this company help your family?  Or you? 

This is not only a product that I use in my home every single day, and a small (but hopefully growing) income for us, but it's an outlet for me. As a mom home with 2 small children, one being special needs, I get stuck in the deep hole of being mom and only mom -- nothing else. When I find "me time" I love spending it working on something for my business -- whether it be putting in real research into herbalism and aromatherapy, growing/harvesting/drying my herbs, designing packaging, creating new lines/recipes, advertising (online! social media!), customer service and everything else that goes with it. It feeds my need to be in the "business world" without having to run someone ELSE's business. And, it's close to my heart and I'm PASSIONATE about each and every product, which is why it means SO MUCH to me. 


Did you ever think you'd be doing this?  What did you think you'd be doing instead? 

I never really imagined exactly WHAT I'd be doing one day. Once I had children I knew that I wanted to stay home with them. I don't know where this will lead me, or if this is the only path I'll take, but I know that it's going to continue to be a main path for me. 


Does anyone help you with your shop? 

Not yet, but I'd love to grow enough to be able to have an assistant to help me with some things I just can't make a lot of time for! 


How do you find time to run your shop and create products? 


You'll often find me up late at night researching/reading with a notebook to jot down ideas and create recipes. And during the day I'll be in the kitchen, mixing and creating, usually with at least one kid attached to me!


What do you love about this businesses? 

That I'm excited about it EVERY single day. That the world is becoming more accepting of herbal remedies and natural solutions, and that more and more people are interested in it. 


What is the most challenging part of this business? 

Making time for it while raising a family. 


Where do you see your shop in the future? 


I hope that the future includes a bigger online store, and having my products sold in person in shops and stores. 


Tell us your favorite product or your most favorite thing you've created? 

I really love it all, but I TRULY love and believe in my all natural calendula salve. I grow calendula and it's BEAUTIFUL. I care for my plants, I harvest, dry and save each petal off of each flower. I infuse them into oils and really put a lot of care into it. I have seen this salve heal almost ANYTHING and I love nothing more than getting notes/emails/messages from customers letting me know how it's changed or helped something for them. 


Do you have any advice for future mom-entrepreneurs? 

Don't compare your business/products to ANY others. There will be people out there doing the same thing, and it might seem like they sell more, have more customers, or are "better." DO NOT compare yourself. Run your business the way YOU want to and be passionate about it, and it will show through in your products. 


What are some of YOUR favorite shops/products, besides your own? 

I love to support other handmade shops! Two of my very favorites are Hustlemama Handmade, and Marine Parents


Kim, you are so inspiring!  Thanks for your post!


 
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