Mom of the Month
September 2008

About “Goosy”:

Jill (aka “Goosy”) is a work-a- home mom, based near Minneapolis, Minnesota.   She has turned her passion for creating and sewing, along with her love for children, into a full-time business, selling personalized children’s clothing & accessories via her online store & through children’s boutiques across the country.

Why the name Goosy? 

Though no one is quite sure of its origin, Goosy Boo was my nickname as a baby & has stuck through adulthood.  I’m 34 years old, and my parents still call me “Goosy” to this day. 

What do you sell?

I make & sell personalized gifts and clothing for infants & children, up to size 6.  Our most popular items include the personalized Comfy Fleece Toddler Hats, Knotted Knit Hospital Hats, My First Cuddlers, and personalized Toddler Pillowcases.  Our products are hand-made, using high-quality fabric s & materials, including ultra-soft micro fleece, chenille, and over 100 designer cottons and flannels.

How did you get started?

I have always been interested in crafting, though, I only discovered sewing in the last 6 years.  Many years ago, in a high school Home Ec. Class, I reluctantly trudged through the sewing course and managed to run my sweatshirt sleeve (that I was wearing) through the machine (in my defense, this was the 80’s and oversized sweatshirts were in style:).  Fast forward 14 years.  I was pregnant with my first child & nesting.  I had a strong desire for my children to have a handmade keepsake from Mom.  One problem… I had absolutely no idea how to sew.  I went to a second-hand thrift store and bought a handful of children’s outfits. I took them home and tore them apart, trying to figure out the method of constructing a garment.   I scooted off to local sewing & fabric stores and asked the basic question: “How do I make this?” In return, I received more information than I could have ever imagined about fabric types, needle sizes, thread quality and more.  I borrowed & dusted off my mom’s 1960 Kenmore Sewing machine (which she had used once for a lingerie class in her 20’s...) After a few attempts & a few frustrations….Success! I had a fairly decent hat for my baby, which would ultimately become the inspiration for the future Knotted Knit Hats (commonly called ‘Hospital Hats’ for babies’ first photos). 

I was thrilled, but now addicted… The more I sewed, the more I learned.  I started creating new styles & giving hats & little outfits to friends as baby shower gifts.  Soon their friends began requesting items, especially personalized items.   My newfound hobby, along with my desire to be at home with my children, led to establishing a home-based business and opening an online store.  Today, I sell directly through my website, phone orders, and via retailers throughout the US. 

What is your advice to those getting started?

1.       Find your passion & do something you love.  Though I didn’t have a background in sewing,  I was creative and passionate about hand-crafting unique items for babies & toddlers.  For me, this led to sewing  – I have taken advice, taken classes, and gone to great lengths to learn the best-practices for sewing children’s items.  Building a successful business requires long hours, hard work, and dedication.  Work with something you love & it will be a lot more fun & a lot less work.

2.       Learn from others, but remain true to yourself.  Determine what separates you from your competition & build on what makes you unique.

3.       Provide Quality Products & Excellent Customer Service.  There are thousands of businesses similar to yours.  What separates you from the others?  Whether you make products, or are a retailer for someone who does, offer quality items with quality materials & quality construction.   Follow this up with prompt & courteous customer service and you have the potential to soar above the competition.

4.       Don’t Market to the Masses.  Determine your unique customer-base & market to this group.  Be specific & make the most of your marketing efforts. 

5.       Stick with it.  You will have slow times & busy times.  Make the most of your slow time by enhancing your website, updating marketing materials, developing new products, or contacting past customers.  Don’t be discouraged by a slow start.  Building a customer base & developing customer trust takes time and hard work.

What is the biggest misconception about starting an online business?

When you open your online store, you will be swamped with sales.  I remember being nervous before making my site ‘live.’  “What if I wake up tomorrow to a few hundred orders?”  And the next day, a few hundred more?”  As my products were handmade, this was a big-concern!

Well, reality set in & I realized it took a great deal of hard work, marketing and communication to draw traffic to my site & build online sales.   First, customers need to know you exist.  Second, customers need to trust you, your products & your service.  Getting to this point can take great effort.  Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive, in fact there are numerous free marketing options, but it does need to be a priority for your business.