A Giant Step on the Yellow Brick Road

This weekend marks a Giant Step in the journey of HomeBadger Creations! My products will be available for sale at a new store opening in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. And, as Jerry Garcia said once, what a long, strange trip it’s been ! Before I talk about that, though, let me explain a little about my enterprise.

I guess you could consider me an “Empty Nest Entrepreneur” – except that my daughter moved back home… I started the business almost 2 years ago now. It was a strange time in our lives. My father had passed away on Christmas Day, my daughter moved out on January 3rd, and by the 10th I had been laid off from my job. Even if I wasn’t facing the big question: “What do I do with the next 50 years of my life? it would have been a little challenging.

However, then I had an epiphany of sorts. I was watching one of my favorite Judge TV shows, and heard the case of two women who had gotten into a physical fight (no kidding) because the “Defendant” objected to the “Plaintiff” nursing her infant child in the waiting area of a popular chain restaurant. The details of the case are unimportant, although fun to listen to!

Given that I was a nursing mother when Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth, I was surprised to find that public perception had not evolved to the point where we could all be adults about it. That case made me think about the difficulties I experienced when my daughter was an infant, and what I could imagine young mothers today still face.

That is how I started making wraps – I thought I might find a way to make something affordable, that would be more of an accessory than a functional item (like a fuzzy blanket with puppies on it thrown over your shoulders), and could also be used for more than just breast feeding.

With encouragement from my husband and family, I got started. With suggestions and requests from friends, neighbors and customers, I began to make other items that people wanted. The purely selfish aspect is the pleasure I get selecting fabrics and colors. The rewards I get are the lovely comments from people who buy a wrap, and will call me weeks later to say that it was the perfect gift, or that they wear it every night when they are watching TV with the family.

As time has gone on, I have had a lot of help learning how to grow my business and take the right steps on my own personal path what I call the HomeBadger’s Yellow Brick Road. One of the first things I did was to join the eWomen Network in South Jersey. The very first networking session I attended had me totally energized! Not only was there a supportive atmosphere, but the other women were able to give me solid suggestions on how to move forward. I also learned that I was not the only person who had occasional moments of insecurity and confusion! But by listening to other women, I could clear my head and keep my feet on that path.

At the recent GLOW event, I had the honor of hearing Sandra Yancey speak. The message that stuck in my mind the most was that if we want something, we need to ask for it. Allowing ourselves to experience our own enthusiasm for our endeavors, and also allowing ourselves to be vulnerable enough to sayI don’t know how to take that next step is a lot more empowering than I would have guessed. So, I have been working hard to learn those lessons, and I am seeing results! The message is real, and the results are there for the people who hear it.

As part of getting my own message out, I have built a website (www.homebadger.com) to have a Web presence. I also have an online store, which is open when I am not deep into Craft Show season. Up until recently, I was only attending craft shows locally. Knowing this, my husband’s aunt arranged for me to sign up for the Old Deerfield Craft Fair in Massachusetts this past September. This was definitely the largest show I ever attended (an average of 8,000 to 12,000 people), and the longest (2 days). A very big step on my path, but one I felt I was ready to take.

We had two wonderful days sunny, a slight breeze, perfect temperatures and tons of people. At one point, a woman named Joyce and her husband came up to me and asked me if I would consider consigning one of the infant sweater sets I had for sale. (I should mention that since I am incapable of sitting still for any length of time, when I am not sewing I am crocheting.) Joyce explained to me that she was opening a gift shop in November, and she would love to be able to have this set to sell. I had never been approached to have my merchandise in a store before, and I was thrilled! It was also very lucky that she is so kind. She explained the usual commission arrangement for consigners, and we reached an agreement. Off she went, with the Paw Print set, and off I went to finish up the show.

Two weeks ago, Joyce contacted me to let me know that the opening was scheduled for November 15 and 16. Imagine my excitement when she asked if I had additional sets available for sale, as well as a selection of my wraps! Of course, I packed up a box and sent it off to her at warp speed.

This week, I have decided that the Badger’s Message is this: Having your efforts recognized is always a rush. Seeing that people recognize your passion for what you do makes the doing easier. Having people plunk down their hard-earned money (in this economy) to purchase something you made with your own hands is the ultimate compliment!

Now I am waiting, and glowing, and hoping that this weekend’s Grand Opening at Calliope’s will show me that my feet are on the right branch of my own Yellow Brick Road. And I am asking all my fellow eWomen members to take the step with me.

Saturday November 15 & Sunday November 16
Calliope’s Grand Opening Open House
Upstairs at the Windmill Florists
448 Mechanic Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Stop in to the Open House and enjoy some holiday refreshments while the staff helps you pick the perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday list!
HomeBadger Creations will have multiple items available for sale.
Visit www.calliopesgifts.com or call 508-284-1215
Go to www.homebadger.com for details on HomeBadger Creations