The Mod Mom Furniture Adventure Ride!

I'm not even sure where to start this post.  Or if I even remember how to write one, it's been so long.  This past year has been a huge year of change for my family and my business.  HUGE change, I tell ya. We've endured so many peaks and valleys it really does feel like one of those adventure rides at the amusement park.  I don't normally throw up on those because I like the up and down but there have been more than a few times over the last year, I've wanted to throw up from both excitement and heartache.

The amount of change in the world is astonishing right now and in a very small way, we have the same kinds of change happening inside the walls of this house.  Now that I'm not building anymore, I'm pretty much glued to my broken Ikea swivel chair.  It's fantastic to have L&J Woodworking building for me now but there will always be a big part of me that loved the solitude of the garage.  The smell of cut wood.  And Toby Keith on a small radio.  I know I can steal moments of that while I'm designing new pieces out of scrap wood but for the most part, my job consists of sales and marketing, invoicing, accounting, forecasting, inventory control, customer service, and updating all the social media outlets.  I'm becoming an expert on international shipping, LTL Common Carrier rates, package research, Fed Ex tracking, and, well, you get the idea.  I am NOT bitching in the least but sharing the reality of growing a small garage business into an international brand.  It's a lot less saw dust and a lot more number crunching.  And far more work than what was required when I was building three toy boxes per week.  

Like a lot of families who've endured layoffs and salary cuts, we had to make the hard choice to pull our son Noah from his alternative learning school.   We just couldn't swing the payments and money for gas any longer (school was, on a good day, 30 minutes from our house).  He was in public school prior to his year last year at Alexandria but, for Noah, public middle school just wasn't a fit.  Noah and I are tackling online school together now which means I'm running a growing company and homeschooling at the same time.  We're both getting used to our roles but I won't lie and say there aren't days when I long for my old corporate office in Chicago where the coffee was made and I had a door that would shut.  And I know there are days he wishes I wasn't his teacher. There's a lot of, "Hon, do you understand the algebraic principle of blah blah blah? Kinda? OK, do these pages and I'll come back over in 20 after I call this distributor in Canada from the kitchen table."  I've never done so much multitasking in my life.  I know it will get easier for both of us but MAN, I hope it happens fast.  (As I'm writing this, my sweet husband is tackling a Language Arts assignment with Noah so I can work a bit.  Love that husband of mine.)

I've taken on other roles (or rather, they picked me) as well that I won't share but roles that mean a lot to me and have helped better me as a person. It's heavy, exhausting, tear-inducing work but I'm glad I'm a part of it. With all the change in the world, I feel lucky to have the kind of change we're experiencing but it doesn't mean I don't have moments in the day when I feel I'll never get to the top of the damn hill so I can coast for a bit.

Even if things don't play out the way I think they will, I know that this ride I'm on is all happening for a reason.  And boy have I learned A LOT this year about life, love, business, and 7th grade algebra.

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For new developments and giveaways from Mod Mom, check out http://facebook.com/modmomfurniture!

Here are just a few that happened recently...
Brookstone is now selling MMF!
And if you're in Hong Kong, you can buy MMF toy boxes at Jellybean!
And a recap from the ABC Kids Expo!
And my dad building my AMAZING trade show booth!
And lots more exclamation points!!!!!!!

The Lazy Days of Summer

I've really dropped the ball on this here blog of mine. It was all those days relaxing at the pool sipping on margaritas that did it. Wait, did I say relaxing?!?! I meant spinning myself into a crazy ball of activity all the while hearing, "Mom, what are we going to do today?" You all know what I mean. It's the sound of summer while working from home with kids. Back when I was building myself, I'd actually haul the table saw out by the pool at our old house so I could saw while they swam. Now, since expansion happened with my Amish manufacturer (YAY!), I'm finding I'm glued to my office chair in the kitchen while the kids run in and out. UNTIL THIS WEEK!!!!!

Glorious school started!! On Monday!! Well, it did for my 3rd grader. I'm feeling like I have my work life back where I can concentrate for more than 15 minutes at a time and I don't have to save everything for nighttime when I'm super tired and caring more about what happened on Real Housewives than my marketing materials.

I've been gearing up for the ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, Kentucky September 23-26. In fact, one of my business partners, the fabulous Katie Hatch, sketched up this awesome booth design for the show (below). And my insanely talented and loving father will build it in Ohio.  I've done one other trade show in my years and my husband and I built the booth walls but this time around, I'm gladly handing it off to my carpentry mentor. :)  I've been busy running the daily operations, customer service, invoicing, accounting, marketing, sales and PR.  I'm working on the press kit now and a few other marketing/sales items like hang tags, etc.  Thanks to Jenna for a fantastic one-sheet design that gives a brief overview of Mod Mom Furniture.

I'm so glad the lazy days of summer are over!

Booth 2639 in the Modern Child section!  Come see me!!

Videos: Mod Mom on Nate Berkus Show, Pre-Shark Tank Interview and Shark Tank

The Nate Berkus Show:  Partial segment Clip


http://www.thenateshow.com/videos/detail/2429/inspiring-working-women/



Pre-Shark Tank Interview



Shark Tank Episode

Mod Mom Furniture goes to Amish Country

Last week, Katie (a whole OTHER wonderful story that will be told soon) and I set off for Dundee, Ohio to review the bedroom set samples and get prepared for the ABC Kids Expo in Louisville, KY in September and we found a whole lot more than just beds and dressers.  I've mentioned it before that I really feel like I hit the jackpot when I was put in touch with Ray Yoder of L&J Woodworking.  This trip just put the cherry on top.

I, like so many, knew very little about the Amish culture/order before meeting Ray Yoder last year.  I knew he and his family dressed in traditional Amish garb, that he was a very good, honest, upstanding man, and that we actually started our businesses similarly, out of the small garages back when. Funny to think we have quite a bit in common but we do. While we were in Ohio, we worked hard to finalize and tweak design samples but all the while, we were also getting to know Ray and his family better.  In fact, on the last day before flying out, Ray offered to introduce us to his wife and younger children we hadn't met yet.  We drove just a short gravel driveway up the way past his 30,000+ square foot L&J Woodworking shop that runs off of hydraulic power to a very cute home, not unlike you'd find in all parts of the country.  In fact, that surprised me on my last trip to Amish country because I'd assumed that Amish families live in either old white farm houses or log cabins...because I'm an idiot. The differences are noticeable but only if you're really looking.  You won't find electricity lines connected to Amish homes and you'll see lines of clothes drying out back.  Oh, and no cars, of course.  But otherwise, they're very similar to our homes. In fact, Ray's home is much larger than mine here in California.

Ray's wife was warm and open, just like Ray.  They shared how they live but even more than that, they shared so much of who they are.  Much more than I would have expected a business partner to share and I was honored to be on the receiving end.  We laughed and talked about things that affect every family in the world:  not enough time spent at home/too much work, kids not coming home at curfew,  and the balance between work and mom-hood. In fact, when Katie and I mentioned that our husbands do most of our laundry, she smiled and said, "Keep it that way," after showing us her laundry set-up which is a manual washer and wringer.

When we weren't getting lost on gorgeous, country roads or eating at Amish-style buffet restaurants, we enjoyed some down time at The Inn at Amish Door.  If you're in the Akron/Canton area, you have to book a room.  It's an unbelievably wonderful hotel with restaurant, shops, and indoor pool. I would love to share more photos of Ray and his facility, but I want to respect his privacy.  For now, enjoy the shots we took while pulling over on the side of the road, unloading a toy box, getting shocked by an electrical fence and quickly moving on our merry way.  We couldn't have looked more out of place but we felt right at home.

Bertie of the Corn

Maude Tractor

Bertie in a Buggy!

Mod Mom Furniture Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  KIERSTEN HATHCOCK

818-399-1172

publicrelations@modmomfurniture.com

Mod Mom Furniture Announces U.S. Production Expansion

(LOS ANGELES, CA., June 20, 2011)  Mod Mom Furniture, a Los Angeles-based boutique manufacturer of mid-modern-era children’s furniture, recently announced expansion plans via a partnership with L & J Woodworking in Dundee, Ohio, increasing its national and international production capabilities.

Founded in 2007, by Kiersten Hathcock, each piece of Mod Mom Furniture has been individually designed and hand crafted by Hathcock, a self-taught carpenter and mother of two who until recently has managed all manufacturing out of her LA garage. “As a woman who started this company without carpentry skills or furniture design know-how, I’m thrilled to see it grow beyond my workshop,” says Hathcock.

Shortly upon leaving her job as a cable television marketing executive in the Midwest and relocating to Los Angeles, Hathcock discovered a need for quality, well-designed children’s furniture that would enhance—rather than detract--from the family living space. Her current line features an assortment of toy boxes with names like Maude, Noah, Gracie and Owyn.  All integrate a subtle mid-century modern design and are eco-friendly, achieving immense popularity in both in the United States and abroad.

By keeping production in the United States, Mod Mom Furniture can preserve its core values while expanding the brand through existing retailers and via the social media. Hathcock plans to introduce beds, dressers desks and play tables in the next two years. Each handcrafted toy box will now be shipped fully constructed from L&J Woodworking.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with an Amish manufacturer in my home state of Ohio. It’s rare nowadays for American furniture companies to be able to keep production in US and I’m excited to be one of the few that is making it happen.”

Since its inception in 2007 in a Los Angeles garage, Mod Mom Furniture has sold its line of modern crafted-by-hand children’s toy boxes throughout the United States and Canada.  The line, which features five custom designs—Owyn, Gracie, Bertie, Maude and Noah, has been recently featured on episodes of Shark Tank and the Nate Berkus Show, along with its founder, Kiersten Hathcock.

 An expanded version of the Owyn series will be introduced at the 2011 ABC Kids Expo in September.  This newest Mod Mom line will feature twin beds with reversible headboards, a nightstand, and five and three drawer dressers.

For more information on Mod Mom Furniture and its product line, please visit http://www.modmomfurniture.com.

Fav Biz Fridays...er Saturday: Name Your Wish Images

I was very fortunate, during the filming of Shark Tank, to meet some really wonderful people not to mention very smart, talented entrepreneurs.  The women behind Name Your Wish Images are two of my favorites from my filming experience.  I'm thrilled to share their business with you today.

Website: www.nameyourwishimages.com

Who They Are:  

April and Laurie 

What They Do:  We offer a diversity of personalized images which begin with original photography. We add any name(s) you wish to create unique customized gifts to delight family and friends. 

** I'm excited to share that they've recently partnered with Walmart and you can purchase one of their most popular creations here:  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Personalized-Carved-Heart-Art-Canvas/15718242

Check out their Facebook page as well for new updates! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Name-Your-Wish-Images/214590184841

Fav Biz Fridays: Coming Soon...

Ok, so it's been a crazy week. I've been out of town for a few days and now we have lots of sweet family in town for an LA vacation.  I've had to choose between Fav Biz Fridays and a shower.  I love all my friends with businesses but the shower won out today.

I'll post the new Fav Biz Friday edition on Saturday so I'm now keeping you in suspense til tomorrow AND I'm clean! :)

Fav Biz Fridays: Patrick Caneday's Book - Crooked Little Birdhouse

It's the first edition of Fav Biz Fridays!!  Every Friday I'm going to profile a favorite biz/entrepreneur in hopes you'll take my advice and check them out as well.  I won't steer you wrong people, I promise! I mean, come on, how many of you have secretly tried those fake glue-on toenails because I said they were cool.  What's that?  Not one of you? Sheesh, people.

Regardless, check out one of my favorite writers in the world....
PATRICK CANEDAY

I live down the street from a famous writer.  Not only is he a genius writer but he's the kind of friend you want to sit down with and share a bottle of wine and cheese on the heaviest plate in the world in his front lawn and yell at speeding cars.  I could go on and on about his book, Crooked Little Birdhouse, but instead I'll let a Pulitzer Prize Winner and a published author tell you how great it is.  After all, you haven't tried the glue-on toenails yet based on my recommendation. :)

From AL MARTINEZ, LA Daily News and Pulitzer Prize winning columnist:
               "I love Patrick Caneday's work. He seeks out the humanity in us and writes about it in the kind of seamless prose that any author would envy, in a style that only a few can achieve. I have always looked forward to reading his columns and now I have them at hand to consider them in pleasure. Thanks, Patrick, for the immensity of the gift you have given us and continue to give."

From STEVE LOPEZ, Los Angeles Times columnist and author of "The Soloist":
               “Patrick Caneday writes from the heart. His stories, carefully and gracefully revealed, are about the things that ground and unite us all: family, tradition, place, community. This is a collection you’ll reach for again and again.”

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Whether the subject is a bruised knee or a bruised ego, the death of a loved one or the death of a goldfish, his challenged faith, delusions of grandeur or addiction to grilled meat, Patrick Caneday finds a way to make the mundane and ordinary meaningful. In Crooked Little Birdhouse, Caneday brings together a collection of the most popular pieces from his weekly newspaper column and adds a series of new essays. The result is a life story weaved through random insights on the world, people and a birdhouse. With trademark wit and poignant observation, he's not afraid to offer himself as proof of our shared suffering, humanity and survival, in a book that is more memoir than compilation. While others tell us what’s wrong with the world, Caneday shows us what’s right.

Where to buy a signed copy of 

Crooked Little Birdhouse:

http://www.patrickcaneday.com/

More Shark Tank questions and answers....

After Shark Tank aired, my poor husband took a lot of grief for being portrayed as the supportive yet not supportive enough husband because I was doing all the Mod Mom stuff myself.  He laughed at comments made about him but I want to set the record straight because it's not so easy for me to read that stuff about him.  I'm addressing a couple points about him below to clear up the confusion and misperception.  And I threw in a couple more frequently asked questions as well.  :)

"Why didn't he help you build twice the amount of toy boxes so you could make double the money?"
Here's the deal.  He was laid off from his job, doing some consulting work, taking care of the kids, taking care of the house (grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning), and interviewing for full-time work.  His help with everything (including helping me with polyurethaning toy boxes, etc) allowed me to focus on growing Mod Mom and do everything needed to prep for Shark Tank which is an insane amount of work.  While I did make $34K in 2009 (over $100K from 2007-2010), his salary was so far above mine that having him working with me full-time and me making and extra $30K a year wouldn't even touch his income level.  A few people suggested that if he worked with me while he was unemployed, I would have made more money.   He was working with me -- he was handling everything that fell under parenting/homelife. He was unemployed when we filmed the show in October 2010 and remained unemployed til January so every bit of emotion you saw and felt in the Tank was real. We were counting on either MMF or his job or both to save us financially.  The main objective for him (for both of us) was finding a full-time gig making his VP level salary because we knew that what was going to save us immediately.  We live in LA which means if you're making $30K per year for a family of four, you're living in a van down by the river. (Nod to Chris Farley) It's a TV show so they edit it the way they want to have story play out even though I talked quite a bit about how he was helping me.  (Oh, and he does use power tools and builds things as well so he knows his way around the garage.)

"Why wasn't he in the Tank with you showing his support?"
It's my company-- always has been my brain child. While he's insanely supportive and helpful and will be collaborating with me on a few designs in the future, it's still my blood, sweat, and tears all over MMF from the very, very humble beginning in 2007.  I certainly wouldn't go with him to show my support on one of his interviews.  It's the same kinda thing.  Also, he was home taking care of the kids.  Besides, let's be honest.  If he'd been up there by my side, the first question out of the Shark's mouth would've been, "So he's building them, right?" That's the world we live in....the world I'm hoping will change.  I've been working my way through (sometimes fighting my way through) my male-dominated industry for years now so I'm not off in thinking that question would've come up.

"Were you always a stay at home mom? How did you come up with the idea?"
http://modmomfurniture.blogspot.com/2011/04/straight-and-narrow-career-path.html

Friday ADD Edition: Crying on TV and New Owyn Table and Stool Set

My brain is literally jumping randomly from one thing to the next so in honor of that (OMG there's a massive squirrel running up a tree), I am listing a few things to note in bullet points to save you from the torture that is my head today.

• ABC is re-airing my Shark Tank episode again TONIGHT so if you'd like to see me cry on TV, and you didn't get a chance last time, TUNE IN! 8pm on ABC. 

• *New Owyn Table and Stool Set* is for sale but not on my website yet.  I'm making that happen ASAP! See below for all the details and photos! Owyn has a table and stool set companion! Comes with table and 2 stools.  Amish-made. Heirloom quality construction. Eco-friendly, low-VOC, Eco-Var finish, Sustainable Baltic Birch ply, lift lid to reveal storage. 26"w x 20.25" top, 18" table height, 10" stool height. $375 for the set (includes table + 2 stools).  If you're interested in ordering the table and stool set, please contact me at sale@modmomfurniture.com until I can get it up on the website.  Thank you!

• I am excited to announce that Mod Mom Furniture will debut the Owyn Bedroom collection at the ABC Kids Show in Louisville, KY in September.  So if you're heading down South, make sure you look for me in the Modern Child Pavilion.