Business Type:
Graphic, Print, and Blog Design

Business Name: iDesign

Professional Website: http://graphic-idesign.com/

Twitter: @jess_benton

1. Jessica, how long have you been doing Graphic Web Design and how
did you get involved?Â

I have been producing graphics for almost 10 years now. First, I took it
up as a hobby, then pursuing it in school and earning a degree in Web Graphic
Design.

2. Do you have a mentor or someone that you respect in the Graphic
Web Design Industry?

I have one person that I look up to in the market
that I am in. I can call and ask for any advise and she will give me her honest
opinion. Kat Robertson http://edesign-pro.com/

3. Tell us a little about what you do for your
clients?

I can provide my clients with a personal or professional online identity
through graphic design for blogs and other social media platforms. If the client
already has an online presence I can redesign or freshen up what they already
have. I also create brands with graphics for business cards, logos for t-shirts
and appearance, and other print items. One of my specialties is moving bloggers
from Blogger to the self hosted WordPress platform seamlessly. I also offer a
variety of blogging and consulting services for clients at an hourly
rate.

4. If you can give a blogger advice on planning a new design or
redesign of their blog, what would it be?

I would tell that blogger to look around. Check out other blogs. Find
things you like and don’t like. This will give you an idea what will work for
you and what won’t.

5. Which social networking sites do you enjoy using for your
business? Why?

I love Twitter. I have been able to make so many connections through
Twitter. This has been good for business and my overall online
presence.

6. What can we expect to see from iDesign in the coming
year?

You should see iDesign move over into more branding of sites and online
businesses.

7. What is the best way for someone to contact you?

Please anyone can email me jessica.benton1(at)gmail(dot)com

Business Name: Simply Mommy, LLC

Business Type: Manufacturer
Website: www.SnuggleMeCushion.com

Facebook: Facebook Page

Twitter: Follow on Twitter

1. Mia, I was so facinated by your story & the process of making the Snuggle Me Cushion on SnuggleMeCushion.com! What is the Snuggle Me Cushion & how did you come up with the idea of Snuggle Me Cushion?

Thank you! Snuggle Me Cushion was created after I had twin boys in 2006. Being an at home mom of twin newborns (and a two year old) was very difficult physically and emotionally. What I needed during that time was someone to simply hold one baby while I cared for the other-like an extra set of arms.

 

 

The age range completely varies by baby. We have heard of 15 month olds who still use the cushion. But then again, we hear that babies are done with this phase by 3 months. So, it really depends on each baby and what their particular needs are. We recommend letting the baby decide when to transition out of the cushion. And as far as uses go, my goodness we’ve heard it all. Infant massage positioner, photography positioner, traveling, acid reflux, co-sleeping, daycare, occupational therapist and pediatric chiropractors are also using them. It’s such a simple design and is very versitile so the sky is the limit. (We’ve even had a few cat and puppy owners buy them for their “babies”.)

 

3. Snuggle Me Cushion has been endorsed by many professionals.Can you name one & tell us there reason behind supporting Snuggle Me Cushion?

 

That is really hard to just choose one because each of them evaluated the cushion for such drastically different things.But I think the most relevant endorsement comes from a child development and infant sleep specialist named Patience Bleskan.

She works with many young families, especially around the area of infant sleep.  As she said, “The cushion reduces the startle reflex and creates a cozy space, minimizing the reflexive movement that often wakes new babies. The cushion can be moved throughout the house to provide consistency in sleep, whether it’s day or night.”

 

“All in all, the Snuggle Me Cushion helps an infant create a positive association with sleep, which is crucial for healthy sleep throughout life.”

 

4. Mia, being a Mompreneur, what advice would you give a mom that has an idea/invention? What is the first step she should take?

If you have an idea or invention, I would first create that product or service in a very small way, and go out into the real world, sell it and see what kind of response you get before determining if it is a good or a bad idea.  Do not get over your head in debt, just to realize that the idea really isn’t going to work in the market.

 

What we did was we exhibited at local craft fairs our first year. They were very inexpensive, yet gave us real life customers to work with. We were then able to generate honest customer feedback with extremely little risk. Even if you do not have a craft fair type product, then get creative and test on a small scale.

 

And one last bit, stay away from people who claim to be able to make you “rich”.  (They can’t.) Especially if they ask you for a large sum of money with no guarantees. Examples: magazine advertising, infomercials, “invention agencies”. Bad, bad idea, even if it is “your industry’s norm”.  

5. We’ve recently entered into the Fall Season, Holidays are fast approaching. Which Snuggle Me Cushion Package would be a great gift for an expecting Mom?

 

 

The Standard Snuggle Me Package is our most popular. It comes with one cushion, one choice of cover, and then comes bagged in a reusable muslin gift bag. I would definitely recommend starting there. You can also get the Professional Package which also comes with a waterproof cover.  And then if the mom is interested in infant massage, we have the Infant Massage Package. All depends on the mother’s particular interests.

 

 

 

 

6. What Social Networks do you use to communicte with your customers & why?

 

We use Facebook and sometimes Twitter. We are also now using Constant Contact to keep in touch through email. Still learning all the tricks of each of them, but we do it because it gets our message out to people for FREE (except for Constant Contact).  (We’re big on free!!) We’re also looking at a blog concerning infant sleep, but that is a little while out. But for us, the price really can’t be beat!