Deidrea Haysel of HotMamaGowns
Deidrea Haysel is the “Hot Mama” behind Hot Mama Gowns, an alternative to the generic hospital gown and made of 100% Organic Cotton with sizes to fit every size Mommy and bump (XS-XXL).
5 Questions is a series where online business women are asked 5 questions about life as a mom and entrepreneur. To be featured, please contact me.
1. What or who inspired you to start your business?
Truth be told, my breasts inspired Hot Mama Gowns. Okay, I guess I need to qualify that a little more, HA! After birthing our daughter in 2006 without the help of any drugs, I was very aware of the yucky, faded, chemical smelling hospital gown I was wearing. To think I spent the last 9 months doing everything right, eating organic, staying healthy, no caffeine, even suffering through headaches because I didn’t want to take ibuprofen, all for the doctor to lay this precious baby on this yucky gown that was itchy, scratchy, and smelled of the chemicals they used to disinfect it. Not only was the look and feel of the gown dreary, but it had no function. When I first attempted to breastfeed my baby girl minutes after birth, I had to completely remove my arm from the gown to gain access to my breast. I knew there had to be a better way. Days after we got home I started sketching ideas of my perfect gown; what it needed to be stylish, comfortable and functional, all while adhering to the specifications the hospital/birthing centers needed. So I was inspired by birth and breasts! The breastfeeding component of the gown was integral, it wasn’t an afterthought, but the foundation of the design. I wanted the Mom to be able to nurse her baby easily and discreetly, even if her room was full of family, friends, neighbors, and random strangers!
2. What motivates you?
Although I can’t pinpoint one specific thing that motivates me, and more importantly keeps me motivated; I suppose the center of all things motivational for me arise from wanting to be better. A better child of God, mother, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, etc. For me it all comes back to time; time with my family. And working for a big corporation didn’t offer me sporadic lunches with my sister, surprise visits to my husband’s job with special treats, dropping by my grandmothers with the kids for an impromptu visit and picking up ice cream on the way to visit my in-laws. I no longer wanted to be governed by the 8-5 (plus drive time), I wanted to be available for my sister if she needed me to watch any of her children, or if one of my kids were sick, I didn’t want to have to worry about ramifications of staying home. I just wanted time, on my own terms, and to allow the day to unfold as it would. Family is so important and I don’t want to take away these precious family moments because I “have to work”, so my motivation is staying in control of my business in order to afford me time on my terms.
3. How do you balance being a mom and an entrepreneur?
To be blunt, I don’t! I’m not sure for me that a “balance” exists. I am an anal-retentive perfectionist, so I like to be in control of every aspect of the business, and with this comes the obvious need to spend time working on business items. So it is very infrequent that I am in bed before 3AM. I would rather not sacrifice time with the kids to work on Hot Mama Gowns, so I don’t. I play with them, and when they are in bed, I head back down to my home office! One thing that has helped this elusive “balance” is my iPhone, I remain connected all day, so I can quickly check, read, and delete emails that lighten my load later that night, and if an immediate response is needed, I’m able to avert hospital gown catastrophe!
4. What do you love most about what you do?
Love most, humm; there are so many aspects of this business I love. The first and foremost would be being in control, it’s my company, I’m the boss, I have the final say. If I want to give a gown away here and there, I can, if I want to donate proceeds to a charity, I can, if I want to take the day off, I can, and if I want to stay up until 3AM working on something, I can! And I absolutely LOVE seeing pictures of “Hot Mamas” and their babies, moments after birth. There is something so renewing and breathtaking looking at those beautiful Mom’s wearing my creations.
5. What single piece of advice would you give someone who is starting out?
Be patient, very, very patient. Things don’t happen overnight, or even over months. If you have a good product, and you’ve spent time writing your Business Plan in order to know what direction you want your company to go, things will happen. Also, find a mentor, or mentors. Someone that has know-how in the industry, someone who has been where you are, been broke like you are, had the struggles you are having, and someone who can answer questions that you won’t find in any book! And keep your eyes on the prize!
You can contact Deidrea at deidrea_at_hotmamagowns.com, follow her on Twitter: @HotMamaGowns, or check out HotMamaGowns.
Please visit our 5 Questions page or feel free to contact me for more information.
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