A billion years ago I was an online business owner. Well, let me take that back. I am STILL an online business owner, but I am not an online retailer. A billion years ago I was an online mom entrepreneur making a living from the crafting business! When I began blogging it was really important to me to empower women, connect with others that had a dream of contributing to their families home, and also creating and selling thier own products. I would interview those mom bound businesses and showcase them on MomDot. Over the years I have done less and less of that on my blog and most of my support lies in the forums, but I did want to introduce you to a really great site, product, and mompreuner.
Please welcome
Kate Elizabeth Design
Q: When did you start making clothing?
I learned to sew at a young age and have always loved fashion! I have actually been in the children’s industry for over twelve years now and started by designing custom children’s bedding for a high end boutique here in Texas. After my daughter, Kate was born I decided to stay at home and ended up designing and sewing dresses in my free time. This was the beginning of Kate Elizabeth Design. Almost two years later, I came across a workroom and decided to try one collection and test the market. This past Spring/Summer, I launched Lollipop Parade which was a success from the start. I have a great support system through my network of friends and amazing family!! We traveled around and hosted trunk shows all over Texas!
I just recently launched my second collection for Back to School called Recess Royalty and I am extremely proud of it! It is amazing to see my pattern sketches actually come to life!!
All of my designs are handmade by my private workroom right here in Texas.
As my business continues to grow, I am excited to announce that we are now looking for trunk keepers all over the USA!
Q: Why did you decide to open a store?
I mainly sell though online sales (www.KateElizabethDesign.com, Etsy, Facebook and trunk shows). This past summer my friend, Jamie decided to open a store front in old historic part of Tomball (about 30 mins North of Houston) called The Turquoise Door. She personally hand picked 12 other vendors to join her in this new business venture. We all pitch in and run the store together, which is not only a great bonding experience but the community has been extremely supportive and sales have been great! We have been hosting monthly Girls Nights and other fun events at the store. A permanent brick and mortar store like this has been such a great home base for Kate Elizabeth Design, not only can I send customers over there to browse at their convenience but also I am able to reach a whole new clientele that comes by to shop on a day to day basis.
Q: What do you believe makes good fashion when talking about young girls?
I strongly believe that children’s clothing should be fun, easy to wear and durable. My own goal is to design eye catching clothing and accessories that your little ones will actually want to wear! My little girl, Kate, is the main inspiration behind all of my designs. I love working with vintage trims and incorporating different textures and prints to give my designs a true vintage flair. I just recently started designing my own patterned knit fabrics for my Spring 2013 collection because I ultimately love clothing that is comfy enough for my toddler to wear from the park to a play date or party! Great for everyday wear! I currently offer sizing newborn-6/7, but I would love to expand my line into the tween sizing over the next few years because I do believe that it is important to provide stylish, comfortable and affordable clothing options that your daughter can feel confident in wearing.
Q: Any advice for moms looking to start their online businesses?
NEVER give up! Start small and know your limits, educate yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions and more importantly follow your heart! Especially if your business consist of designing your own collections, do what you LOVE and don’t compromise your style. I also believe that good customer service is the back bone of any good company and it is extremely important to stay connected to your fan base through online media and personal relationships. Remember, word of mouth is the BEST type of advertising!
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Right now Kate Elizabeth Designs has some adorable Holiday Outfits, school wear, and FREE shipping codes! Check out this site and share with your friends if you are a fan of hip and adorable boutique style clothing for girls.
~Trisha
Those clothes are ADORABLE!! It makes me want a girl!