Business Opportunities Weblog

April 25, 2008 by Angela Shupe | 12 Comments

Named for Carin Walling’s twin daughters, 2 Sweet Sisters is a family-run online children’s boutique that is still doing very well. Having been launched for a year now, as of April 1st – probably the best “April’s Fool” idea around, 2 Sweet Sisters has grown and features many great children’s products like the hooded towel in the photo to the right.

I got the opportunity recently to talk to Carin about her experiences as a mom running her own business. As well as a chance to collaborate with her for a small giveaway.

If you have a child or know a child that would like the hooded towel pictured here, 2 Sweet Sisters is giving it away to one of our readers. Listed on her website at $24.95, this Puppy Tubbie Hooded Towel is 100% cotton terry. The size of this towel is perfect for little kids at 27″ x 50″.

Starting today and ending May 1st at 11:59pm, leave a comment telling us why you’d like the hooded towel (as well as an email you can be contacted at). On May 2nd Carin will select a winning comment and contact that person. Good luck!

What is 2 Sweet Sisters?

We are an upscale online children’s and baby boutique. 2 Sweet Sisters is a family owned and operated business.

What inspired you to start your online store? What was the inspiration behind the name?

We looked into purchasing a local children’s boutique, when it fell through my husband suggested I do it online. I applied my retail and financial background with my knowledge of the baby and child industry to create 2 Sweet Sisters.

The store is named for my 2 year old twin girls, Callie and Henley.

What steps did you need to take to get your store up and running?

I first decided on my store name, then registered my name and purchased a business license.

Then I decided on hosting and web design. I also researched the designers that I wanted to offer and attended a trade show.

Have you learned anything since you launched that you wish you’d known before?

I learned that the most expensive advertising isn’t always the most effective.

What are some of the most popular products sold?

Anything Bling. I was really surprised at how well it sells. It accounts for about 15% of our business.

Bedding is also a big seller, I carry several larger companies. But I also look for smaller designers who have something unique to offer. Bedding is about 50-60% of our business.

Did you have any experience or education that you were able to apply to 2 Sweet Sisters?

Absolutely, after college I was in retail management. I learned how to effectively market my products and how to know who your target market is. You don’t want to waste time or money marketing to those who are not potential buyers. Also, when it comes to shopping appearance is everything. I knew my site had to look professional, yet unique. Before deciding to stay how with my twins, I was with Merrill Lynch. That experience provided me with a wealth of knowledge about how to operate a business, manage our finances, organize projects or tasks, and how to effectively allocate our proceeds.

How does being a mom affect your business and vice versa?

Being a mom defines how I operate my business. I build my schedule around my kids as much as possible. Sometimes e-mails and voicemails just have to wait, and vice versa. Sometimes, a customer will call during dinner and my husband will take over dinner. Other times, I will be waiting on a call from a vendor and right when the phone rings one of the girls will have a meltdown. Many times the phone rings, and I am dancing to Dora with my kids…that call will have to wait. They can always leave a voicemail, and I can always return their call after we finish. I do my best to laugh off the hard times. I am someone who thrives when busy, so working from home suits me well. Being a mom also allows me to relate to my customers better. I know how much more you look forward to something for your child than you do yourself. I also remember how difficult it was making decisions for my girls rooms, so I try to offer suggestions when possible.

How do you manage your time between family and business?

I try to keep to a schedule. An hour of work in the morning, a few hours at naptime, and a few hours in the evening after the kids go to bed. Typically in a 7 day work week, I work about 40hours. So even though I spread out my hours, over 7 seven days it is still a full time job. When the I am not working on my business, I play with the girls and do housework. I also go to gym three mornings a week, it give the girls more time to play with other kids in the play room and it allows me to blow off some steam and keep myself centered. It is easy to be consumed by working from home, I just always put my family first. Even if that means someone else has to wait, they usually don’t have to wait long. I also make sure to schedule date nights with my husband, and we always watch American Idol together.

Do you have any advice for other moms looking to start their own online business?

Go for it. It can seem very intimidating, but once you get going and learn more about it you’ll feel a lot more comfortable. You don’t have to start big, start with just an hour a day or so and work to where you feel comfortable. Never let someone convince you it will fail. If I had a dollar for everyone who said that I wouldn’t make any money, well I could afford some nice new Jimmy Choo’s that I could at least feel stylish in while sitting at my computer in my PJ’s.

In Giveaways, Interviews | 12 Comments
Tags: Ecommerce, Women, Work at Home