Parents Nurture Ideas, Grow Businesses
Miami mom Karen Rappaport had been on the go, trying to juggle wiping her baby’s bottom and searching for a diaper when she came up with an idea — create a diaper bag with a wipe holder built in.
Within months, she and mom friend Denise Goldman quickly discovered the road from idea to thriving business is paved with challenges.”We thought that manufacturers would be happy to get our business,” Rappaport said. Instead, the moms discovered their small order drew little interest. “It was difficult to get a manufacturer that would give us the time of day.”
Today, the two women have changed manufacturers several times. Yet, their business, My Royal Heinie, is expanding and their diaper bags are in more than 70 stores. They are among the increasing number of parent entrepreneurs whose children inspired their business — moms and dads who have found voids in the marketplace and navigated the challenges to become successful in business.
”There is a great opportunity today with the downturn in the economy,” says Tamara Monosoff, founder of Mom Inventors, a website and handbook. “Entrepreneurship is the key. People have to dive into themselves, pull out their creativity, and think about ways to make money you normally wouldn’t think of.”
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