Mom knows best when it comes to kids and Rachel Brian is showing the world that they also know best in business. Especially if that business caters to the needs of a child.
Online, as well as offline, Rachel continues to grow her business, Mod Mama. Her shop is family friendly, something that her online store can only reflect. The real joy of her business can only be experienced if you walk into her main spot in Providence, Rhode Island. However, her online shop does offer most of the same products, allowing parents near and far a way to shop when they can’t stop in.
We emailed Rachel about her amazing business and she has shared with us her story as a successful mompreneur.
What inspired you to launch Mod Mama?
I was inspired to launch Mod Mama when my first child was born in 2003. Mod Mama was originally an online-only shop that I ran out of my house while raising my son. As the business and my family expanded, we opened a brick and mortar storefront as well. My background in graphic design and illustration made it a fun creative venture.
What are some of your top selling products?
The Quinny Buzz is one of our top-selling strollers; we sell several great slings, including our own brand, Rocket. For apparel, our customers love Daily Tea, Me Too and other lines that are chic yet exuberant.
How have things changed since the launch of Mod Mama? What are some of the most notable milestones you’ve reached?
We’ve really become a one-stop shop for local moms, offering pregnancy support groups, baby registry, sling wearing seminars, tea parties for little ones and lots of fun community events. We also hired Rebecca Joiner as a full time manager and she is a tremendous asset to our business, especially this fall while I’ve been on maternity leave with my newborn, Lola.
Do you have any other goals that you’d still like to reach?
I would love to offer more resources to Providence moms and have a bigger online presence. We are in the process of expanding our Rocket 10 brand to include layette, tees, bibs, blankets and dresses and skirts up to size 8. We get a lot of older girls in the shop who have convinced me that we needed to go a bit bigger.
For those that are always on the lookout for quality organics, what do you have available?
We love organics, and this season, we have egg baby organic layette that is super soft and comes in really modern tones. We also have an organic section of our spring Rocket 10 line, organic hooded towels from 3 Sprouts, organic clothing from Kiwi Industries and some really great bamboo pieces from Kicky Pants.
What is it about Mod Mama that separates it from the competition?
I think that folks shop at Mod Mama because we are a small shop and we give our customers incredible service and knowledge that you can’t get from big retailers. When someone buys a stroller from us, we’ll assemble it, demonstrate all its features answer any questions, but beyond that, we will deal with the manufacturer if any issue occurs with that stroller. When our customers are shopping for apparel, the staff at Mod Mama knows which lines run long and lean, which are more roomy, so we can help people find the brands that work best for their children.
Beyond our great service, I’d say that Mod Mama has a very cohesive sense of style. We don’t offer every type of baby good imaginable, only those that meet our standards for style safety and practicality. This makes shopping easier and more fun, because every gift you buy at our shop has been given the thumbs up by other moms out there.
There are many businesses out there that cater to the baby world and are looking to get their product out on the market. How can they get their product to you for consideration as an addition to your storefront location or online shop? What requirements do you have?
We love to look at new products and try to carry new lines every season. I would recommend that designers take a look at our website to see if their products would be a fit with our aesthetic. If so, send us an email; make sure to include images of the product along with a description.
Did you stumble into any problems while you were launching Mod Mama? How did you handle them and what have you learned from the experience?
I have made many missteps since launching the shop, from buying too much inventory to not knowing what to look for when I hired new staff. The most important thing for a new business is to be self-reflective, learn from the mistakes you make and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
What will a customer find when they walk into your storefront location in Providence, Rhode Island?
They will be find a warm, cozy shop, be greeted by the Mod Mama staff and be able to browse through gorgeously designed nursery and baby gear, unique gifts, wooden toys, beautiful diaper bags and really fun, bright, modern apparel for newborns up to age 8.
What advice do you have for an individual considering their own baby-based business?
Make sure you have really defined your sense of style, and offer something unique. Small shops are successful when they give the customer something that they can’t get from a big box store.