mompreneur interview: cutie booty cakes

Bizzie Mommy: Renée Ross
Company: Cutie Booty Cakes
Website: www.cutiebootycakes.com

Tell us about Cutie Booty Cakes:
Cutie Booty specializes in Diaper Cakes, cakes that are not edible but are loaded with the essential ingredients all new mommies need - Diapers!!! Cutie Booty diaper cakes are designed to look like real cakes and are great gifts for new parents. They can be given as baby shower gifts, at the hospital, anytime - because every Cutie Booty needs covering!

Our diaper cakes are designed with the discerning customer in mind. Each diaper cake is meticulously handcrafted and made to order. All of the diaper cakes are created with materials of the highest quality - Pampers Swaddlers, silk flowers and top of the line ribbons and decorations. All diaper cakes are wrapped in tulle with a matching bow.

What inspired you start Cutie Booty Cakes?
I have been inspired to create Cutie Booty Cakes by the original cutie booty - Mekhi Eli, my one year old son. I had never even heard of diaper cakes before my pregnancy and now I am in love with creating them! Since I spend a lot of time with diapers I figure why not make it enjoyable?

How long has your business been in business?
Since July 2008.

What did you do in your past work life?
I spent over 10 years in non-profit management, a few years in corporate consulting and a couple of years in government.

What is your ideal workday like?
A day when everything goes according to schedule! No morning meltdowns, no impromptu meetings or emergencies. I like order not chaos or confusion. Since I am balancing my consulting work and Cutie Booty Cakes having a schedule is important to me.

What have been some of your major successes and challenges?
My major successes have been networking and meeting other momprenuers in the baby business. These relationships are essential for me as I am in the start-up phase of Cutie Booty Cakes. My challenge has been building on-line clientele. Local sales are consistent but I have found it challenging to get online sales. Since my business is still young I just keep pushing and know success is coming.

On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
The freedom that working from home provides me with. My flexible schedule enables me to spend time with my son, take him to various events around town (during the week with fewer crowds) and just enjoy him completely. At this moment in time I cannot imagine returning to the daily 9-5 (or later) grind. Although I log longer hours, I am working for myself and my family truly benefits from this endeavor.

Do you have a motivational quote?|
“Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘who am I to be so brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are we not to be? You are a child of God: Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~Marianne Williamson, Return to Love

If there was one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be?
Research, research, research! Write a business plan and get linked in with the local Small Business Association.

What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
I treat my business like any other job - my son goes to day care 3-4 days per week so I can focus on my business. On the off days we spend time together.

Do you have a favorite business tool and/or resource?
The online courses from SBA have been a Godsend.

What advice would you offer to aspiring mompreneurs?
In addition to the advice that I would give my child, I would also say be sure to pace yourself and treat working from home like a job outside of the home. Schedule work hours and family time. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes but the key is to learn from them and continually improve.

What is next for your Cutie Booty Cakes?
I will continue to work on developing new cake designs, contribute to causes that I support and expand my reach to new clientele.

Your two cents sales pitch?
Cutie Booty Cakes are a unique gift for new moms and moms to be. Cutie Booty Cakes can be used as baby shower centerpieces – they have often been mistaken for real cakes. And of course in addition to the beauty of the cakes, you can never have too many diapers. Cutie Booty Cakes are a wonderful presentation of an extremely useful gift.

I have been inspired to create Cutie Booty Cakes by the original cutie booty - Mekhi Eli, my one year old son. I had never even heard of diaper cakes before my pregnancy and now I am in love with creating them! Since I spend a lot of time with diapers I figure why not make it enjoyable?