February's Executive Mom of the Month
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Name: Lynne Bruce
Company: Mommyshop.com
Title: CEO and Founder
Spouse: Steve Bulta
Children: Caroline, 5, expecting a child in June
Stepchildren: Drake, 8, Tanner, 5
What's your background?
Prior to starting MommyShop I was in the finance industry as a mortgage broker, and then manager of a few mortgage offices.
How did the idea for Mommyshop.com evolve?
Believe it or not, it was all started when I was trying to potty train my daughter. She was 2 ½ at the time, and I was desperately trying to get her into a Montessori school that would only accept potty-trained children. In desperation one night, I typed "potty" on the Internet and did not come up with a lot of suggestions. That's when I got the idea of a store on the Internet that caters to products for kids that really make a difference for them and their moms!
How did you go from that first idea to the "real thing"?
I talked and listened to as many moms as I could. The response to my idea was great. There really isn't anything like it on the web. But the hard part came when I had to sell myself. I really didn't know where to begin. Companies like Fisher Price were not taking any initial orders for less than $50,000 (especially from dotcom companies!) But I didn't take no for an answer. Fisher Price made an exception for me, the national marketing director for Safety First believed in me, and more importantly I believed in myself.
How did you give up the security of a full-time job to start your own dotcom?
When you have children, the whole focus of your life changes - it was very hard for me to drop my daughter off at daycare and then not see her for the whole day. I was lucky because I made a sizable income as a mortgage broker and saved and invested so I was able to taper off.
What do you do for childcare now that your business is growing?
Right now I have my daughter at a part time "child's day out program." I work frantically for the 4 hours that she's there so that I can be available for her when she's not at school. I also work at night and in the early morning before she wakes up. I don't think I can be a "one woman show" for my business anymore so I am in the process of hiring college students to help with the packaging and mailing of merchandise. This will give me more time to focus on the business and my daughter.
What kind of activities do you and your daughter enjoy together?
Anything that gets us out of the house. We go to the zoo, the museum and lots of local attractions. Even if I have 100 emails to return, I will still take her somewhere so that we can spend quality time together.
What are the special challenges of being a successful working mother?
Right now I work out of my home. I think it's easier if you have an office to go to. I'd probably be able to accomplish a lot more in my business day. It's my goal for the coming year to try to find some local office space so that I can have an office out of the house.
Any advice for other working moms?
Make time for yourself! Have clearly defined office hours- then you can have time for yourself and time to spend with your kids.
• Submit a nomination for Executive Mom of the Month
• December's Mom of the Month: Brenda Kouwenhoven
• October's Mom of the Month: Jayne Gershkowitz
• September's Mom of the Month: Ann Higgins
• August's Mom of the Month: Peggy Garcia
• July's Mom of the Month: Maria Vidal
• June's Mom of the Month: Patricia Campbell