Archive for January, 2010

How was the Stringbean Company born?
Like many momtrepreneurs before me I wanted something, couldn’t find it, and so I made it myself. Other people asked about them, bought them, gifted them, and the rest is history! We started out with the Baby Wraps in 2006 (birth of daughter #1), added the Skidnees a few months later in early 2007, and the Apron Duo and Kids Love Capes! were born in 2008 (birth of daughter #2). In 2009 (birth of #3, a boy) we began plans to open and store and expand our sales to other people’s American made wares. Having babies and kids at different stages prompted me to create different products for what they needed at the moment.

What makes the Baby Wrap Carrier and Skidnees stand out among all the other slings and leggings?

Aside from being made in the U.S.A, our products are produced in a thoughtful manner. We didn’t want to just get a sewing contractor and be done with it, instead we’re having our sewn products produced at a women’s prison which helps inmates to pay child support and earn a fair wage while teaching them a valuable and very marketable skill for use upon their release. I’m so proud to be a part of that program. For the Skidnees, we shopped around for a family owned business in the heart of the former “Sock Capital of the World” that was struggling to stay afloat. The quality produced by both of our manufacturers is unsurpassed, and we wouldn’t trade them for anything. Also, contrary to popular belief that goods made in the U.S.A are more expensive than their foreign counterparts, our products cost less. The Baby Wrap is unique because it is made of a cotton material with just a touch of spandex. This eliminates the sagging & bagging problem you find with most jersey material wraps. Our wraps are truly designed to be used for multiple children, they don’t wear out after the first baby.
I love the fabric combos you choose for the Baby Wraps! What inspires you?
I’m such a color / fabric / prints junkie and always have been. I was an art student in college and that training has helped me channel my creativity into things like this business.

Top pick (1 for boys and 1 for girls) of the Skidnees?
Hmmm, this is tough! Top pick for girls would have to be Have a Heart and for boys it would have to be Polka Dot Black (my little guy is tiny, so I’m still getting used to dressing a boy!)

Thanks Soni!!
I have truly loved getting to know you though our businesses!

Rockets on one side and robots on the other in delicious fabric…

***Giveaway open one week! Ends Friday January 29th 9:00pm PST***

Rockets not your cup of tea?
Buy one of the other styles (or anything else at Stringbean) for 20% off using the coupon code LIDS.

What prompted the idea of a store that only carries products made in the USA?

When we started manufacturing our own products, we really wanted to keep everything in the USA. From the tags to the packaging to the fabric and trims…it was sometimes difficult or impossible to find what we were looking for. I did so much research about where things were made and why and started to see some major trends. I was a history teacher (in a former lifetime it seems!) previously, and I used to teach my kids about different periods in history where the US was in control of X market or dominated X manufacturing, etc…Many of those markets are now close to if not entirely dead in the US (textiles, plastics, steel, socks/hosiery, computers – just to name a small few) I became so passionate about supporting American companies and, more importantly, American companies who produced their goods in the USA. When I decided to open a store, I knew I wanted the challenge of providing only American made products at Stringbean. With the American economy the way it is, I feel that it’s more important than ever before to support our home-grown products. Those companies pay taxes, hire American employees and support our communities and charities – we need them.

Yes! And we are so proud of it!
You have SO MANY amazing products for moms and kiddos. Has it been difficult to find products made in the USA?
It isn’t hard to find products made in the USA, per say, but it is hard to find American made products that also meet the Stringbean standards of design, purpose and price. Occasionally, it becomes really difficult to find a certain product that is made in the USA. For example, I am currently on the hunt for a domestically produced (and healthy) pacifier- there are none! I’d also like to find a stroller and a modern high chair. I am also surprised how some companies don’t advertise their “Made in the U.S.A” qualities, which makes it harder for me to find them.

What are the top 4 sellers at the Stringbean Company stores?

I’m pleased and pleasantly surprised that our top 2 sellers are non other than Stringbean’s very own products:
#1 The Kids Love Capes! Superhero capes are by far #1. I mean, Kids LOVE capes, right?
#2 Skidnees arm and leg huggers, also a Stringbean product.
#3 is the Melinda G T-Shirt Soft Cup Nursing Bra.We can hardly keep these bad boys in stock! For good reason, too, they’ve got to be the most comfortable nursing bra out there.
#4 is the Dano2 Bath Ducki It’s really hard to find USA made bath toys and anything by Dano2 is so modern and fun. Plus, the phthalates/lead/toxin-free duck opens on the bottom so you can clean out the mold (it’s even dishwasher safe!). What’s in your rubber duck?

Any advice for folks who want to start buying things exclusively made in the USA?
First, I’d say start reading labels! That alone should get anybody thinking about how much *stuff* out there is not American made. If it doesn’t say “Made in the U.S.A.” ask yourself how much you really need it. I’ve found that this mindset also helps me curb a lot of frivolous spending. I’m also a big fan of buying second-hand, especially when I can’t find what I want in an American-made version. For those individuals who don’t live near a craigslist city, ebay is only a click away.

Don’t you just love her?

They are tasty.
And your kiddos will get a kick out of it.
See…

Plus you can eat like 10 and it doesn’t feel so bad because they are so teeny tiny!