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Entrepreneurial
Women's Digest
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Entrepreneur Tisha DeShields:
{Preserving the Splendor of Pregnancy}
By Marcia Niles June 2008
Tisha DeShields (pictured above) and her company Original Belly Works are giving expectant moms and their children precious lifetime memories. This creative mom of four shares her inspiring story:
Original Belly Works was born out of a desire to make my own contribution to the family budget while being a stay-at-home mom. I also wanted to create something tangible that would forever keep me connected to that special time in my life.
I am a mother of 4 who has turned her hobby into a business. I have found that I am most innovative and productive when I am being stretched to my limit. Keeping with the extremely busy schedule that comes with raising children, like so many mothers I felt a deep need to experience something of my own. I always had a creative craving and have always been trying to find my own artistic voice.
My company has taken a fairly new concept and revolutionized it. Original Belly Works takes belly casting to a whole new dimension. We provide kits for pregnant women, so they can create a plaster mold of their pregnant tummy. We can fiber glass the plaster molds of the pregnant mommies tummy, decorate them and create lasting keepsakes for the mother and child. I began casting to create a lasting heirloom for each of my children. In so doing, my friends and family were so amazed at the detail, the artistry, and the overall concept that they suggested I create a business doing what I'd been so passionate about and Original Belly Works was conceived.
I am proud to announce that I have officially given birth to 'My Baby'. Like all proud mothers, I am enjoying watching my 'Baby' grow and develop. It hasn’t always been easy, but who said ‘Motherhood‘ was. But it has been very rewarding. I never imagined that I would make my career as an artist. But inspiration and ‘LIFE’ has a funny way of giving us wings and courage! I am grateful to my family and to God for such a rich and rewarding opportunity. The Original Belly Works Kit Makes a Great: *Keepsake *Heirloom *Baby Shower Gift *Nursery Décor FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING ON ALL PRODUCTS. Please visit our web site to view our beautiful gallery at:www.originalbellyworks.com or contact us at 1-866-94-BELLY. A Portion of all our proceeds go towards the March of Dimes in their fight against premature childbirth.
Q & A with Tisha:
What a unique concept and business idea! Describe the moment you experienced the spark to create functional art for expectant moms:
After plastering my pregnant tummy, I noticed that over time, the sides of the cast began to cave in, bend and crack in certain areas. I thought to myself, ‘the purpose of casting my tummy was to keep it forever. The way things were looking, I couldn’t see that happening. That’s when I had my ‘Ah-hah’ moment. I couldn’t possibly be the only mom who had plastered her tummy that was experiencing the same problem. I researched belly casting and began to dream of ways to share Original Belly Works with the world. In so doing, I have been able to contribute to the family budget while being a stay-at-home mom.
It was very important to me that the overall design was something that was aesthetically pleasing to the eye and not offensive. I wanted people to be able to identify with finished sculptures. That’s when the ‘Swim Suit’ motif was born. Original Belly Works places a pocket in the back of all of our finished sculptures for personal mementos and love letters to the baby. The sculptures represent a love bond between the new mom and baby. An Original Belly Works sculpture not only becomes a sentimental gift for mom and a keepsake for baby, but also a work of art for all to enjoy. These one-of-a-kind belly sculptures are lightweight enough to be hung on any wall and displayed beautifully. They make for great nursery room décor, OB/GYN office décor, and heirloom.
What are some of the ways you promote and market your business?
I have done some advertising in Parents Magazine and a local magazine. We also have some of our finished decorated sculptures placed in Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta Georgia along with brochures. The brochures get distributed in their ‘First time Mom’ kits. We are now aggressively seeking placement of our Sculptures in local OB/GYN offices. Original Belly Works currently has one vehicle ‘Wrapped’ which has been a great tool for us. The vehicle acts as a ‘Moving Billboard’. People want to know more about us, and what we do.
How difficult was it initially to get your business launched?
The most difficult thing for me was staying focused. I, like most start up businesses, had a hard time focusing on the many different aspects of the business.
Your products are bringing lots of joy to the hearts of women by giving them lasting memories of their pregnancies. What are some of your future plans for Original Belly Works?
We are currently in the process of expanding our product line. The Original Belly Works Signature Belly Charm for necklaces and bracelets will be launching in the fall of 2008. We are also in the process of fine-tuning our Original Belly Works Signature cake pan and cookie cutters in the shape of our patented ‘Swim Suit’ motif. We have partnered with a local Atlanta Bakery to make the cakes and cookies for baby showers.
What advice would you offer to women who want to start their own businesses, especially stay-at-home moms?
Business Advice:
(A) There is more to business than just having a great product or service. The key to all businesses is marketing. MARKETING is the oxygen of your business. You must master this area and take massive action if you want to experience true increase. Your company is a sales and marketing company no matter what your product or service. You must precisely target your customer. (Can you describe who your customers are?) You need to know the demographics, such as age, income, occupation, marital status, education, geographic location, values, needs, concerns and frustrations. (i.e. Baby Boomers)
(B) Try to establish a schedule or routine. Set boundaries and be focused on you goals for that day. Set your business hours and stick to them. It can be very difficult as an entrepreneur, as many times, you must wear many hats. I am simply saying to handle any/all business that must be handled during the typical 9-5 work hours. Find out what are you distractions in life (phone, friends stopping by, TV, etc.….) and eliminate them. Turn your cell phone off if you can. If you need your cell for business, don’t answer the calls from friends if you know they will distract you. If additional time is needed for other aspects of the business such as research, brain storming, etc., set aside some time when the children are asleep to do those things. If you don’t establish boundaries with ’Work’, other areas of your life will suffer. Its tough finding that balance but it can be done. Don’t neglect YOU. Make sure you are the best ‘YOU’ that you can be even if that means stepping away to take a relaxing bath in the middle of the day. Sometimes in our efforts to be ‘Superwoman’, we neglect ourselves and find ourselves in a BIG MESS. Completely drained and depleted.
(C) Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Your friends and associates are like buttons on an elevator; they will either TAKE YOU UP or TAKE YOU DOWN. Be mindful of who you allow to be close to you during this time. Stick with those that ‘Make Deposits’ in you opposed to those that are constantly ‘Making Withdrawals". Joining Networks like this one, Women’s Entrepreneurial Digest is a great place to start. Ladies, you can do it if you stay focused, persevere, and balanced.
Describe a typical workday:
I am usually finished with dropping the 4 children off to school by 8:30 am. When I get to the office, I immediately check and respond to emails. At 10:00 EST (typical start of the business day). My workday in the office is shorter than most because I have to get the kids starting at 3:00pm. I have taken and made business calls in the car. I have a personal cell phone for friends and family. I also have a separate cell that is strictly designated for business calls. All calls made to my office between 3:00pm and 5pm get forwarded to the business cell phone. The children are clearly aware that when ‘the office cell phone’ rings, they are to stop whatever they’re doing until the call is completed. The younger two children (ages 4 and 8) think it’s a game. We like to call it the ‘Quite Game’. The winner is the one who is the quietest.
Share with us a business tip that helps you in your everyday work:
Keep a note pad or voice recorder with you or near at all times for those ‘Ah hah’ moments. How many times have you had an idea at the oddest time? And you said to yourself, ’I’ll write it down when I get home’ and once you got home, you couldn’t remember what it was that you were supposed to write down. If you do not right it down and put action to it, your idea will be transferred to someone else. You had your ‘Ah hah’ moment for a reason. Right it down or record it, and put it into action. One good idea acted upon is worth more than 100 ideas not acted upon.
Ladies, I’ll see you at the top!
Ó Photos: Courtesy of Original Belly Works
Thanks Tisha for inspiring ladies on their entrepreneurial and life journey!
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