Designer Jennie Lynn Johanson was recently interviewed at Momtobedepot.com. Mom to be Depot offers unbiased reviews on products in the children’s industry, advice from leading national experts and authors and information on how to take care of yourself before and after pregnancy.
Here are a few excerpts from the interview:
Q: Do you think you are one of the few companies in existence today that designs the fabric and style of the bag versus other ‘founders’ selecting from an inventory a manufacturer has on hand?
My competitors tend to have more of a cookie cutter approach. It’s not an original design if you select it from a book. A true designer is someone who takes an idea they’ve come up with and to be able to produce a final product – 100% original. Putting your label on a product that you get from print houses or other designers is not being original. You should own the process completely from beginning to end. That’s what separates us from everyone else.
Q: Since you launched your business, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
My involvement with the community. I have always been involved from the get-go. A big part of our mission is to give back and use our brand’s popularity for something positive.
I actively participate with Horizons for Homeless Children in Massachusetts and in Los Angeles with the Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation at the Los Angeles Free Clinic (created by Nicole Richie and her husband Joel Madden). As the nonprofits grow, we can see the impact we have had in getting their message out there.
Q: What is the hardest lesson you had to learn running your own business?
There’s been many! The hardest one is realizing that knock-offs are the best form of flattery. It does happen and when it does, it really stings. You need to stay on top of your competition and don’t let it get you down. Just don’t pay attention to those companies.
Keep moving forward and take a hard hand to legally protect what is yours. Unfortunately you do have to take legal action sometimes. However you should pick your battles, not everything is worth pursuing. I personally like to focus on creating.
Q: Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to other women entrepreneurs?
Always be positive and surround yourself with supporters and positive people. Don’t be afraid to fail and always ask questions. Know when to pull the plug. Listen to feedback from others. Open your ears to that. If you hear the same thing over and over from so many others, reinvent your idea. Maybe not necessarily pull completely out, but maybe regroup - redesign. Make it better and come back again. If a lot of impartial people tell you the same thing then they might see something you didn’t see
To read the entire interview at Momtobedepot.com, click here.
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