Mom2Mom Lounge

Navigating the grocery store with little ones in the cart is no easy task. They whine, they kick, they complain…they WANT everything they see! Laura Hamrick had this problem and she went to work to solve it…and became a mom inventor! Her product OnTray is a great solution for keeping kids occupied with food and for organizing those pesky slippery disappearing coupons!

1. Tell us a little about your business and how you started it? I started my business accidentally. I created a product called OnTray. About 2 years from when I came up with the idea, I launched my web site, www.ontray2go.com . My business is me trying to sell the product I created. I am pounding the pavement trying to spread the word about OnTray and getting into retail shops, big and small, and web site around the WORLD!

2. All moms know how difficult it can be to entertain the kids and keep them quiet while trying to grocery shop. How did you come up with this unique concept, it’s so simple and yet didn’t exist until you thought it up? A couple of years ago I was at the grocery store with all three boys. Jack and Luke were “driving” the shopping cart that looks like a truck. Ty, not even a year yet, was up front in the child seat part of the cart. I was handing him one CherrioTM at a time from a container that I carried with me everywhere I went. I was trying to shop, contain my “little truck drivers”, browse through my coupons, keep Ty happy and get all of the items on my list. Needless to say, I came home with a bunch of junk that Jack and Luke threw in the cart and was completely frazzled. I swore never to go shopping with the kids again! That day, while the children were napping, I did some searching on the web and found there wasn’t a product available that would free up adult hands to shop and keep little hands busy. OnTrayTM was born. It was born out of necessity.

3. What initial challenges did you face in starting your company, finding a manufacturer, trademarking, etc..? You know, everything fell into place. My accountant knew this patent attorney who knew a plastics manufacturer. The plastics manufacturer knew a design company to develop the packaging. That was all the easy part. The challenges have been getting the word out about OnTray. You know, you see these over-night success stories, and I’m here to tell you there truly isn’t such a thing. Sure, some people get lucky being in the right place at the right time, but if it were that easy to be a success story overnight, everyone would be doing it. It takes time, money, patience, and did I mention money?

4. Marketing for a small business is always a challenge, what methods have worked best for you so far? Contacting my local media groups such as local newspapers and magazines was a great start for me. I found it was easier because local stories of interest are great stories for them. I simply e-mailed the editors I thought would be the most interested, and just told them a little bit about me and my product. I also went in search of other mom related radio shows, and contacted web sites that would do reviews of my product.

5. With your growing business and a family, how do you strive to achieve a work/life balance? I may be wrong but in my experience, I don’t know if there is a balance. When you are starting a company from home, and a stay-at-home mom, balance is a thing that left a long time ago. I just try my best. I try to volunteer as much as possible at my oldest sons school, plan enough play dates to keep the boys happy, play enough with them so they know I love them, and take care of my fourth baby, OnTray, so it grows just like my children. I guess that’s a good way to sum it up. Just like a child, I am nurturing it, but careful not to let it be my only focus.

6. What’s a Day in the Life of Laura like? Crazy, hectic, and terrific. I get my oldest son Jack off to the 1st grade, Luke goes to pre-school and Ty and I hang out. Usually we go grocery shopping or run some errands. Lunch, then I do some work. I try not to do too much work when the children are awake, but it doesn’t always go as planned. Other people I need to talk with have office hours and I need to go with the flow when meetings arise or I need to make a phone call. Luckily I have an amazing support group. My parents live close by and come and sit with the boys when I need to make a phone call or meet with someone. My husband is an amazing supporter too. He’s the one that told me to follow my dream and really go for it.

7.What is your best piece of advise for a mom with a great idea for a product and no idea what to do first? I bought the book, The Mom Inventor’s Handbook by Tamara Monosoff. It was my road map throughout the whole process. It is a terrific resource and I would suggest that be the first thing any mom with an idea should pick it up.

Thank you Laura for talking to us. OnTray makes a great gift idea for a new mom, or as part of a baby shower gift as well. Coupon lovers will love it as well. Be sure to head over  to  www.ontray2go.com and check it out. Laura’s also joined in with us in the mommy blogger world, visit her blog as well!