Mothers of invention

Area 'mompreneurs' have turned parenting desperation into product inspiration

By FELICIA PINKNEY

 Special to the Star-Telegram

Nia Umoja wanted African-inspired clothes for her young daughter. Nicole Burfield needed something that would keep socks on her infant daughter's feet. Vesta Garcia looked stateside for a baby sling like the ones sold in Europe.

The answer, each of these North Texas moms found, was to do it themselves. Like many other women, they've drawn inspiration from their jobs as mothers to create their own businesses, becoming "mompreneurs."

The mompreneur movement isn't new -- Sheryl Leach of Allen became one 20 years ago, when she developed Barney. Now, the purple dinosaur is a multimillion-dollar entertainment dynasty. But you never know who's going to hit it big next.

Here's a look at six moms who've turned their children's needs into a business plan.

 

Meet the mompreneurs

 

Nicole Burfield, 32, McKinney

 

Mother of: a 10-month old girl

 

Product: Baby Socks Appeal, an adjustable fabric-and-Velcro anklet that keeps infants from kicking off their socks.

 

How long in business: Since July

 

How the idea was born: Cute socks and cold feet got the wheels spinning in Burfield's head.

"A friend of mine bought some really cute fuzzy socks for my baby when she was about 2 months old," Burfield says. "But they would always come off. It was just wasting my time having to look for [the socks] or to keep putting them back on," Burfield says.

"After a while I felt bad because her feet were always like ice. But I knew I had to figure out something."

So -- after a lot of trial and error -- Burfield created Baby Socks Appeal and laid the groundwork for her business.

"I gave away a bunch at first, along with a questionnaire, to get some feedback," she says. "Nine times out of 10 it was said to be a great idea [and] product."

Her best customer? Her own daughter: "She takes naps in them, she plays in them ... she walks around in them, and her socks stay on."

Eventually, Burfield says she'd love to have Baby Socks Appeal mass-produced and sold in stores. For now though, she makes them at home and sells them on her Web site.

 

Product: Baby Socks Appeal, in "Gingham"

 

Did we like it? I asked mom friend Danielle DeLuca of Fort Worth to try it out on her newborn son. Four-week-old Maximilian couldn’t manage to kick them off!  Baby Socks Appeal did its job!!

 

Details: $5.95 per pair, plus $2 shipping; for newborns to 12 + months of age ( various colors and

themes available).