TP PROFILES-Jamie Bird of MiniMe BabyGear
Company
MiniMe BabyGear
Started
January of 2005
Service
Outfit moms with the quality gear they need, finding those treasured items they will actually use.
Startup Cash
$96, that was my web hosting fee for the year. I then made items as orders came, holding virtually zero inventory for about one year.
College
Grand Valley State University with a degree in political science. One that has never been used for any purpose other than debating my mom.
Favorite Quote
‘The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept,
Were toiling upward in the night.’ –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Hardest Laugh
My son was coming down a slide when he was one and a half. His shoe got stuck and he toppled end to end the rest of the way. I happened to get it on film, and once I knew he was okay, we laughed for days and showed everyone we knew.
Fly, Drive, Bike or Walk?
My first time flying with my son I threw up on five rows of people. However, I would still choose to fly because that was part of the inspiration behind the “Wet Happened? Wet Bag”
A Good Night Out
Around $40, Chuck E Cheese isn’t cheap. Kidding, of course. I would say about $50 for dinner and a long walk would be my perfect night out.
Biggest Complaint
Totally random, but men that walk in slow pitch softball.
Weirdest Thing
Tried to ride a cow. I live in Michigan, people. What else is there to do?
Most Extreme
Try my luck at a career in Hollywood as an actress.
Biggest Accomplishment
Launching the “Wet Happened? wet bag” in 330 Target stores on August 1st.
Biggest Mistake
In general, it is not trusting my own voice. I have had it a few times where I thought to myself, ‘that would not be right for me’, but went ahead and did it anyway based on the enthusiasm of others. Both times were the wrong choice for me, one costing me my entire advertising budget for the month.
Living The Passion
I am living my passion in two ways. First, I get to stay home with my kids. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom; this allows me to participate in every aspect of their lives. Second, it is immesely gratifying to watch something I built grow and succeed. I feel blessed.
What is the one, most valuable lesson you can share with aspiring entrepreneurs? Find others in the same field and help each other. One of my favorite sayings is ‘ A rising tide lifts all boats’. I really feel like I have been be to grow quickly because I learn from the best. Most people love to share wisdom and advice, and learing from others has allowed me to NOT repeat mistakes they have made.
Contact
Jamie Bird, owner
MiniMe BabyGear
Home of the Wet Happened? wet bag
909.528.8724
info@minimebabygear.com
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Are you a Toilet Paper Entrepreneur? Do you have a cool entrepreneurial story to share? If so, I want to hear it. E-mail me at Mike@ToiletPaperEntrepreneur.com!
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Tags: Jamie Bird, MiniMe BabyGear
December 10th, 2008
Hey! My mom used to hold me upside down like that when I was a kid… but it was over a pit of alligators.
- Mike
December 22nd, 2008
Too funny. I tried to ride a cow once, too.
Great profile.