Who says a woman can’t have it all?  Certainly not Heather Ledeboer, the sweet and savvy lady behind one of the internet’s most popular mom and baby retail destinations.  Combining innovative mom-invented products, family focused information and tools, intelligent business practices and a whole bunch of heart & soul, Mom4Life is more than just a shopping website.

This mom of four (three here on earth and one up in heaven) took time out of her busy schedule to answer some of our burning questions about what makes her so successful:

How long has Mom4Life been in business?

Mom 4 Life was born shortly after my first son in the fall of 2003.

What do you sell at Mom4Life?

100% mom invented “fresh finds” that are not your typical “big box store” baby products.  Many of our products were invented by moms because they had a mothering “product need” and there was not something currently on the market to meet that need.   The big name stores are filled with baby products, but I am willing to put my stock in the mom invented products every time.

What kind of woman shops at Mom4Life?

The typical Mom 4 Life customer is either someone looking for a unique and useful baby gift that will stand out at a baby shower or is a mother that trusts the ingenuity of mom invented products and desires to support the creative moms behind them.

What is it about retail that inspired you to make it your business?

I was intrigued by the idea of being able to work in my slippers from home!  Although the world of retail was totally foreign to me in the beginning, I had the desire to learn and the inspiration to carve out a unique niche by offering only mom invented products. This position set me apart from other retailers and gave me a focus that would help define Mom 4 Life.

What has been the biggest challenge in owning Mom4Life?

I never anticipated being a business owner.  I have a degree in Elementary Education and taught second grade before becoming a mom.  There were many areas (well every area J!) that I was clueless about in the beginning.  I had to ask a lot of questions (still do) and be willing to learn something new every day.  In addition, I have had to learn how to structure my day in order to give everything the time and attention needed.  As all moms realize, children’s routines change regularly as they grow so this has been a continual process.

What has been the biggest reward in owning Mom4Life?

It is very rewarding to partner with so many inventive moms by giving their products a platform to be found by the moms that need them.  It is also a blessing to be able to offer employment from home to several moms and to be able to support places like our local Pregnancy Care Center.

How have you seen your industry change since you’ve been in business?

Most defiantly.  There has been a noticeable shift toward more eco friendly products and materials.  Along the same lines has been the awareness of the dangers connected to BPA and Phthalates and thus the demand for products free of them. Babywearing has also become much more commonplace and many products that were brand new to the market when Mom 4 Life began (such as LilyPadz and nursing covers) are now staples of a new mom’s registry list.

What tools do you use to manage all your responsibilities as a mom, wife and business woman?

You mean besides an excessive use of caffeine?  Just kidding;), I learned early that just because I might be able do it all, doesn’t mean that I should.  I am a good delegator and also know my limitations.  By this I mean that I have chosen to find women to be on the Mom 4 Life team that can attend to each area of business in a more focused manner than I can.  I have set office hours according to times that my kids are at school or napping.  As such, I am working on Mom 4 Life during much of the time that would typically be spent on house work.  I have calculated the value of my time and decided with my husband that “splurging” on a bi-weekly housecleaner is worth the benefit of having more time to work during “work time” and spend with my kids.  I also plan out my meals each week in advance so that my time is effective in the kitchen and have regular date nights with my (amazing) husband.  None of these systems are perfect, but they all allow me to be more effective at doing my responsibilities well.

Do you have any advice would you give to other women who are thinking of starting their own businesses?

I have a lot to say on this topic, more than I should try to touch on here.  I have written an article about this that I would invite you to read titled the “5 Don’ts that will Help You Create a Successful Business.”

What would you like the world to know about you and Mom4Life?

I would love for people to be able to see straight through to my heart.  They would discover the typical mother’s love as well as the unusual drive to help other moms in their journey through motherhood.  I have a passion for helping others.  Although profits are necessary, they are secondary and a natural result of our focus on amazing mom invented products, superior customer service, unusually wide selection and free US shipping.

Connect with Heather using her social media network:

Mom 4 Life Blog

Facebook fan page

Twitter account

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