WAHM Blog

This week I had yet another opportunity to learn about another work at home mom. This week I am excited to share the interview I had with Lisa Pallardy, owner of My Little Rembrandt.

Lisa is a home based business owner and mother of 6 children. Prior to starting her home based business Lisa, was a civil litigation paralegal. It was not until she was pregnant with her third child, that she decided to become an at home mom.

Two years ago she launched My Little Rembrandt. My Little Rembrant create’s very unique and cool, custom gifts and apparel using a child’s or an adult’s artwork. Her store has items such as t-shirts, aprons, coffee mugs, notecards, party invitations and thank you cards, change of address cards, and baby birth announcements. She also creates big brother and big sister shirt designs and stated she will be birthday boy and birthday girl designs soon!

Her products would make excellent holiday gifts for grandparents or parents this holiday!

WAHM BLOG: Why did you decide to start this business?
Lisa: Three reasons: (1) I wanted to add to our family’s income; (2) I needed a creative outlet; (3) I wanted to share MY kids’ art creations with friends and family, so I made some notecards (for teacher gifts) and sweatshirts (as grandma gifts), and even made our family’s Christmas cards using my then 9-year old’s artwork. Friends and family LOVED the things I made and encouraged me to start a business offering this service to other moms

WAHM BLOG: What did it cost you to get your business started?
Lisa: When I initially started, I used our family’s desktop computer, so I didn’t have that expense. But I bought a good printer and t-shirts and supplies, so around $700

WAHM BLOG: What do you enjoy most about your business?
Lisa: Besides being able to be my own boss and work my schedule around my kids’ activities, I love how excited moms are when they write to me after receiving their order and express their excitement at being able to share such a unique and personal gift with their friends and family.

WAHM BLOG: How many hours a week do you invest in your business?
Lisa: At first, I worked probably 50-60 hours each week (INCLUDING WEEKENDS!), working early in the mornings while everyone was asleep (from 4:00 - 7 am), and then a few more hours each afternoon while my youngest napped, and then would work a few more hours in the evenings after the kids were in bed. Now that my website is built and I’ve got things more streamlined, I probably work my business 20-30 hours each week, completely around my life.

WAHM BLOG: Is your family involved with your business? If so, how do they help?
Lisa: I recently “hired” my 17 year old daughter to help me with some design work. She’s putting together a line of “Birthday Boy” and “Birthday Girl” shirts. My 11-year old son recently sat with me for several sessions while I designed some “big brother” and “big sister” shirts. I wanted his input to help create designs that weren’t too “baby-ish” — something that a 10 or 11 year old would wear.

WAHM BLOG: What has been your best marketing method?
Lisa: I recently started a blog (http://www.MyLittleRembrandt.blogspot.com) talking about fun child learning activities that I’ve used, drawing on my 20 years experience as a parent. This has helped my business tremendously by attracting moms who are interested in what I offer. Plus, it’s been a lot of fun! I also wear my kids’ artwork on many of my own t-shirts and sweatshirts, so when I’m out and about, people see what I do and ask about my business. I’ve gotten several contacts and orders for this holiday season just by doing that.

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