Motivational Monday: Interview with Denise Whitney
A while back, I came across this very cool product created by a mom, Denise Whitney. The Parking Pal is a great way to keep kids close to the car while you`re putting groceries in or getting the baby out, preventing them from running out into parking lot traffic.
1. What is your business?
My mom and I have partnered up and developed a very unique child safety product called the Parking Pal. It is a magnet with colorful fun designs and a small hand print in the center. You place the magnet on your vehicle and teach your children in a parking lot to place their hand on top of the magnet. This gives them a safe spot to stand by in parking lots, while mom is loading or unloading a younger child, packages, or digging for keys.
2. How did you get started?
I always used the hand on the car technique with my kids. After my 3rd little boy was born, I found myself very stressed out in parking lots. I was constantly saying to the older kids (4 and 2) “stay by the car”, “don’t move”, “stay right here”, “touch the car and don’t let go”. I knew there had to be a better solution. I also knew that I was not the only person having this problem.
3. What mistakes did you make when you were starting out? What did you learn from them?
Every one who sees the Parking Pal loves it. My mistake was assuming it would be inexpensive to launch. Our first two web designers were inexperienced which proved to be a costly mistake and also slowed down our marketing. I learned to check out peoples credentials a little more closely.
4. How long have you been working from home? (was this your first business or have you had others where you worked from home?)
This is my first home based business. I have been working on this for about one year, with our marketing effort starting in March of this year. I still work part time as a nurse, but the business is going so well and we are getting so busy, that I expect to be able to quit within a few months.
5. What are your tricks for balancing work, kids and household chores?
I don’t have any tricks. I home school my kids, so that takes some extra time. There are many days that I feel like I’m going crazy. I think all of us mom’s feel that way though. I can say though, my house is never spotless. That is the last on my priority list.
6. How many children do you have? How old are they?
I have 3 boys- Ages 6, 4, and 2.
7. When do you usually work?
I usually do most work when the kids are in bed. I sometimes answer emails during the day when we are taking a break from homeschooling.
8. What is the best part of being a mompreneur? And the worst?
The best part about be a mompreneur is the satisfaction of the product and being able to work from my home. How many people can say that the product they invented may have helped save a life? Working from home gives me the freedom to work at my own pace in the comfort of my own home.
The worst part is that it adds a lot of extra stress and so many more things to deal with.
9. What are your plans for the future of your business?
The Parking Pal is so easy for kids to use and works so well, that I believe it will be a household name within a few years, but I am leaving the future of Parking Pal in the hands of the Lord!
10. What advice would you give new work at home moms?
Sometimes it feels like you are putting in a ton of work and seeing little results. Don’t get frustrated. Keep working away- it will eventually pay off.
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