Welcome to the first annual 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business competition! The top 200 mom-run businesses across America as determined by popular vote will be ranked. Happy Panda has been entered and we ask for your votes and comments! This contest is focused on those can do moms who run families and businesses at the same time. You can vote DAILY!

• Voting ends at midnight Pacific Time, March 31, 2009.
• Throughout April, winners will be rank ordered according to votes accumulated prior to midnight pacific time on March 31, 2009.
• StartupNation will select a variety of moms from among the finalists and create editorial feature stories about them.
• Winners will be announced in early May, 2009.

Bruce Wolk sent me an email in April of 2008 explaining his research and the book he was writing. He thought our product would be a great addition and I was thrilled to help in any way that I could.

Bruce asked me if I had contacts that I could send his way to also be part of his book. Those companies that built a relationship with me during all the cyber baby showers that fit the requirements were sent his way. That is a great example of how my company displays our southern hospitality. We love to network and that makes projects like these so much fun! I’m very proud that Happy Panda is one of the many companies featured in his book.

“Made Here, Baby! has found, detailed, and then interviews more than 400 American manufacturers making nearly every kind of children’s product you can imagine. This book guides you to safe, quality, American-made products for new moms, preemies, infants, toddlers, preschool, school age and beyond, including toys, games, puzzles, diaper bags, carriers, car seats, baby products, clothing, shoes, bedding, furniture, sporting goods, and much, much more.”

Made Here, Baby! is scheduled to be available in late April/early May, 2009. You may pre-order the book in a number of different ways, click here to find out how.

I’m honored to be in the spotlight for the American manufacturer of the month! This is such a breath of fresh air from the current cpsia issues. Bruce Wolk has been an advocate for change. We have posted his writings here on our blog. It is my hope that those of you reading this post will purchase his book and spread the word! American manufacturers are still here and we are producing great products for you and your families.

Thank you,

Pamela Kramer

Want to learn more about the CPSIA? We’ll be chatting with Mompreneur Pamela Kramer to hear her thoughts on this hot topic. How is is impacting her business and Mompreneurs in the USA? The laws guidelines start Feb 10th and are causing quite a stir.

Have you ever wondered how you could get your product into a showroom? Join me for interview with Shelly Bostrom owner of The PAD Showroom in Lake Forest, California.

What is a showroom? A showroom is basically a ‘space’ that showcases an assortment of Designers or ‘Collections’ for the purpose of stores/buyers to shop for their retail store or on line store.

How can a showroom benefit a company? The benefit to a company on having a Sales Representative with a showroom is convenience to the buyer.  If a store/buyer has a physical space to go to see multiple lines, it saves them time and money in traveling to each ‘company’s’ website or office.

How do you determine which companies you will represent? I only accept one line in each given ‘category’ and I only support mom-preneurs.  All of our lines are child-inspired and mom-created. I look for lines that are uniquely designed and have impeccable quality and style. In summary, we represent the finest Mom-Preneurs’ Chic & Unique Designs For The Posh Baby, Toddler & Mom.

Is there any costs to the company that you are representing? Most showrooms do charge a monthly showroom fee. At this time, I don’t.  I charge a standard commission on every order I take for a give ‘company’.  I also offer free PR where I already promote my line Patricia Ann Designs.  I also set aside time to mentor, offer advice and help these mom’s with growing their business.  I do also offer occasional co-op marketing where the companies would be able to participate if desired.

Who normally comes to a showroom? Retail buyers

Why did you want to create a showroom? ***I think that my attached Press Release will better explain these last few questions. J

One of the benefits you about your showroom is that you are cpsia compliant. Can you tell us what steps you have taken to ensure that? I have just made it mandatory that my lines go through necessary testing on their end so we can be a compliant showroom.

The PAD Showroom

Press Release

December 2008

After 5 years of incredible success through design, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and retail sales, Patricia Ann Designs is excited to launch their new offspring company ~ The PAD Showroom.

To review from their Spring 08 Press Release, in January of this year, “the girls” (as they’re often called) or the “blonde Mother Daughter Duo” Mary Patricia & Shelley Ann began supporting their community of local moms by helping to develop and promote their child-inspired collections. Shelley and Pat leased a 1000 SF showroom in an Orange County business park to run their expanding day to day business of Patricia Ann Designs as well as to offer their loyal OC patrons a place to shop on a regular basis rather than referring them to their website, www.PatriciaAnnDesigns.com .

After about a month, the girls graciously took on about a ½ dozen local “Mom-Preneuers” under their wing. They proudly showcased their collections in their OC showroom, mentored them in business protocol, even took their products on the road to small and large expos to sell, endorse and market to OC retail customers.

Mary Patricia and Shelley Ann feel blessed to have had these women as faithful patrons and friends of Patricia Ann Designs over the years and were looking forward to 2008 being a year to “pay it forward” by assisting in growing these moms’ at-home-hobbies into successful name-sakes like Patricia Ann Designs. Looking back, it was just 5 short years ago that Patricia Ann Designs born out of a garage with some remnant fabric and a good Singer sewing machine.

What better way to help these amazing Mom-Preneurs take their businesses to the next level then to officially endorse their designs and market them to the trade nationally?! So after many months of hard work, detailed planning, and thorough preparation, The PAD Showroom was conceived!

For the last five years, P.A.D. was well-known as Patricia Ann Designs. But now, the initials P.A.D. take on a new meaning with the PAD Showroom. P ~ Passion; A ~ Artistry ~ D ~ Dedication. The PAD Showroom is an Orange County based showroom representing the finest Mom-Preneurs’ Chic & Unique Designs For The Posh Baby, Toddler & Mom.

With the good news spreading rapidly across the country, the PAD Showroom is elated to be showcasing 15 incredible lines ~ all child-inspired and mom-created! Some of the Mom-Preneurs are new to the industry, others are talented veterans. But share a common desire ~ expressing their creativity while building a flourishing business for the betterment of their families. The assortment of showcased lines boasts exceptional quality, unique design and amazing variety with an already successful celebrity following! This is a new type of MOMS club ~ one where Passion, Artistry and Dedication will shine through and make a difference in growing families.

The PADShowroom Specs:

• www.PADShowroom will be going LIVE on January 1^st, 2009.
• Grand Opening Market Showing will be January 15^th – 20^th in VIP Style complete with sparkling mimosas and delicious catered hors d’ oeuvres!
• Reimbursement for Metro Link Fares will be honored or optional gas reimbursement for round trip mileage from Los Angeles to Lake Forest.
• Appointments encouraged, walk ins welcome
• The PADShowroom is located in the heart of beautiful Orange County, California just 35 minutes from Los Angeles, conveniently less than 1 mile off the 5 freeway.
• Unbeatable Show Specials offered from all lines on opening orders
• Special Market Hours ~ will remain standard but will be open on market Sunday from 10-3

The PADShowroom

22762 Aspan Street

Suite 205

Lake Forest, CA 92630

949.716.4800 ph

949.716.4488 fx

www.PADShowroom.com (goes live 1.1.09)

Free parking

Hours: Monday – Friday 10-5

Saturday 10-3

Sunday Closed

*Additional showroom pictures and designer specifics available upon request

Kindest regards,

Shelley Bostrom

VP of Sales, Marketing & Design

Patricia Ann Designs

www.PatriciaAnnDesigns.com

Showroom Manager

The PADShowroom

www.PADShowroom.com

Proudly representing fabulous Mom-Preneurs: Patricia Ann Designs; MOD Rocks; Gem Bebe; Georgie Tees; Bling Around The Rosie; Creative Clips By Colleen; Punky Bunks; OC Aloha Baby; Cade Christian; Piggy Paint; Belle Pearl; Sweet Dreams Maternity; Kurly Girlz; Bellala Baby Slings; and B Baby Bling

West Coast Territories include: Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona

22762 Aspan Street

Suite 205

Lake Forest, CA 92630

949.716.4800 ph

949.716.4488 fx

Shelley@PatriciaAnnDesigns.com

www.PatriciaAnnDesigns.com/Blog

We hope you all enjoy your Valentine holiday.

New Products: We are updating our inventory with bigger sizes this month. Now available is the 18-24m size in our pants and black lap ts. St. Patrick’s Day is coming and we have our fun holiday design ready to ship.

In The Public Eye: Happy Panda products were reviewed by: Victoria from Life Starring Ellie and Eve. Click on the hyperlink to read the full review. We are available on Twitter and Facebook if you would like to follow or become a fan.

Events and Contests: Visit Baby Fest hosted by A Frog in My Soup for fun prizes. Our monthly newsletter subscriber winner was Melisa from ItsaBelly.  Congratulations to all our winners this month Andreah Hatfield from Kentucky, Israel Yeres from New York, Jennifer Bowen from Wisconsin, Donna Kozar from Indiana and Elaine Rosser from Canada.

Features: CPSIA inventory sale - Lots of links to great shops with sales.

Upcoming: Our product will be reviewed by Jessica Milby from Piece of Me and Shellie from Blog 4 Mom. Pamela Kramer is scheduled to be interviewed by Classy Mommy on Blog Talk Radio.