In our July newsletter, we interviewed Amy Long, the creator of the innovative Secure2Me blanket - (see original review here).

1. Tell Us About Secure2Me Blankets.

Secure2Me Blankets stay put making Mommy’s life easier while keeping your baby in the lap of luxury.  Every Secure2Me Blanket has finger-friendly clips on each corner that easily secure to the fabric of all your baby’s gear. (No more bending over to pick up that blanket that keeps falling off your stroller or car seat.) The Secure2Me Blanket also has a unique shape that creates a perfect fit wherever your baby goes. New for 2007, we have created the Secure2Me Eclipse sun-protection blanket. Eclipse provides easy, chemical-free sun protection for your baby or toddler. Eclipse is made from Solarveil®, a sheer and breathable fabric that blocks 95% of the sun’s harmful UVA & UVB rays. With Eclipse, your child will keep cooler and more protected and have more fun in the sun.

2. What was your inspiration for Secure2Me Blankets? 

Necessity is the mother of invention. With the addition of our third child, the need for a baby blanket that would stay where I put it became dire. One day I was walking through a busy parking lot with my baby in a sling and holding the hands of my other two little ones. My regular baby blanket fell onto the ground in a puddle. I couldn’t let go of either child’s hand and the blanket became soiled and unusable. I knew there was a better way. There are many car seat blankets and buntings on the market but I found them too restrictive to my babies, limited to car seats, and very boring. Solid-colored fleece and juvenile patterns were not what I wanted and the rectangle shape of regular blankets did not always provide the ideal fit.  I needed a blanket I could use with all of my baby gear (especially my baby carriers!) that was functional, luxurious and beautiful. After many concept sketches, untold yards of many different fabrics, and dozens of different clip contenders, the Secure2Me Blanket was born.

3. What challenges did you encounter when launching it? 

One of our greatest challenges has been communicating the softness of our luxurious fabrics through our website. In person, the blankets literally fly off the shelf.  The web presents a much greater challenge to us and to the consumer. We are constantly experimenting with different photography that conveys the wonderful hand feel and ingenious functionality of our blankets through our website.

4. What has surprised you the most in launching and running Secure2Me Blankets? 

The truth is, we did not set out to start a business so I am most surprised by what we have accomplished thus far. I am glad I did not know what was to come because I surely would have declared it impossible. We have been delighted by the response to our product and the many opportunities that have arisen that I could not have predicted. 

5. What resource has helped you the most in starting Secure2Me? 

Since I am unwilling to share my husband, I will share a few books and websites that have been valuable sources of information and inspiration. I love The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki, Mommy Millionaire by Kim Lavine and The Secret by Ronda Byrne. I frequent TheSwitchboards.com, FastCompany.com, and Inc.com. I especially enjoy the Roy H. Williams’ weekly online newsletter to which you can subscribe for free at MondayMorningMemo.com.

6. We have many busy moms (and dads) reading Mom’s Favorite Stuff who would love to know how you balance your family life and run a small business.

Raising a family, having a great marriage and running a business require passion and dedication that stretch a person beyond the normal definition of balance. We attribute much of our business and family success to our ability to be flexible.   Secure2Me is a family-run business and we endeavor to include the children in many of the everyday activities of our company. From counting inventory to making trips to market, our boys “help” us and we choose to spend our time doing things as a family, even if it takes a little longer. I do the majority of the office activities early in the morning or later in the evening. I schedule phone calls for time I know I will be in the car, so I can talk while the boys watch a movie. I “top off” the boys’ tanks with extra attention or a trip to the park before an important meeting to ensure they will be satisfied with a quiet activity while I focus. Running a business requires an almost overwhelming investment of time, energy and capital. I sleep less and work far more than I ever did when I had a “real job.”  Therefore, there are many days when I feel we have no balance at all. It is the belief in our product and the knowledge that we are building something that will benefit our family for years to come that pushes us forward when we feel off balance.

7. Tell us what’s next for Secure2Me Blankets.

You will see Secure2Me Blankets featured in several national publications this fall. New additions to our 2007 Confection Collection will be unveiled in our online boutique soon. Also, expect to see Secure2Me in specialty baby catalogs this fall.