Featured Cloth Diaper WAHM: Mandi of Jillian's Drawers

Q: What Led You to Start Using Cloth Diapers?

A: We started using cloth diapers because I thought cloth would be the most comfortable for our baby – I couldn’t imagine plastic and gel beads on my baby! I had visions of diaper pins and old rubber pants with lots of leaks, hours spent caring for them… so I figured it would be the same for us and almost begrudgingly decided to cloth diaper. Boy, was I wrong! Cloth diapers leak less than disposables, are incredibly cute, soft, and so easy to take care of. Over time I discovered a wonderful world of Work At Home Moms and Dads that use their amazing creativity to make great products for all our babies.

Q: How did you go about making cloth diapers your business?

A: Our business started with a love of cloth diapers and wanting to share that with local parents. Jillian was born at a wonderful birth center, the Greenhouse Birth Center in Okemos, Michigan. At first I just had a display at the birth center with my own diapers, so parents could look at all the options in person, which is so important. I began carrying some of the products and then designed and launched www.jilliansdrawers.com, after which the business really took off. Both the midwives at the Greenhouse Birth Center and local parents have been completely supportive – I couldn’t have done it without them!

Q: Was starting your business difficult?

A: That’s a great question! There was never a point when I said, “Now I am going to start a cloth diaper business.” It really just transformed from helping local moms and dads, to forming Jillian’s Drawers, to now helping parents from all around the world.

The day-to-day work is really a labor of love. Honestly, we do this because we believe we are truly making a difference. Whether it is because a Mom can skip visits to the doctor and finally rest at night because her baby’s rash is gone, a Dad can spend more time bonding with his newborn using his Moby Wrap, a Mom can nurse more comfortably after discovering Green Goop, one less baby will develop asthma by using cloth diapers, or fewer workers in foreign countries will experience health problems associated with producing disposables… what we do is really far-reaching.

Q: How do you manage to run a business with small children?

A: We are lucky to be able to spend so much time with Jillian. But, to make that work, you have to set strict priorities and stick to them. It can be challenging and exhausting at times, and we always remind ourselves that we are doing this to spend more time with her. Our employees are fabulous and we work well as a team.

Q: What does your home office/work space look like?

A: We recently converted our basement to a full warehouse and office, which is fantastic. We love it, our employees love it, and our kids love it. However, we will be moving soon, and this time we had the foresight to find a place where the business will have its own building. Our business is expanding so quickly, we are excited to have more space for inventory and customers!

Q: What Is The Most Rewarding Thing About Running Your Home Business?

A: The customers are the best part! We are so happy to work with so many great parents that are interested in finding the best natural products for their needs. We receive so many thank you notes, letters, and e-mails that make us smile and let us know we are truly making a difference!

Q: If you could do any kind of work you wanted, what would you be doing?

A: I wouldn’t change a thing! I absolutely love what I do!

Q: How did you come up with the name Jillian’s Drawers?

A lot of people assume I’m Jillian, but, that’s actually our daughter’s name. When I was going through business names, I let our family and all our friends help out – I listed the top picks and sent a final e-mail. At the very bottom, I threw Jillian’s Drawers out there, saying it was one my husband had picked, and wasn’t it silly? Every single person skipped the list of names and wrote back that Jillian’s Drawers was their favorite. Of course, I love it, but I’m biased!

Q: What are your dreams for the future?

A: My goals for the future are to have a happy, healthy family, and to see more mainstream parents try cloth diapers, baby carriers, and other natural parenting products. Many of our products make the lives of Moms and Dads easier and instill confidence in their ability to parent. We created a great program, called Changing Diapers, Changing Minds, where parents can try an assortment of cloth diapers for $10. You really have to try cloth diapers in person to see how easy they are, how much less they leak than disposables, and, yes, how cute they are!