Featured Cloth Diaper WAHM: Julie of Little for Now

Q: What Advice Do You Have for Families New to Cloth Diapers?

A: Keep trying new things until you find the perfect diapers for your family. Don't be afraid to experiment. You can always sell or give away any diapers that aren't right for your family. So many people give up on cloth after trying a diaper that just won't work for them. Cloth diapers come in so many sizes and fabric combinations that there truly is a cloth diaper for everyone. This is also why I sell many brands other than just my own Little for Now diapers. I know that there is no such thing as the perfect diaper for everyone, so I encourage people to try all of the options available. The sample packs I put together are very popular as well because they make it less expensive to try a wide variety of diapers and styles.

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

A: I started out selling baby items and decided to carry some cloth diapers because I knew they were better for babies. Wow! I never expected this kind of a response. Within a few weeks diapers were our top selling item and they continue to be the backbone of our family business. I love shopping for the cutest new fabrics and creating or selling the cutest diapers I can find.

Cloth diapers are a natural for me because I am committed to creating a better world for our children and to making sure that babies get the best. Besides, they are so darn cute! No disposable diaper could ever compare to the cuteness of cloth diapers. In my "spare" time I write the Attachment Parenting site for BellaOnline.com. I love sharing information about attachment parenting and natural parenting choices so selling cloth diapers is a natural extension of that desire to share great things with moms and dads.

Q: Was starting your business difficult?

A: Yes, while cloth diapers were a mainstay of our business early on, it is very difficult to make a profit in this business. Cloth diapers are one of the lowest profit retail items because there are so many people selling them. While the price of diapers may seem high at first, when you look at the expense of time and materials they are actually priced very low. Most cloth diapers will last 1-3 years being washed several times a week. Can you imagine finding a pair of jeans for $15 that would withstand that kind of use and still be in great shape for resale?

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

A: After running Little for Now part time out of a corner of our bedroom for about a year I quit my job to be home full time. Shortly after that I started Comfy Cloth Pads mama pads and a few weeks later I bought Sheepish Grins wool and skin care wholesale line. At that point I decided that my businesses needed more space. We are very lucky to have a large room available and I have turned it into cloth diaper central! I take all of my photos there so I have my baby doll "models" in various cloth diaper styles, plastic mannequins for nursing cover and clothing shots, and tons of storage. I am able to ship much more efficiently now that all of my inventory and shipping supplies are in one place. I do all of my sewing in an upstairs room that has big windows overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Looking out at such natural beauty helps me to remember why cloth diapering and natural baby care is so important to our environment.

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

A: I love knowing that I am helping to get more babies into cloth and making it easy for moms to find cloth diapers and baby carriers they love. One local mom said, "Thank you for making my transition to cloth diapering so easy! I am so excited to be doing this for my baby." Those are the kind of comments that make the cloth diaper business so rewarding.

Q: What new an exciting things can we expect in the future?

A: I just launched my new pocket diaper line so you will see a continuing supply of new Limited Edition prints. I like to keep limited edition prints to less than 12 diapers per print so you know the diapers you get from Little for Now will always be unique. We are now offering colored Chinese prefolds and those will be offered in new colors. I am expanding our selection of youth and bedwetting size diapers and training pants. New silk, brocade, cotton, hemp and minkee slings are also coming - all of our Little for Now slings are limited edition or one-of-a-kind. Over the next few months you'll also find new wool covers and soakers, unique baby clothing and more diapering accessories. The Sheepish Grins products will also be expanding rapidly with new natural skin care and home cleaning products. I guess you could say that you'll find something new every visit to Little for Now. My businesses are our families main source of income, so I am always testing and trying new things to expand our products.