Crib Sheet #27: Baby K’Tan’s Michal Chesal.

Michal Chesal needs no introduction…check out her video and you’ll see why she’s so fantastic, and is doing something equally fantastic having great business experience.

What business did you start up?

Baby K’tan, LLC (also Pet Teek, LLC) but I’ll focus on Baby K’tan for now!

What motivated you to do it?

We found that most baby carriers didn’t give our son, who was born with Down syndrome, support for his low muscle tone. His physical therapist would tell us what was appropriate for his hypotonia and what was not. We began to experiment, and as a result the Baby K’tan Baby Carrier design came about. With the use of two slings, he got the swaddling needed and was able to sit up while still having his legs and body in a developmentally appropriate posture. The Baby K’tan gave us the ability to have him face forward, observe the world & receive the stimulation he benefited from so much. It created the ideal environment for development and growth. Plus it was cute looking!

All the attention of wearing him in our hand made double sling led us to bring our Baby K’tan Carrier public: it is now a Patent Pending 100% natural cotton double-sling carrier marketed all over the U.S. and abroad. Not only was it perfect for our son, we now see it is ideal for Dads, Twins, Preemies, Breastfeeding and obviously especially Babies with Special Needs. It offers infants a tight swaddled, deep pressure input, providing security and assurance to infants with sensory integration dysfunction and other developmental disorders.

We founded our company on the premise that a portion of proceeds from every sale will go back to help fund education, medical research, advocacy programs and promotion of awareness & inclusion for individuals and families living with Down syndrome.

How many children do you have, and how old are they?

Three children (1 boy and 2 girls):  Coby 9, Noa 6 and Ally 4. My oldest, Coby, has Down syndrome.

How long have you been running your business?

In 2007—in an office near my home in Hollywood, Florida.

How long did it take you to start becoming profitable and/or successful (however you chose to measure success)?

1.5 years.

How did your family react to you starting your own business?

Well, I try to put family first. It is hard for women to do it “all” because ultimately they are the ones who run the “family” as well, and that is basically another “company”. We cannot forget that, and when you put that “company” of our “family” first…. We will ultimately succeed in our second “company” that is our business. Trust me, I’ve tried it the other way, working until late hours, rushing home to feed the kids, feeling harried and stressed and guilty. When I changed it around, I found I was more productive during my time at work and less stressed because I knew I was giving my family what they needed first, and by default, work did not get put “second” but still got my undivided but happier attention to succeed and move forward.

Easiest part of your job?

Doing something I love, watching it grow, and talking to satisfied customers!

Hardest part of your job?

Finding a balance between family and work as my business keeps growing and taking up more of my time but my kids keep growing and need my time as well. Also finding enough hours in the day to get things done and traveling a lot. 

What, if any, tools or advice do you wish you knew then that you know now?

Letting go of some responsibilities and delegating better to others. As my business grows  I got business experience I need to bring in more help and I have a hard time doing that!

Any people or computer programs or other materials that you recommend for fellow momtrepreneurs to use/buy for their companies?

Quickbooks – best tool ever!

Anything else I should have asked you that you should answer?

What business experience or education did you have prior to starting your business?
Just a bachelor’s degree in psychology and some marketing and business experience, but nothing in the juvenile products market! I had to learn it all as I went along and I’m still learning.

Where will you be in 5 years?
I hope to eventually have my own vertical mill Baby K’tan manufacturing plant and distribution center. Bringing jobs to the U.S. and having everything under one roof.

Any cool anecdotes or topics you would like to discuss or highlight?
Make yourself heard. Do not let others allow you to lose confidence in yourself. If you had planned to take a certain action concerning your work or business, or had an idea you wanted to implement, go through with it. Do not hesitate. Hesitating is where you will start to lose confidence and possibly back away. If you felt strongly about it to begin with, chances are it was a good business decision or idea. Believe in yourself to have good business experience.