Interview with: Ceewee Baby

Who is Ceewee Baby? Where are you located?
Ceewee Baby...by ceewee designs is an online baby “sleep boutique” located in Charlotte, North Carolina. I focus primarily on infant & toddler sleep sacks, but also create custom toddler pillows, nap blankets, and burp cloths. I was operating under the name Ceewee Designs until recently and decided to change the boutique’s name to Ceewee Baby to better indicate who I serve.


How did you come up with your business name?
It is a combination of both of my sons’ names.


When and why did you decide to start your own business?
After my first son was born I searched for sleep sacks for him--they were a relatively novel product in the USA at the time. There were few options available and those that were mass marketed were, well, not great. My mom taught me to sew when I was a little girl, so I made a few for my son. A couple of friends suggested I should sell them, and I thought it would be a great way to keep myself occupied during naps and be creative as well.

How did you get started?
I started selling on ebay right away, in the winter of 2003. After my second son was born, I took a break since juggling a 18 month old and newborn occupied me fully, to put it lightly. In 2006 I decided to return to my business again and returned to ebay. Whereas the first time I was one of the only people selling sleep sacks on ebay, now there were many. Most were secondhand and although mine sold, I did
not sense it was the right place for me any longer. I opened my own online boutique, and have a small Etsy shop.


What motivates you to keep your business going?
Two things: my family and my customers. I have an incredibly supportive family to guide me. My mom had a handmade craft store when I was little so she is a great font of knowledge for me. My husband is wonderful to bounce ideas of off and ground me. I love that I can work when I want, and play a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos when my kids want.

I have also met some wonderful people through my business. These individuals are my repeat customers who always have a cute story about their little ones in their ceewee sleep sack(s) and who spread the word about my products. Their loyalty and the lovely things they have written about ceewee sleep sacks is a great motivator.

Do you have a particular product that's unique, a best seller, or that you are promoting on your site?

In the past, the ‘funky monkey’ or sock monkey sleep sacks have been a huge hit. Whenever I run out of my supply of this fabric, I hear about it. Immediately.

Recently, I introduced a line of organic sleep sacks in response to a growing interest in organic products by many of my customers. I worked hard to locate a local supplier of quality organic products and am really excited about this new line.


How do you juggle family and work at home?
Very carefully, with a touch of chaos! Both my boys are now in preschool which has given me some needed time to manage my business and sew. I sneak and ‘work’ other times through the day: snack time for them is email time for me, bedtime story time (read by my husband) for them is cutting fabric time for me. My husband is very supportive and spends quality time with the boys on the weekend when I need to
catch up on orders.

What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
If you have an idea--go for it! I love the fact that I can earn a living and spend time with my boys on my terms. However, I will say it is at times stressful to be a “one woman show”--the manufacturer, the web designer, the accountant, the public relations rep, etc. Always accept help when it is offered.


Visit Cewee Baby at: www.ceeweebaby.com

Current promotions/specials at Ceewee Baby:
I am currently running a “Get Set for Spring Sale” so all parents can make sure they have a supply of lightweight sleep sacks in time for the warmer months ahead. This promotion is running until 3/14 and includes all sleep sacks (excluding clearance items). Use code SPRINGSALE at checkout.