On March 16th, I was interviewed for a news piece for ABC World News with Diane Sawyer about Middle Class families having financial struggles. You can read about it more on my personal blog, A Whole Lot of Nothing.

Way back in 2006, my husband and I decided it would be best for our family for me to stay home with our two young girls, 2 and 6 months old at the time. My teacher’s salary, even with the extra pay for having earned a Master’s Degree, was barely more than daycare costs for our two young girls. We still needed a few extra dollars a month to make ends meet, so I began selling maternity & baby clothes on eBay. I got the bug for selling after I started making extra cash on my own. I felt proud of the little accomplishments in sales I was making.

After having completed a few sales on eBay, I found I needed some Nuby replacement spouts for my girls’ sippy cups, and like anything else, I figured I could buy them on eBay. A few sellers had some spouts listed on eBay, and seeing as I was an up-and-coming entrepreneur, I found out where I, too, could buy and resell the spouts.

Really, it was a massive success. I found my online-selling niche in little silicone parts for sippy cups.

The next step was to start my own web store. I would be selling all of the Nuby spouts that the US distributor was selling out of their office, but didn’t have available online, nor were they advertising the availability of the spouts to consumers.

Total SCORE for me. Next up? World domination.

I started finding other products that were either hard-to-find or created by mom-owned small businesses. The business was growing every month, and I was spending more and more time doing something I could be proud of.

It was not unusual for the store to have 20+ orders a day. Less than 20 orders a day, and I was worried. Every month was better than the last.

My business was successful.

Until the Fall of 2008.

I was naïve to think I was immune because I was doing so well the 2 years previous. I was naïve to think that I could pay off the debt I had created that I was steadily paying down in my success.

I had been supporting small businesses, I was helping parents purchase products they needed at an affordable price, and I had a growing return-customer base.

But the damage had been done. Consumer confidence immediately dropped as news reports increased about cutting back on personal spending. I didn’t even need to watch the news reports and see the statistics to know that people were holding on to their money much more closely than they had just the month before.

Yes, people were losing their jobs at an astonishing rate.
Yes, people were becoming more conscious of how they spent their money.
And yes, consumers stopped buying “extras” for themselves and their kids.

This happened seemingly overnight.

I can see the drop-off in my own business’ financial statements.

Where I once had the confidence to be a successful and responsible small business owner, that confidence was now replaced with mounting debt, skyrocketing interest rates, and the inability to help support my family.

Near failure.

I have had to drastically change how I market my business by basically slashing my prices, offering deep discounts, and depend on word-of-mouth marketing.

To be honest and fair, I’ve not treated my customers with the attention they deserve. It now takes me longer to ship orders out, I have shut off my business phone (partly because the hours of operation were not respected and I was receiving calls at 1am), and I am not as quick to answer customer emails.

I wish I could do better for my customers, but because the web store is not bringing in the money that it used to, I have had to take on other writing jobs to make extra money. That additional work has taken away from my store’s time, and it has left me playing catch-up with my customers and their needs. For that, I am deeply apologetic.

My sincere hope is that my customers (and potential customers) will see this article and understand that supporting small businesses, even in the smallest capacity, helps our economy. I, too, have not been doing my full part in supporting fellow small businesses, but when I can, I will.

I am making a concentrated effort to focus more on my customers.
I am selling off most of my inventory to focus on a smaller product line.
I am telling the world about my struggles.
I am hoping for a miracle.

My family and I are struggling.

We need help.
We don’t need handouts.
We need the powers of the internet to guide us and help us with my mom-owned, woman-owned, small internet-based retail business.

If you have a blog or a website, I would love to have my store’s badge up on your site (it’s over <—- there all coded and ready).
If you Twitter, please tell your followers about my store.
If you email (and I know you do), please subscribe to my newsletter (below).
If you feel you can, please tell your blog readers, friends, and family about my store.

The support I’ve received from my friends online so far has been overwhelming. People are calling me “brave” and “courageous” for coming out of the shadows of debt and sharing our story.

I’m not doing this for the attention.
I’m doing this because I am no different than so many of you.

My 3-second piece on the national news has given me an opening to be able to share our struggles and to ask for help.

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support that has been extended already, and thank you to those of you considering extending a few minutes of your time, and possibly a few dollars, to help me and my business.

You are truly appreciated.
Thank you,
Angie

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Giveaway (because you stuck through all of that)

Leave a simple comment letting me know the name of your favorite item in the store.

I’ll pick a random winner from the comments left between now and Wednesday, March 24th, at 8:59pm EST to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Good for the Kids.

If you Twitter about the contest, leave a link to the tweet in the comments for an additional entry.

Two total comments allowed per person, per day.
(One out of the two comments must be a tweet.)

_______

Updated: Jill is our winner and has been contacted!

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All Melissa & Doug toys as well as all Zoobie Pets stuffed animals are now on sale for 25% off.

Told you. FANTABULOUS.

Most Melissa & Doug items and all of the Zoobie Pets will not be re-stocked after they sell out. Stock up now, people. Stock. Up. NOW.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the giant sale and get your attention, Good for the Kids is giving away a $75 gift certificate. (That’s a load of toys. HUGE.)

How to enter:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids.

Increase your chances by

• Twittering about the discount and/or giveaway from your own Twitter account.
• Following @goodforthekids on Twitter – I follow back.
• Subscribe to our RSS Feed.
• Blogging about this discount and/or giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
• Promoting the discount and/or giveaway on any other social media (you can use the bookmarklets at the bottom of the post)

• Sign up for our Email Newsletter

• Posting our banner on your blog

Leave the direct link (or permalink) in the comments below as your entry, and you can enter more than once, twice, or ten times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc., NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

Giveaway open to everyone. Those crazy Canadians included!

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $75!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Friday, July 3rd. The winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

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Three giveaways in one week! Oye vey! (ok, not Spanish, but not English either)

The Third Degree by Sarah @Sarahndipitea

Thinking Some More by @3carnations

Shop Disgrace by Miss Grace @grace134

Now go, frolic, and win a gift certificate. And have a margarita for me.

WAIT – before you go, check out the discounts and a grande coupon code on our Specials page. Because you’re special and looking muy bonita today.

WAIT WAIT – are you following my witty twittys (ouch, that’s bad) on Twitter? You should be. @goodforthekids

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I’m not sure what that has to do with a huge discount offer or a giveaway. Just thought I’d share.

DISCOUNT
Our biggest discount offer EVER (in our LONG 2-1/2 year history) is going on now through April 15th.

30% off all orders of $15 or more

Yup. 30% off: coupon code april6blog
My accountant may not be happy about this one.

GIVEAWAY
To go along with our biggest discount offer EVER, we’re having a fabulous giveaway. So fabulous, in fact, that one lucky entrant will win something for her kids and something for herself.

Heck-to-the-yeah!

As our big winner, you will win your child’s choice of a Melissa & Doug Role Play Dress-Up Costume set (value $39.99) and your choice of a customized self-inking stamper (value $39.99). That’s a total prize value of $80!

For the Kids

For You

How to enter:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids.

Increase your chances by

• Twittering about the discount and/or giveaway from your own Twitter account. Please include the hashtag #gftk in your tweet.
• Following us on Twitter – I follow back.
• Subscribe to our RSS Feed.
• Blogging about this discount and/or giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
• Promoting the discount and/or giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.
• Sign up for our Email Newsletter

Leave the direct link (or permalink) in the comments below as your entry, and you can enter more than once, twice, or ten times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc., NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

US and Canadian entrants only, please.

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $80! GO NOW and use that 30% off coupon code!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 15th. The winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

WINNER:
Naomi – http://superdumbsupervillain.blogspot.com/ I like the mocobabies Sign Language Flash Cards! Congratulations! Please check your email for your winning information.

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Good for the Kids is owned, run, and managed solely by myself out of my home as a stay-at-home mom. I love what I do and what I offer to other parents. My philosophy on the products here is to “sell what you know.” Every product available is one I truly believe will be loved by your child or one you’ll find incredibly useful.

GIVEAWAY
I’m happy to be a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party ‘09! In addition to giving away a Melissa & Doug Role Play Dress Up Costume (prize #106) at the 5 Minutes for Mom site, I’m giving away a $50 gift certificate to Good for the Kids.

To enter, leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids.

Increase your chances by

• Twittering from your own Twitter account. Please include the hashtag #ubp09 in your tweet.
• Subscribe to our RSS Feed.
• Blogging about this giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
• Promoting the giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.).
• Following us on Twitter – I follow back.

Leave the direct link (or permalink) in the comments below as your entry, and you can enter more than once, twice, or ten times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc., NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

US and International entrants welcome!

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $50! AWESOME!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Friday, March 27th. The winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

DISCOUNT COUPON CODE

No giveaway is complete without a discount coupon code! Use code UBP20 for 20% off your orders now through Friday, March 27th. And remember, don’t wait to make your purchase – if you’re the winner, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $50!

WINNER
Congrats to allie who said on March 27th, 2009 at 10:14 pm “i follow you on twitter! (aplotaxisamomum)”

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Many retailers are raising their prices to keep up with the rising costs of products from manufactures. Unfortunately, we are in the same situation. Darn economy.

But we’re all about spreading the love to our faithful customers, so we’re giving you a 2 week warning on our price increases.

Beginning March 1, we will have to raise the prices on some of our products including those from Nuby, Melissa & Doug, WubbaNub, Vulli, as well as some of our other manufacturers.

Trust us – we HATE having to raise our prices. If it were up to us, we’d offer everything for $1. How awesome would that be?!

Take the opportunity now to get the items you’ve been dying to give your kiddos, your kiddo’s kiddos, or your friend’s kiddo’s kiddos before the prices are raised.

Because you’re extra awesome, we’re offering a 15% off coupon for your orders placed between now and Saturday, February 28th.

We feel the love – don’t you?

Nuby
Sippy cups, BPA Free plastic bottles & cups, and replacement spouts & straws

Melissa & Doug
Safe classic wooden toys for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers

WubbaNub & Vulli
Pacifiers and safe rubber teething toys

Coupon Code

Use coupon code feb23blog for 15% off your orders through Saturday, February 28th.

Giveaway

Leave a comment below with your favorite ‘Melissa & Doug‘ item from our store (not mentioned above) to win one of two quality toys of the winner’s choice valued at $40 from Melissa & Doug! Comment must include the name of and/or link to an item in the ‘Melissa & Doug‘ category or it will be deleted. Giveaway is open to everyone (even international shoppers!) over the age of 18.

Increase your chances by Twittering, blogging, or promoting the giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.). We’ve made it easier for you – use one of the buttons below to promote. Start following us on Twitter for an additional entry (leave a comment here letting us know). Leave the link to the direct link or permalink or promo in the comments below, and you can enter more than once, twice, or twenty times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc. NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments left that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

Don’t wait to make your purchase until after you find out if you’re a winner. Should you win the giveaway, and you make a purchase between now and the end of the giveaway, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase up to $40! Huzzah!

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Saturday, Feb 28th. Winners will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

We are committed to providing our customers with the best of what is good for your kids.

Winners:

Susan T Says: My favorite is the play food box. Such fun….

Heather Says: I love the puppets, especially the Melissa and Doug Ballerina Full Body Puppet!

CONGRATS!

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Check out some of the ways you can win:

Miss-Elanious Life – $25 Gift Certificate to GFTK

The Family Loop – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

Grammy Janet’s Place – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

The Headless Family – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

On Our Way… – Plan Toys Natural Organic Alligator Pull Toy + $10 Gift Certificate to GFTK

Rockin’ Mama – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

the baby banter – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

PrairieMama – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

All Because Two People Fell in Love – $30 Gift Certificate to GFTK

Check back all this week for more giveaways as we add them.

If you’re interested in hosting a giveaway, visit our Hosting Giveaways page.

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Funny you said that!

What? You didn’t say anything? Oh, that was me.

Naming products, children, and eventual Presidents is a task all in its own. Name your new fabulous/must-have/innovative product (or eventual President) the wrong thing, and no one will want to buy (or vote*) for it.

But if give your product (or eventual President) the RIGHT name, you’ll garner the right kind of attention that gets your product sold.

That’s part of the reason why we LOVE the crazy names of some of the products in our store. Really? Who comes UP with these names? Whoever does deserves a pat on the back because they got OUR attention.

WubbaNub

My Royal Heinie

Yup – the ladies behind (ha! ‘behind’) My Royal Heinie actually used the word ‘Heinie’ in their product name. Kudos.

Nuby

“Noooobeee? Nuuuubeee?“
However you pronounce the name, it sounds funny.
Go ahead – no one’s listening – try both pronunciations aloud.
Did you try it? Funny, right?

My Wee Friend

What other name WOULD you give a potty training sticker but something that includes the word ‘Wee’?

Use coupon code jan19blog for 15% off your orders through Sunday, January 25th.

We are committed to providing our customers with the best of what is good for your kids.

Giveaway Details

Leave a comment below with your favorite ‘Play‘ item to win a $25 Good for the Kids Gift Certificate! Comment must include the name of and/or link to an item in the ‘Play‘ category or it will be deleted. Giveaway is open to everyone (even international shoppers!) over the age of 18. You man enter 1 time per day, per household.

Increase your chances by Twittering, blogging, or promoting the giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.). We’ve made it easier for you – use one of the buttons below to promote. Start following us on Twitter for an additional entry (leave a comment here letting us know). Leave the link to the direct link or permalink or promo in the comments below, and you can enter more than once, twice, or twenty times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc. NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments left that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, Jan 25th. Winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

______________________________________________________

*We support all funny-named US Presidents, past, present, and newly inaugurated. Even Irish ones name O’Bama. Wait – you’re telling me he’s NOT Irish? Just for being awesome and finding this little nugget of humor (I try… I really try – Mama need$ some sale$) you’ve earned 20% off your orders through Jan 31 ‘09 with coupon code OBAMA. You’re welcome.

______________________________________________________

GIVEAWAY WINNER – CONGRATULATIONS!
Leah: I love, love, love the Melissa and Doug Wooden Stacking Emergency Vehicles Puzzle!!! : ))) Soooo cute and perfect for my ds! : ))) Thanks so much for this fabulous give~away! : )))

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The First Years Clean and Simple Sports Bottle Sippy Cup – BPA Free – $5.65

The sporty design and patented built-in valve will make this bottle a favorite for children and parents alike. The unique flip-top cover keeps the spout clean, and nests neatly in the lid while children are drinking. Plus, the sure-seal screw lid stands up to wash after wash and won’t leak or spill — whether the cover is on or off. This cup does not require replacement parts.
12 oz -90 Day Limited Warranty – Age: 18 months and up
This is one of our FAVORITE sippy cups. No leaking, nothing to replace, and they last wash after wash!

The Safe Sippy Cup – BPA Free – $16.95

No-leak valve inside spout – clean, non-toxic silicone. When children suck on The Safe Sippy™ spout, liquid flows, when they don’t it doesn’t. ABOUT THE PLASTICS – Our plastics are certified free of Bisphenol A (BPA Free), phthalates and DEHA. We pay for extensive independent laboratory testing on our cups to make sure they are free of these chemicals. Dishwasher safe 11 oz. Toxin-free & Bisphenol A-free (BPA Free)

Cap – Polypropylene, #5 plastic (PP is the most stable of all plastics)
Inner sleeve – #5 plastic, completely free of Bisphenol A (BPA Free), phthalates and DEHA
Body – durable and lightweight medical grade stainless steel
Rubbery sleeve – TPR, or thermoplastic rubber; Bisphenol A (BPA Free), DEHA and phthalate free

Giveaway Details

Leave a comment below with your favorite ‘Play‘ item to win one Clean & Simple Sports Bottle, one Safe Sippy Cup, AND a $50 Good for the Kids Gift Certificate! (total value = $72.60) Comment must include the name of and/or link to an item in the ‘Play‘ category or it will be deleted. Giveaway is open to everyone (even international shoppers!) over the age of 18. You man enter 1 time per day, per household.

Increase your chances by Twittering, blogging, or promoting the giveaway on any other social media (ie. StumbleUpon, Facebook, Kirtsy, etc.). We’ve made it easier for you – use one of the buttons below to promote. Start following us on Twitter for an additional entry (leave a comment here letting us know). Leave the link to the direct link or permalink or promo in the comments below, and you can enter more than once, twice, or twenty times per day!

NOTE: Multiple entries per day MUST be from submitting the contest to social media sites, Twittering, etc. NOT by entering more item names. Additional comments left that do not follow this guideline will be deleted.

Comments will close at 11:59pm EST on Monday, Jan 12th. Winner will be announced here on the blog, on Prizey, and via email.

Discount

We love our readers, and we love when our readers become customers! Use coupon code jan5blog for 15% off your order through Monday, January 12th. Don’t wait to make your purchases now, because If you happen to be the big winner, we’ll refund the cost of your purchase(s) up to $72.60!

_________________________________________

WINNER
CONGRATULATIONS to Laura :

“My mom, a dietitian, would LOVE this: Melissa and Doug Food Groups Play Food. Might have to get it for our son for next christmas, and bring it down to her house to open up. Really fun.”

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Zoobie Pets are your answer!

Baby Zoobies are a great stocking stuffer or inexpensive gift for someone special for around $25!

Our regular Zoobies make every kid (or big kid) smile with their cuteness. On sale for around $30, you can guarantee your gift will be a hit!

Giveaway

We’re giving away a Zoobie Pet (value up to $34.95 or equivalent-valued gift certificate) to one lucky reader! Comment below with the name of your favorite gift idea (Zoobie, Melissa & Doug, etc.) by Friday, December 12 at 6:59pm EST for your chance to win. Your comment MUST include the name of a gift item or it is ineligible to be chosen as the winner. Giveaway is open to everyone (even international shoppers!) over the age of 18. You man enter 1 time per day, per household. Increase your chances by Twittering and blogging about the giveaway. Leave the direct link to the promo in the comments below, and you can enter more than once per day!

Bonus – If we get more than 350 valid comment entries, we’ll pick two winners!

Winner(s) will be contacted via email, here on this blog, and on Prizey.Winners.

Discount

Please use code shopdecember at checkout for free shipping for domestic orders of $25 or more through December 10th. Don’t wait to make your purchases now, because If you happen to be the big winner, we’ll refund the cost of your Zoobie Pet!

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Congrats to our winner!

patricia skinner says: “I really like Zoobies as a gift. They are so adorable and functional too. I hope to win one for my granddaughter.”

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