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Nowadays it’s not just about buying something because it’s cute. Our buying habits have evolved
—for the better. Thanks in great part to the surfeit of information propagated by the Internet and
the strained economic times, the wanton consumerism of yesteryear has been traded in for a new
and improved model, driven by our desire for oversight, disclosure, accountability and fact-finding
on all fronts, from vetting owner ethos to scrutinizing product quality.
THE FAMILY GROOVE shines the spotlight on rising entrepreneurs and their businesses to bring you the goods on the who, what, where, when, how and why behind the best and the brightest brands on the market today. It is our hope that these interviews will not only give you some insight into the passion, spirit and values that fuel these companies, but just might inspire you to follow your dreams,too.
We love the passion of a mom-trepreneur! And the passion of Jennifer Luizzi is evident in the ab-so-lute-ly fabulous wares of her luxury online baby and children’s boutique. Brimming with the kind of drool-worthy stuff that makes up for the sleepless nights, lack of social life and T-minus five minutes to shower that come with new parenthood, this kiddie-chic emporium serves not only as a great resource for families but as an inspiration to all of you moms out there who would love to start a business of your own.
| This month’s Top Shop: |  |
Here, we talk to Jennifer about her booming new business, the best gear and why balance is all a matter of timing.
THE FAMILY GROOVE: You recently opened your online boutique Tresstina. Getting a business off the ground is a huge feat, especially in this economy. How did you stay positive and focused?
JENNIFER LUIZZI: Getting any new business off the ground is certainly a challenge, and the current economic conditions don’t make it any easier. However, a new business is a long-term investment. The economy runs in cycles—and it will turn around again. Even in this economy, e-commerce is still a strong growth area. Another great thing about online businesses is that they are relatively low cost to start up and maintain, and you can reach a larger market then your traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
TFG: It must be so much fun researching what to carry—it seems like it would be the ultimate shopping experience. What were you looking for in the lines and products you ultimately chose?
JL: It certainly is fun! There are so many adorable products that are designed for children and new moms; the difficult part is narrowing down the best items to carry. I look for quality, functionality and style when selecting products. Being a mom myself, I am always looking for products that are handy, durable and adorable. I strive to give my customers a mix of trendy merchandise by sought-after brands as well as a collection of unique items they won’t see everywhere else.
TFG: Tell us about your wish list and gift registry. Are they just for shower gifts or do moms register for birthdays and holidays?
JL: At Tresstina.com, we offer our customers the ability to create wish lists and gift registries. These are certainly great for baby showers, but they can also be used for many other occasions, such as Mother’s Day, a child’s birthday and Christmas. Customers can easily sign up online through our website and then e-mail the link to their registries to friends and family. This service makes gift buying easy and helps you get the products you really want.
TFG: What were you doing before you launched the site?
JL: I have always been a working mom. Right before launching Tresstina.com, I was an Internet marketing consultant. I learned a lot from that experience that I have been able to apply to the development of my website.
TFG: What are your words to the wise for other mothers who want to start their own businesses?
JL: I would encourage other mothers to start their own business. It is such a great outlet for yourself to do something you enjoy and an opportunity to create some flexibility and freedom in your professional life. However, making your business a success takes a lot of hard work and dedication; you need to be prepared to make that commitment.
TFG: Let’s talk balance, as in balancing motherhood and owning a business—what have been your greatest challenges and how have you overcome them?
JL: Balancing motherhood and owning a business is a huge challenge, but it is similar to balancing motherhood and any other job. I think moms have it rough today, trying to do it all. You really have to make a concerted effort to keep your work and family time separate. The biggest challenge to overcome is time management. There is just never enough time in a day. I make it a point to put aside time each day, and extra time on the weekends, that’s just dedicated to my children and my husband.
TFG: What are the hottest trends in nursery room décor?
JL: Contemporary designs are very hot right now. I am seeing a lot of patterns using polka dots, stripes and swirls in nontraditional baby colors. People are venturing away from pink and blue and incorporating more color into their nurseries. We carry coordinated nursery collections by Three Little Ziglets that are very popular right now. They were recently featured on E! Entertainment Television as a popular choice of celebrity moms. Their handmade collections feature fun colors and bold patterns and offer coordinating bedding, furniture and accessories that can grow with your child and be used from their baby through teen years.
TFG: What about baby gear? Is there something new that everyone should know about?
JL: There are always amazing new baby gear products available. Eco-friendly baby gear is very popular lately, and the number of new items available just keeps growing. I love Wet Happened? by Itzy Ritzy. They’re eco-friendly designer wet bags that come in very handy for moms with children of all ages. They can be used for all your wet items, such as diapers and swimsuits, and they’re great for traveling. The bags are reusable and washable. You can find many other great eco-friendly products at our boutique, such as apparel, nursing covers, burp cloths, shopping cart covers and diaper bags.
TFG: What do you love to give as a baby shower or new-baby gift?
JL: For baby showers, I like to give baby gear accessories that the new mom will find both adorable and useful. Car seat covers or shopping cart covers are great choices. I love personalized items for new-baby gifts. Personalization adds something extra special to your gift. We have some really adorable apparel and gift sets that can be embroidered with a baby’s name or initials, as well as wall letters and pillows that can be personalized for the baby’s room.
TFG: Where do you see Tresstina five years from now?
JL: Tresstina.com is continuously searching out new products to offer our customers. You will see us expand the products and services that we offer. We want to offer our customers a selection of popular and trendy baby items as well as a collection of unique and innovative items.
JENNIFER’S BEST
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1. Eco-Friendly Nursing Covers by Itzy Ritzy
“These stylish nursing covers offer UV protection and are made from eco-friendly baby bamboo fabric. They’re available in patterns that coordinate with other beautiful products, such as burp cloths, car seat covers and blankets.” |
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2. Pretty in Pink Camo Tutu by Kurly Girlz
“I love this quality, hand-sewn tulle tutu, accented with a bow and ribbon for your little princess.” |
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3. Lucas Stroller Tote in Red/Violet Flower Print by Hedvig Bourbon “Designed for moms on the move, the diaper bag converts from a stroller tote to an over-the-shoulder bag and features a changing pad and several pockets to help you stay organized.” |
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4. Royal Highness Nursery Collection by Three Little Ziglets “Your sleeping beauty will sleep like a dream on this adorable crib bedding with coordinating nursery room décor, featuring blue harlequin, purple gingham, and pink and green dots.” |
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5. Pink & Chocolate Hibiscus Moses Basket by Patricia Ann Designs “This Moses Basket is a beautiful family heirloom. It can be used as your baby grows for nursery storage.” |
For more from Jennifer, go to www.tresstina.com.
What the heck does "Special Section" mean? Well, it means that these businesses paid a small (like, pretty darn small) fee to be included. THE FAMILY GROOVE strives to support mom and pop businesses by giving them a venue for their super cool sites, ideas and products—and, quite honestly, we strive to pay our bills, too. So we've taken seven articles a month (out of 25+) and made them fun and exciting ways to promote the next best thing, much like in the way a publicist would. We believe in the companies we feature. We research, vet, scrutinize, analyze and obsess over every single solitary company that is included in this section to bring you the grooviest of the groovy. We're all in this brave new world together, right? And so we've got to support each other in any and every way we can. We hope you dig our finds as much as we do.
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