I am SO excited for this series.  Like really really really exploding at the seams.

I’m a huge fan of podcasts, and listen to “Entrepreneur on Fire” every single morning.  There is something so inspiring about hearing other people’s stories and learning about their business successes and failures that makes me think: I can do this!

So, every Sunday, we are going to do an interview series with a handmade and/or creative shop entrepreneur that I admire.  I hope you learn a lot and we can all support each other.

First up: the super cute and creative Amanda Burton, the wonder woman behind Hudson + Ruthie, an adorable handmade shop featuring simple baby and toddler items embellished with beautiful peter pan colors, bows and fabric flowers.

Please leave any questions you have for Amanda down below in the comments section, and I will make sure we connect you!

Meet Amanda:

And let’s get to it!

What did you do before Hudson + Ruthie, and how did you decide to start your own business?  How did you discover your passion?

Um, I slept a lot more.  And only drank the occasional cup of coffee.  No really, I was a nurse before H+R came along – LPN for two years before I went back to school to become an RN.  Starting my own business was a very gradual process actually!  It just happened accidentally.  Never did I expect to support my family with this adventure of mine!

Can you give us a brief history of Hudson + Ruthie?  How long have you been in business?  How much time did you spend along the way?

Eight Baby legs.  Raise your hand if you remember!  That’s where it all started.  In 2008, I opened a little Etsy shop with the name “Eight Baby Legs.”  Hudson was my biggest inspiration.  Finding boy clothes without stripes or Thomas the Train was practically impossible.  So, I started making things for him.

While getting family pictures done, with Hudson wearing a hand dyed onesie with the octopus design, my photog friend suggested I open up an Etsy shop.  So I did.  The very first design was a hand printed octopus design.  A few years later, along came Ruthie.  By this time, I was ready for new things and had so many ideas I wanted to work on.  later, the name change happened.  For obvious reasons.  And, here I am.

I’m a huge fan of the podcast Entrepreneur on Fire, and he always starts with a failure story.  Can you tell us a story about your biggest business failure with Hudson + Ruthie?  Looking back, why did it happen?  How did it make you feel?  What did you learn?

To be honest with you, there isn’t really a failure that sticks out in my head.  I’m 100% sure there have been so many along the way.  Yeah, there have been some designs that didn’t do so well, but I don’t see that much as a failure.  Just a part of the process.  A part of me wishes I had a failure story to tell!  Then, I could have a cool story to tell.  I’m a huge believer that failure is all about mind set.  I was never in a rush to grow my business or be some overnight success story.  So I guess my business was never set up for failure to being with.  I mean, I started with a pack of Gerber onesies and a bottle of dye in my kitchen.  It was such an organic process.

With that said, I feel like I’m just getting started and have SO much to learn.

Where did you find your mentors, or resources to help learn about business ownership?

I’m just learning as I go.  So far, it’s worked in my favor.  My husband has been great.  He does a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into running a small business.  He’s eerily good with numbers, so naturally, he’s the financial guy.  Fellow makers in the community have also been ahh-mazing.  Coffee dates with real life friends (all who run their own businesses) have been a tremendous help as well.

What’s your WHY?  Why are you in business?  What is your ultimate lifestyle goal?

I simply love what I do.  I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. really, I have to be creating to be happy.  My ultimate lifestyle goal?  I’m living it, really.  To be doing what I love as a full-time job.  Home with my kiddos.  What’s better than that?

What would you consider are your strengths as a business owner?

My strong work ethic.  I learned that from my parents, for sure.  I’m naturally a super laid back girl.  It takes a lot for me to get upset or overwhelmed.  I think those personality traits come in handy as a business owner.

Do you currently have help, or do you do everything?

It’s just me running the ship right now.  I have plans to hire a part-time employee a little later this year.  Someone to help with pattern cutting and shipping.  I will be hiring a blogger as well, which is most exciting for me!

How many hours a week do you work?  How do you balance work and home?

With everything that goes into running a small business, aside from the actual product making (favric sourcing, social media, supply shopping, photographing, wholesale purchasing, emails, publishing listens, bookkeeping), I work around 40-50 hours a week.

Balance?  What’s that?  No, it’s tough but totally attainable.  It’s all about perspective.  What I see as balance might be totally different from what another person sees.  Some days I feel like I have it all together.  And other days I feel like I’m on step away from crazy town.

How do you stay motivated and where do you find inspiration?

Motivation comes and goes, to be honest.  Luckily, it mostly stays.  But it’s normal to feel un-motivated at times.  Like, everything you make is crap.  But just when you feel like you’ve lost your touch, a new idea comes to life.

Inspiration? For me, it’s everywhere.  In vintage fabrics, old Disney movies (those muted colors are so yummy to me), my own children, other designers, children’s fashion magazines, nature.  I could go on.

What type of lifestyle does your business afford you? (ex. side income to buy cute clothes, enough money to go on family vacations, a full-time income… )

My husband and I are very old fashioned when it comes to spending.  If we don’t have the cash to pay for something, we just don’t buy it.  This means A LOT of saving and budgeting on both of our parts.  Our ultimate goal it to purchase our dream home sometime in the near future.  So, having this business has gotten us a little closer to that major goal!  It also allows us to have a supplemental income for family vacations and such!

What are the main ways you market yourself?  What areas have you found have been the most rewarding for the least amount of effort?

Right now, instagram is my main source of advertising.  Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive!  I actually never pay for marketing.  Just find something that works for you and stick with that.  I think customers can appreciate it when you are fully present in one marketing outlet, rather than half-ass present in five different ones.

It doesn’t have to be tricky either.  Simply engage with your followers and be genuine.  Personally, I like a feed that isn’t too saturated with product photos.  So, I like to throw in photos of my family and everyday life, too!  Those shots of your messy house can be so endearing believe it or not.  It let’s people know that you’re human.

How do you deal with comparison, copycats and the nasty side of business?

I learned early on not to compare my business to others.  “You can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

Copycats.  It’s just become such a sensitive subject in the handmade community.  I’ve voiced my opinion on this subject before but it’s just something I like to try and stay away from.  It’s so disheartening to see someone make exact replicas of your work.  But, what do you do?

What has been your biggest business “win”?

I think I’m still working towards that huge realization moment.  I think if I ever said the words, “Ok guys, this is it, I’m so darn successful,” I’m pretty sure that would be a point of decline for me.  We always have to strive for more right?  But there have been so many rewarding moments in this little journey of mine.  Like, when Amy of Little Hip Squeaks shares your line, I mean, that’s big right?!  Um, and it’s always a day maker when Jessica from Little Baby Garvin blog dresses her babes in some H+R gear.  Selling out within minutes is always pretty rad, too.  And being mentioned in magazines never gets old, btw.

What is your ultimate vision for your business in the coming year?  If I were to ask you what total “business maturity” looks like for you, what is it?  How does it look?

In the coming year my vision looks something like this: a more efficient work space, host a trunk show, participate in one or two craft shows, work on setting up the blog.  One of my goes this year was to become a ready-to-ship shop, and I’ve met that goal already.  And it’s given me a whole new love for my business.

What will your business look like when you have completely reached your goals?

End game?  I have a line of bodysuits/tees and fabrics that I have designed.   From start to finish, everything will be a H+R exclusive.  Ordering blanks and fabric from another company will be a thing of the past.  I would also have a studio work space, where customers would be welcome to come and shop.

See.  Nothing outrageous.  I’m just a momma who loves to make pretty things.  But, get with me after I have reached these goals.  I’m sure I will have much bigger goals tucked away somewhere. 🙂

What’s holding you back from where you are now and your end game?

Definitely sufficient work space!  If I had a separate work space and more room for storage, it’s exciting to think of the things that could happen.  We’re working on that though.  So, it’s all about patience and letting it play out!

What is the #1 key thing you do to stay in the creative zone?

Just making new things.  And letting ideas mature in my head.  I never discount an idea early on.  I write it down and come back to it later.  Also, it’s surprising what a trip to the fabric store can do for us visual folks.

If you could do anything in the world, with no possibility of failure, what would it be?

Business wise?  That would be, without a doubt, have a local storefront.  it’s always been a dream of mine.  I would carry other small brands and host trunk shows.  I’ve played the scene out in my head countless times.  Like, it keeps me up at night.

What do you do to pass the time when you are up late working?

Netflix. Always.

Do you have a morning ritual or routine?

Yes.  Coffee and more coffee.  I do most of my work after the kiddos are tucked in bed at night.  But, if I can get Rue occupied with something and Hudson is in school, I can answer some emails and do small tasks.

What’s your favorite success quote?

“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.” – Eleanore Roosevelt

What do you do for fun?

Taking the kiddos on little trips.  Date night with the hubby.  Antique/thrift shopping.  Coffee dates with friends.  Not having to share your food with kids.  A solo Target trip.

What is your process for goal setting and tracking if you reach them?

Sitting at the kitchen table, with a cup of coffee and my favorite bearded financial guy.  Elaborate, right?

Hands down, what has been your biggest source of inspiration as an entrepreneur?

I bought the book #GIRLBOSS at Barnes last night.  The kids haven’t given me a free second to open it up.  But, I know it’s gonna be awesome.

What’s the funniest thing your kid has ever said?

Everything.  When you’re a mom, you’re children are geniuses and comedians.  Duh.

What advice do you have to those just starting on how to grow and manage a profitable business?

Learn to say no.  You have lots of people knocking at your door for free items in exchange for a photo of their little one wearing the item. Which is good! Buuuut you can’t say yes to everyone.

Also, to not get in a hurry with success.  It doesn’t (at least not very often) happen overnight.  Enjoy your journey.  You will appreciate where you are one day.  I tell myself this everyday.

Wowza.  Tons of great information from Amanda.  If you have any other questions for her, leave them below!

You can connect with Amanda and her shop on instagram: @hudsonandruthie.

Check out her amazingly cute stuff on her website here.

Thanks for following along!  You won’t want to miss next weeks interview with Tania, owner of Goat Milk NYC.

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– Hillary