Tonight I’m so happy to feature my interview with Tayler. Not only is Tayler the beautiful mom behind the @taylergolden instagram (please check it out if you haven’t) … she is also the business mavin behind Wildbird.
Tayler has built a beautiful company that produces simple and timeless ring slings. Her brand highlights that connection between mother and baby with such a sweet sentiment and imagery, and I love that she is passionate about building a community and educating moms along the way about the benefits of baby wearing.
If you have any questions for Tayler about her journey, make sure to comment below.
Hi guys! I’m Tayler. I’m a Mom of one little boy and one little boy on the way. I started my business right after I had Remy. It’s when I became obsessed with babywearing and it started this whole Wildbird journey.
#pressplay below to watch our recorded Skype interview, and check out her answers in written format as well as pictures of her beautiful creations. Enjoy!
What did you do before Wildbird? How did you decide to start your own business?
I was a medical oncology nurse. I worked until I was 38 weeks pregnant. I was planning on going back to work after my maternity leave. When I came time to go back I couldn’t fathom leaving my little boy. So I started sewing ring slings and selling them on etsy.
Can you give us a brief history of Wildbird? How long have you been in business? What has your growth looked like? Can you tell us a story of some of the “unglamorous” moments just starting up?
We officially launched Wildbird November 2014. So it’s been about a year and a half. We had a slow and steady pace for about 6 months and it has just sky-rocketed from there. We now have a center doing our packaging and fulfillment. Our steam stress has turned her business into a manufacture and hired other people to sew for her. And we just hired someone to help us with babywearing education and customer service.
I’m so grateful for our customers and fans that love Wildbird so much. It’s truly become a community. I just remember when we first we’re starting to pick up sales my husband and I would spend all day in our little basement packing and getting orders ready to ship. The table we were rolling slings on was makeshift and way too short so at the end of the day my back would just be killing since I hadn’t moved positions in hours.
What’s your big picture WHY? What motivates you to work hard and build your business? What is your ultimate lifestyle goal?
I picture us continuing to hire passionate mothers and creating more job and more love for babywearing. I would love for everyone and every mother to experience the magic of babywearing. I work so hard to build my business because I’m so passionate about the product I have can makes people’s lives better and more fulfilling. My ultimate lifestyle goals is to be very involved in Wildbird but manage more big picture operations and just enjoy raising my babies alongside my husband.
Where did you find your mentors, or resources to help learn about entrepreneurship and running a successful business?
My husband really is a business genius. He has been my mentor and partner. He has taught me so much, well pretty much everything I know.
Can you tell a story of a specific failure you encountered while building [your company]? What did you learn from it? What would you consider are your strengths as a business owner?
We started with a manufacturer in Utah. They didn’t care about us because we were just starting and we were just treated poorly. They didn’t care about making a quality product for us. Our first round of slings weren’t up to our standards and were made poorly. It was a really hard hit for us because literally all of our money was invested in that inventory. We learned how important it is to go through many different samples before the product is perfected and the manufacture knows what is expected of them. Expectations need to be clearly outlined for them.
I think I’ve been successful at creating a brand that people are excited to be part of. With wild bird I’ve been able to create a community through social media. Its been my mission since the beginning to not just get customers but to get customers so excited about our brand and product that they become true ambassadors.
Do you currently have 1099s or employees? Or are you a one woman show? If you have help, what advice do you have to give about scaling your business and outsourcing responsibilities through hiring to help grow? Do you have any advice on when to start scaling the business and hiring employees, bookkeeping… etc.
We have only 1099 contracted people who work for us. My husband does a lot for Wildbird. He also has his own business that he’s busy with. Whenever the next thing comes up where we have to outsource I’m alway so scared and worried and it does cause lots of stress but once I do it’s alway been the best decision and we end up growing more because I can focus on other aspects of the business. I guess my advice is stop worrying that no one will be able to parts of your job as good as you. If you find the right people they will do it better than you and make your business so much better.
How many hours per week do you work? How do you balance family life with work?
It totally depends on the week. I feel like that’s the thing with start ups. Sometimes the business is very demanding and some weeks we have a lot of down time. But I would stay average work week is around 30 hours. I work a lot when Remy is napping or after I put him to bed at night. I like to be fully there for him. I just know I’ll never get this time back with him. As for my husband and I, we try to get out and do fun things a few times a week and not talk about work at all.
I’m Like Brave is about creating an uncommon life. What does an “uncommon life” you love look like for you? How does your business help create this ideal lifestyle?
I love that I get to follow my calling to stay at home with Remy and peruse my business goals at the same time. Its really important to me to be home with Remy. My business allows me to set my own schedule and helps me provide for my family and feel very fulfilled all while chasing my crazy toddler around.
Probably the feedback I get about how life changing the sling has been to some parents. When people tell me how it’s seriously save their sanity as a parent. That is more of the emotional side of the business for me and how our customers feel is very exciting to me. I feel like we have a real community growing and are gain fans instead of customers.
What is your ultimate vision for your business in the coming year? Where do you see Wildbird in 5 years?
I see us continuing to grow. This year has been really big for us and we expect it to continue. We always grow a ton after we launch a new line. I’m so excited to launch our fall line this year.
In five years I see us doing the same thing on a much bigger scale. I want to keep growing and hopefully be in the hands of a million parents all around the world. I want to be making parents lives better and adding value to lives.
What’s holding you back from where you are now and your end game?
Right now our manufacturing is holding us back. Because we have been growing so fast our demand just continues to increase. It’s hard to keep up. I don’t know if I have an end game in mind. I just feel like everything will evolve just how it’s suppose to.
What is it that you need help with right now, and if you could get free advice that would solve your problem right now, what would it be?
We working with our manufacturing partners to become a more sustainable product. I love how our product is made but I really want everything certified as fair trade and organic. I really want the best for our environment and children. The advice I’m looking for is how to make it happen faster. And I wish someone would tell me a step by step on how to do it. It’s been hard to figure out all of those details.
If you could sit down with any entrepreneur for a 2 hour lunch and pick their brain, who would it be and why? What would you ask them?
Marcus Lemonis, I just love him. I watch the show the profit and he’s just a good man that knows how to make businesses successful. I would just want to give him all the ins and outs of our business and let him tell me what changes we should make to make us better.
What advice would you give your “just starting a business” self knowing everything you know now?
Enjoy every phase of your business you’re in. Sometimes I get nostalgic thinking about spending time with my husband thinking of names for our business. The journey is beautiful I love thinking about the progression. And your business will progress if you have a great product and work hard.
What does your morning ritual ideally look like?
I’m not a morning person but I’m really trying to become one. but every morning I get Remy from his bed and we cuddle for a few minutes, we both go to the kitchen and eat breakfast together outside ( when it’s nice out), then we get ready for the day. I try to be ready before 830. I find that I’m much more productive if I am ready by that time.
If you could do anything in the world, with no possibility of failure, what would it be?
This sounds kinda crazy but I’m totally in love with what I’m doing now. I have started a successful business just by doing what I feel is best. That is exactly what I want to be doing. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else right now.
What’s been the best business book you’ve read?
It’s called “The Crossroads of Should and Must” by Elle Luna The whole concept is about having things we must be doing – really picking the things in life that really make us feel alive. Not just doing things because you should do them. It has lots of steps on how to get you closer to your dreams. Having your job be your passion is really beautiful
What’s your favorite success quote and why?
“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value. – Albert Einstein. I feel if you add value to someone’s life, the success will come naturally.
Closing thoughts to other entrepreneurs or those on the verge of starting a business:
Just start where you are with what you have. I feel like i talk to so many people always waiting for the right moment to start. The business will never be perfect. It’s always a work in progress and things will always be changing, so just start now.
Well if you didn’t already know about Tayler and her business before, I’m glad you do now. You can find her online store here, and on instagram @mywildbird. Also, check out her amazing personal instagram @taylergolden.
Be Brave,
Hillary
