Moms' interactive book takes off at Pottery Barn

By AMY DEIS
When two locals moms started creating a customized children's book, they had no idea Pottery Barn Kids would feature their product on its Web site within a year.

"It's a great opportunity for moms who started the business out of the house and in one year partner with a major American company," said Sarah Headrick, former Western Springs resident and co-owner of Custom Made for Kids, LLC.

Pottery Barn Kids approached her and co-owner Sarah Rivera of Hinsdale about their book, The First Adventures of the Incredible You.

"One buyer at Pottery Barn happened to see the book through a relative or family friend," she said. "It was lucky for us."

Headrick and Rivera started developing the book about two years ago and marketed it in August 2007. Parents can insert 20 pieces of personal information about their child, family and location. Rivera said the book fills a niche in the market for personalized children's books.

Although Headrick moved to Charlotte, N.C., about two weeks ago, she said the Internet allows her to continue running half of the business, which primarily is the accounting and Internet orders. Rivera's job is the marketing and customer service.

Headrick said that since Pottery Barn has featured the book on its Web site, business has doubled.

"It's incredible exposure by so much," she said.

With the increase in product sales and the new agreement with Pottery Barn, Rivera and Headrick now contract out the binding and printing of the book to another company. That allows them to focus more on marketing and customer service.

Rivera said most of their marketing is through mommy blogs and Web sites dedicated to the mom-and-baby relationship. The First Adventures also will be in Pottery Barn Kids' fall catalog. Rivera said they have already begun the paperwork to have a toy catalog and women's gift catalog feature the book.

"It's a real endorsement of our product," Rivera said. "It gives you affirmation that people really like our book."

For more information on The First Adventures of the Incredible You, visit custommadeforkids.com or e-mail info@custommadeforkids.com.