joe 0:47

Hey everyone. How you doing? I am here with Robin Barber. She's the owner of the Baby Fairy Shop. Welcome Robin. Thanks for coming out. Absolutely.

Robin 0:58

Thanks for c having

joe 0:59

me. Oh, awesome. Tell me a little bit about the Baby Fair Shop.

Robin 1:04

Sure. Um, it's a gift giving service that allows you to send anonymous gifts to expecting moms throughout their pregnancy. Um, you come to the store and our website and you purchase as many gifts as you want or as little as you wish, and then you can send them anonymously to the expecting mom, um, throughout their pregnancy, based on their due date. What we do is, um, you shop and then we do the rest. We'll ship them. We package'em up very nicely in a pretty package. They have a, um, little card in there saying that they have a special person that is, um, thinking of them during their pregnancy. Yeah. And that's how it, that's what it is.

joe 1:45

So they can go to your website. They can shop on your website and they can actually do this, like can they set this up throughout? Let's just say they want to do it for four or five months, or you know, through the entire pregnancy. Can they set that up that

Robin 1:58

way to have it? Sure. They can purchase one gift a month or they can purchase six gifts and then we will send them out throughout the pregnancy. So, If, say for example, if somebody's pregnant and due, um, it's all again, again, based on the due date. So if she's due in June and you buy six gifts, um, I'll spread it out. So every two to three weeks I would send another gift. So the last gift is the day, the gift that we reveal you as the baby fair if you wish to be revealed. Um, so you can, so you can spend, write a special note saying who you, you know, you are or congratulating them, but I've had some wonderful, wonderful, um, Notes that they say to the either their granddaughter, their aunt, their friend, whoever it is that's expecting.

joe 2:44

That's so cool. I like that. Thank you. That's an interesting business, so thank you. How did you get into that?

Robin 2:49

Well, about 27 years ago, my girlfriend, um, and her husband, um, had a hard time getting pregnant. So my husband and I decided we wanted to do something very special for them when they found out, they did finally get pregnant. So the baby fairy sh the baby fairy was, um, We, we decided to do something like the baby fair. So we created this, um, card like years ago when we were able to create your own card. Yeah. Um, and that's what we did. So we would stop and buy little odds and ends like little pacifiers, just little onesies, just anything that we could think of. And we would stop and drop'em off when they weren't home. Or I'd package it up and I'd give it to somebody that was, You know, traveling. And so we just decided, decided now this was gonna, we wanted to do this as a business to be able to spread the love to somebody else. And this is the whole thing about, it's just a fun, um, unique way of, you know, telling somebody that you love them or that you're excited about this birth of their baby.

joe 3:48

That is such a neat business. So 27, you said years ago.

Robin 3:52

Yeah. It's taken me a while to start this business, but, um, you know, 27 years ago is when we. Thought of the baby ferry. And then just in 2020 we started, um, thinking, let's do this as a

joe 4:03

business. So why, so what made you think that thought, like, oh, let's do this as

Robin 4:07

a business? Um, 2020. Um, I, I currently am working for a full, a full-time job now, but I had to go part-time at that time. Um, so I had some extra time and I thought, okay, let's do this. We can do this. So we put our heads together. I did have a partner at the time. Um, he was the business aspect of, he knew all the business parts of it. Yeah. Um, and then ended up, unfortunately left in 2021, end of 2021. And so I really have rebranded in 2022. Um, all on my own. So I'm doing this with also working a full-time job, but this is my baby. And. I'm very passionate about it and I'm really hoping that I can get the word out there for people to understand what it's all about and be able to help spread the word and, um, get people to see how much fun it is. I mean, I love doing it. It just makes me happy, even wrapping the gifts and knowing that in a couple days that somebody's going to. Receive this beautiful gift that somebody's thinking of them and you know that joy.

joe 5:08

So you're actually wrapping gifts Yes. And putting them together. Yes. And sending'em out. Yeah. I'm doing talk about a personal

Robin 5:15

service. That's kind of neat. Yeah. It's, it's such a joy to me, for sure.

joe 5:20

Wow. So, um, now is this, what about, I remember you talking about, um, how you get your. Gifts.

Robin 5:32

So I have wholesalers, um, that I purchase from, and so I pick them very, you know, through myself. I pick all the, the, um, gifts myself. I do try to, I have a lot of, from Ohio, from the state of Ohio, I have some that I personally make myself, I have some burp claws, some tag blankets that I make myself. I have a lot of us own, um, US owned companies that I work with, right. Um, but it's hard also to get a lot. But they're very, very highly, um, qualified quality in them. So,

joe 6:04

Cool. What, so where do you find your business coming from? Is it like from all, all over or are you pretty much like concentrated here in Ohio right now until things start getting off the ground? Cause you've only been, what, three, almost three years now in the

Robin 6:16

business? Yeah. Um, I have Facebook, Instagram, I am, you know, I, I do ship all over the United States. But I do, I'm trying to, you know, trying to broaden it here in the local area for sure. Um, trying to look at some businesses maybe to take on doing something like this instead of sending flowers to somebody that they do, or, you know, somebody that they had, they had a baby, instead of doing something like that, do something like this to a, you know, tell them that they really appreciate them. So, yeah, I'm trying to do local, a lot of local here, but also expand it throughout the United States. Okay, so I do have Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.

joe 6:54

So who is your primary audience, do you think that would use your service?

Robin 7:01

Um, well I have, it's, it's a variety. Um, I do have a lot of grandmothers, aunts, friends, um, grandpas. I do have grandpas that I just love having somebody come in. Um, I would love to have some dads come out and do it. That would be great. Yes.

joe 7:17

Y you, this is perfect. Like, For me personally, I look at it like, wow, if I could set this up, I can buy everything all in one shot and then have those just sent out once a month and then all of a sudden, hey, it was me all this time. Exactly,

Robin 7:34

exactly. It's, that's just, that's so awesome. It would go

joe 7:36

over so well, but it's, as I said to one of my other guests, it's only one point. Yeah,

Robin 7:42

exactly. Exactly. But it's, it's just a fun thing that, you know, you'd be able to. Show your love and send these cute little packages. Um, like I said, we have all kinds of stuff to send out, so that's

joe 7:55

that's great. I love it. It's, uh, it'ss a very interesting business. Thank you. Thank you. What are some kind of challenges that you've faced along the way? Um,

Robin 8:04

the biggest thing is the marketing part of it. Um, also, um, getting people to understand what the whole concept of it is. Uh, that's been our big challenge for sure.

joe 8:14

Okay, so you, um, so you probably hired a marketing company and kind of working on

Robin 8:19

branding and Yeah, I have a young girl that's doing my marketing right now. Um, she's wonderful. She's young and she's, you know, she knows the Facebook, Instagram, all that stuff. So it helps to know somebody like that, so, yes. I hear ya. Yeah. So

joe 8:35

what's the, one of the lessons I think that you. Have learned over the course of doing this business for yourself? Um,

Robin 8:47

well the biggest thing is, um, I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot about myself. I've learned a lot about, um, being able to give back. I wanna be able to give back. Um, It's been a challenge, truly been a challenge, especially since I work full-time. Right. And, um, I'm a wife. I mean, so, and I have a son and a grandson, so it's, you know, family, all that trying to, so it's been a challenge, but, um, it's a good challenge. I wanna be able to be successful in this because I wanna be able to hand it down to my son to be able to do this because he's also a compassionate person like me, and being able to give out this love and be able to hand this down to him. So,

joe 9:30

I think it's doable. Very doable. Well, thank you. You're kind of a three, three years into, have you ever had any other kind of business ventures? No, this is my first. Oh, so this is your first

Robin 9:45

one, right, yeps. I've really had to learn a lot. I've had to put, um, all those caps on, so.

joe 9:53

What is one piece of advice that you'd give to somebody who is looking to start something, especially in your position? Cause you're working full time. Mm-hmm. You know, so you're balancing, my gosh, all right, I've got all these orders coming in. I gotta take care of this. But I also have my family, I have my

Robin 10:08

job. Right. So you just have to, time management is a big. Big thing. Um, that's something that's hard, but you have to learn how to do it. I'm, I'm, I'm doing every day as a, as a challenge. So, um, you just have to find the time and, and balance it out. Um, so yeah.

joe 10:26

I love it. So what is your favorite part of doing what you do right now as an entrepreneur?

Robin 10:35

My favorite part in this whole thing is being able to know that I'm sending. Some love to somebody and make that day, that make their day. Um, being able to wrap these gifts in a special little package and knowing in a couple days that they're going to put a smile on their face because we all know that, um, pregnancy can be a challenge. Um, some days we have good days, some days we have bad days, and so maybe that day that she's gonna get this package, she's have a bad day. So it just makes me very happy to know that this is something that is very passionate to me to be able to give back and. Send a love to somebody. That's so cool.

joe 11:14

So I, I'm telling you, this is gonna work for men, men, whoever you're listening, this is gonna work, right. I think it's a pretty good business plan you got going on. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. Going through this process, who has been somebody that you have looked up to that has kind of helped you along the way as a mentor?

Robin 11:39

Well, um, my grandmother for sure, um, she's gone, but she was a big inspiration in my life all through my growing up. And she was an entrepreneur for fif over 50 years herself. She was a seamstress and she worked so hard and she was just an inspiration to me. Also, the boss, my boss that I currently work for now is a big inspiration to me. He started his business in 2010 and. He has just blossomed from that point to, to today. And he's also a big inspiration, very, um, inspiring, um, compassionate, and um, just a, a great mentor for sure.

joe 12:20

So it sounds like you're a go-getter.

Robin 12:24

I'm out there. I mean, I'm, yes, I am for sure not stopping. No, not stopping. I mean, I believe in my, what my, I believe in this. I believe in my passion. Um, and I just want people to see what it's all about and um, and just being able to spread that little love cuz we have such a crazy world right now. And just being able to give something to somebody that is special to you, or even if you don't even know that person. I have a few people and right now that are just going out to some of these, um, unwed homes that are, um, have these young girls that you know, Need something, somebody or something, you're right to, um, show that they care that they still care. So I have a l young lady right now that's sending packages to an unwed, um, unfortunate person out there. So it's, that's been a, a great passion to mine. That, to me, to be able to give back to these guys. So, and it's,

joe 13:19

to me it's very, it, it's a very emotional

Robin 13:21

business. Yeah. It can be for sure, especially when I'm wri reading the notes or writing the notes, cuz I do write, hand write them. Okay. At the end when I reveal themselves. So reading those notes that they're sending to this loved one, telling them who they were, but telling them how they're so ex, so excited for the new birth, new birth of their baby, and so proud of them as a person and everything. It just, it's very emotional. Um, just to sit there and being able to know that these people are out there that can just need that little joy. So, so

joe 13:52

you, so they send what they wanna say and then you. Yeah. Hand write that on a note. Yeah.

Robin 13:56

The last package is the day that, um, we, we reveal in the package. And then, so I'll ha I have a nice little, um, card that has my logo and stuff on it, and then I personally write, hand write everything that they wrote in their order. Mm-hmm.

joe 14:11

So challenges moving forward in your business? Um, What if you get a whole ton of orders? What? I still Who do you got the help?

Robin 14:20

I do have friends. Okay. I do have family, I have sisters. Um, I, um, yeah, I truly wanna contin con continue to keep that personal passion in my business. For sure. I mean, we'll see, we'll see down the road, but at this point, that's where we wanna stay. I think it could run to

joe 14:38

something pretty neat.

Robin 14:39

Well, thank you. I appreciate that. I do hope so. Um, it's my passion, like I said before. I just wanna continue to keep it out there and bring, you know, bring the love and this and this, you know, some compassion back into this world. So,

joe 14:52

yeah, I mean, from a man's perspective, again, I'm gonna say mm-hmm. You can't go wrong with this, with the baby fairy. You can't go wrong. Awesome. Thank you. I, I mean, um, I think it's a great, great business that you have. Great. Thank you. Makes it pretty easy online. Go through, place your orders

Robin 15:11

and Yeah, it's very simple. Um, very easy. I'm always available. I mean, my email, my, um, phone number's always there. I'm, I'm available to, if I can't talk to you right then, I will definitely get back with you for sure. How long does

joe 15:23

it take to when somebody places an order? What is that process

Robin 15:27

usually within the, within 24 hours from the time that you place your order? I usually try to get the first order out, um, and then depending on the ba baby's due date, cuz you do give me the due date of the baby. Um, then I can spread out the, my computers usually sets up how to spread it out for the next. Do you tell the

joe 15:44

people when you send them or do they just go, well,

15:46

yeah,

Robin 15:46

there's a tracking number on the packages so they know that they're going out that day. Um, they know when it's delivered, um, and then they know the next day, um, They don't know exactly every, like, every, every two to three weeks is usually what I try to tell them. Um, but again, it's based on the due date. And it's all also based on how many packages you order, right? So if you order just one, it's just that first one, it's gonna go out. But if you order like three or or six, you know, that's like, I try to spread'em out like two to three weeks, but the system sets it up for that, me to do that. So, yeah,

joe 16:17

so if they just ordered three packages, but she's not due for another eight

Robin 16:21

months. Right. So one, one will go out like within the 24 hours that you ordered, and then probably like maybe two months, and then the last package will be the, in, like in August 24 hours. That's pretty quick. Yeah, I, I definitely try to do a turnover. At least I start

joe 16:37

getting pretty busy. I don't know.

Robin 16:39

I

joe 16:40

know that's gonna be a challenge

Robin 16:41

that you're gonna face in your business. That'll be for sure. But it would be a good challenge though, right? Yes, definitely. Definitely. Yep, for sure. Because you, but then, but my full-time job is if I get that busy, my full-time job will, you know, have to be, go part-time maybe, or

joe 16:55

Right. I mean, this is like your exit strategy,

Robin 16:56

right? Right. It's a, it's a challenge, but yeah, he, he knows, he's, he's on board. He knows what's going on and he knows that.

joe 17:03

Well, that's cool that you have somebody that

Robin 17:05

you're working for like that. Yeah, I mean, I told, I mean, I had to tell him, I mean, So, yeah, he's cool. He's a very cool

joe 17:11

guy. Oh, very good. Yeah. That's awesome. Yep. Um, where can people find you? Uh, online? Yes.

Robin 17:20

You said Facebook. I do have a fa I do have a website. Um, it's the baby fair shop.com. Okay. And shop is spelled S h o p P E. And then I do have a Facebook, Instagram, I also have LinkedIn. Um, you can find me any bit anywhere there. I have one. I'm also on, um, Pinterest. So, yeah, I'm pretty, pretty much out there, so please check me out.

joe 17:41

Very cool. I love it. There was a couple of questions. Mm-hmm. I don't have which ones that you had though. Do you have those questions that you want? I wanted you, well, there was questions at the end. I said pick two questions. We can answer'em, kind of have a little fun with it. Oh, you did?

Robin 17:58

Oh. Oh, did you send

joe 17:59

me those? Oh, well they were in the thing, but Oh, you know what? In what thing? Yeah, they were in the, the form. That was a million

Robin 18:05

years ago. Yeah, I know.

joe 18:07

Well, I know I, this was, so, I have, I, I've had a pretty overwhelming response. Well, that's good for the podcast. I have a friend that I'm gonna for. Oh my gosh. Yes. I love it. Yeah. And you know, as time goes on, well, I'll have you on again. Okay. Right. You know, starting this business, what was one lesson that you learned that you think everyone probably should learn throughout their life, just from starting the business? Was there anything that popped up for you that,

Robin 18:39

um, it was scary for sure. I mean, I, it, but, um, when you have a passion, I mean, I, I think that all I wanted to do is just go for it, um, and just keep going and I just, um, there's been a lot of challenges. Financially, um, you know, stress, um, challenging between jobs and, you know, life. But I just wanna keep going and it's just in the back of my head. It is. You can do this, so just keep going. So I just have just. I don't know, just you are determined, determined to make this

joe 19:24

happen, for sure. To make this an exit strategy.

Robin 19:26

Dammit. I am. I mean, I'm not gonna make us go bankrupt, but, um Right. We'll just, I'm just, I'm putting myself out there wherever I can, um, because I'm just, just so passionate about it. For sure. Absolut,

joe 19:38

yeah. I think with the right framework, the right advertis, the marketing. Yes. Um, I mean, at the end of the day, if you've got some good marketing advertising, I think you could sell pretty much anything.

Robin 19:48

Right, right. You know? Mm-hmm. It's also picking the um, right. NI niche. Oh yeah. They say, um, because you can broadcast it everywhere and anywhere, but if you're not getting to the right people that really understand what the compassionate people, because I'm really trying to sell the experience of this, um, not really the business because it's really the experience of it. If anybo anybody that has had. A baby fairy and received these gifts and, and had seen the joy, um, they'll under, they would understand. So, um, if there's anybody out there that wants to sh share their thing, please, you know, share it. So,

joe 20:28

testimonials. Testimonials, that's

Robin 20:30

huge. Yeah, I have a lot of reviews on, um, Google reviews, um, and they're all great, so, and I appreciate every single one of them. So.

joe 20:38

Yeah. So here we come. There's two questions in the, at the end of the podcast that I'd like to ask my guests. And, uh, those are picked out by you. So let's, uh, let's start with who is your biggest role model?

Robin 20:52

As I had said before, my grandmother was my biggest inspiration all through my life. I mean, from little, all the way. I mean, she was such an inspiration. Um, she passed away the, the year that I had a hip replacement. Um, I had. Waited for because she was sick and I had waited to have my surgery because I didn't want her to leave while I was having surgery or, but, so I waited. And then my uncle said, she's not going to pass until you can say goodbye to her. So I'll probably get a little emotional. Oh, that's all right. But, um, she waited till the day after my surgery, so she was. Wait for me to say goodbye.

joe 21:36

Oh, that's so

Robin 21:36

awesome. Sorry. But yeah, she was my big inspiration, so

joe 21:41

That's awesome. That's all right. I'm a crier too,

Robin 21:45

so sorry.

joe 21:47

That's beautiful. Thank you. That's Ben. I believe that they, and you know, there's been experiences where, yeah, you know, I know. That's

Robin 21:56

what happened. Yeah, and she comes, she visits me a lot. So I mean, I know that she's, she was the inspiration of sewing. She's so, she was a seamstress, so that's why I sew. I mean, I do my Burt class in the tag blankets and I know that she's with me every time I'm doing them, so, yeah. That's beautiful. You're awesome. Thanks.

joe 22:16

Next question is, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Robin 22:22

To be honest, I love being here in Ohio. Um, I know there's not a lot of other beautiful places out there and I've experienced a few, but, um, I love Ohio. I love the cha of the changes of the season. Um, the snow doesn't bother me that much as it, you know, like driving and it's not a, it's a big challenge, but you know what, as you know, I all love challenges. Yes,

joe 22:44

yes. You do. So and you keep driving forward and

Robin 22:47

forward to keep moving up. Exactly. So I love the Four Seasons and um, it's just an awesome place to live. So,

joe 22:53

yeah, I like Ohio. Yeah, it's fun. It's, uh, I don't know, I've always thought of moving to somewhere warm, but then think too of what would I do without the weather changes? How different would that

Robin 23:06

be? Yeah. I've lived in Florida for a couple of months. Um, A little bit longer than that, and I just didn't love it. I didn't, I mean, yeah, I'd love to see the sunshine every single day, but I de definitely did miss the jet. The, the fall, the fall's my favorite time of the year. Um, the winter. I mean, I, lets see the snow falling and it's so pretty. So, yeah, so I'm, I'm back here in Ohio and loving it. So Great.

joe 23:29

Mm-hmm. Well,

Robin 23:31

we're happy you're here. Thank you. Thank you.

joe 23:35

And I wanna say thank you so much for coming on and being part of the show. Thank you. I appreciate you for that. And thank you

Robin 23:42

for sharing. Yes, thank you. Thank you very much for having me. And,

joe 23:46

uh, we'll put all your information in the description Great. So people can get a hold of you and, uh, men, if you're listening. You need to get on the baby fairy shop with two peas and an knee.com. Exactly. And call me anytime. Yes, absolutely. All right. Awesome. Thank you so much, Robin. You're welcome. This has been great. Thank you.

Robin 24:06

Thank you again.