5 Questions with Earth Mama Angel Baby CEO Melinda Olson!

Y’all. I’m so excited to have the Earth Mama Angel Baby‘s Founder & CEO Melinda Olson on the blog today! I am such a fan of EarthMama’s Natural Stretch Oil as well as their New Mama Bottom Spray (stitches, remember?), Natural Nipple Butter and now… for Miss Spawn, we’re fans of their Baby Bottom Balm.

If you’re not familiar, Earth Mama Angel Baby products are organic, phthalate-free, artificial fragrance-free, and dye-free. Expectant parents – you might want to check this out if you haven’t already. There’s been a movement in this industry to make baby products “safer,” dye-free, alcohol-free, etc. You’ve seen big brands making the move too with their “gentle” formulas, right? Well, Earth Mama Angel Baby was there first.

Here’s another bonus that I am all over like white on rice – (well, I am Asian American…) – all their products are made in the USA! You know that always makes me happy!

Without further ado… enjoy the newest Bitchin’ Business interview!

Melinda Olson – Founder & CEO of Earth Mama Angel Baby

5 Questions with Melinda Olson – Founder & CEO of Earth Mama Angel Baby

[Ed note: Bolds, italics, and links  are my edits.]

1. What made you decide to formulate your own mom and baby products? Was there something in the “mainstream” brands that kickstarted your building a new business and products?

That is such a great question! You did my homework for me by even asking the question that way because you just nailed the reason yourself! I’m a nurse and herbalist. My children are grown now, but long ago when I was pregnant I was struck by how freely my OB offered me pharmaceuticals to help resolve very common discomforts of pregnancy.

I knew there were safer, more natural way to nurture the pregnancy problems, and considered pregnancy a natural process, not an illness. I researched and studied herbal medicine and began making products as friends needed them. Zinc-free diaper cream? Sure! Lanolin-free, vegan nipple cream? I could do that! And at the time there was nothing like that on the market.

Earth Mama Angel Baby – Bottom Balm

2. Were there obstacles or hiccups along the way to get your product(s) to market? (For new entrepreneurs, what’s a lesson you learned along the way?)

Let’s see. Sit down. Do you have about 8 years? I laugh because there were way too many lessons to give a simple answer. But I will tell you this – I learned very early on that there is no one roadmap. Instead I learned to hire great people and to trust myself and the process. Anxiety only compounds the obstacles. Face each challenge with creativity and optimism. Assume there’s a good solution and then go about sleuthing it out. You’d be surprised at how far those philosophies will carry you!

3. What is the number one selling Earth Mama Angel Baby product? What is the most unique/interesting way of using the product that you didn’t anticipate?

Organic Milkmaid Tea is our bestseller. It’s safe, USDA Certified 100% Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified nursing tea to help boost milk supply. It turns out that the galactagogue (milk-boosting) herbs also happen to be great for gut problems, and people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome have found it helps their symptoms a lot.

Natural Nipple Butter is another bestseller that does double duty. Aside from safely soothing nipples, mamas also use it for chapped lips, cracked heels, and even getting gum out of a child’s hair!

Earth Mama Angel Baby – Organic Milkmaid Tea

Earth Mama Angel Baby – Natural Nipple Butter

4. If you can tell us, what’s in store for Earth Mama Angel Baby in the next year or two? Any new products coming to market? Will there be a product line extension or new product line? (E.g. Perhaps diapers, wipes, etc…?)

Line extensions, of course! But we have also learned to stay focused and true to our mission of using nature’s perfect medicinal plants to nurture and heal ourselves and our families. But if you can keep a secret, we have two new lotions due October 15! It’s the same worry-free Angel Baby Lotion mamas know, love and trust, but in natural Calming Lavender and unscented Natural Non-Scents “flavors!” [Ed note: ERMAGERD!! YES!] Of course they are also baby safe, with no synthetic fragrance or preservatives, and blended with organic herbal ingredients for sensitive, delicate skin. We formulated them with extra care, because what goes on your baby goes in your baby, and we think it should be safe!

5. What advice would you share to all the new (sleep-deprived) mamas and parents out there?

Easy – Take as good care of yourself as you do your sweet new baby. You know, it’s like putting on your own oxygen mask first. You can take much better care of a new little life when you’re rested and well fed. Sleep when the baby sleeps, clean when the baby cleans!

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There you have it – wise and encouraging words from an amazing CEO whose business continues to soar! I can’t even tell you how thankful I am that Melinda took the time to answer my interview questions.

Find Earth Mama Angel Baby on the following channels:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthMamaAngelBaby
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HealingHeartsBabyLossComfort
• Earth Mama’s Blog: http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/blog
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/EarthMamaHQ
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/EarthMamaHQ/
• Google+: http://bit.ly/EarthMamaGooglePlus
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/earthmamaangelbaby

One of the main themes in these Bitchin’ Business interviews I’ve conducted is that there is always room for an alternative product in <fill in your niche> industry. If you can think it up, it can happen. If you stick with it, it can happen. This message resonates with me very much because I do believe there is always room for one more. And if you do it well, you’ll shine and the market will reward you.

Big thanks to Melinda as well as the Earth Mama Angel Baby team for helping me make this happen.

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? What else do you want to know from these women leaders?

Thanks for reading the latest Bitchin’ Business interview! Stay tuned for the next one!