Jenny Chism was a stay-at-home mother with two under the age of 2 and a faltering marriage when “that fire in my belly just lit back up.”
Shaking off sleep deprivation and spit-up, she turned a home-based idea of hand painting children’s shoes and socks into a business called Monkey-Toes. Now four years later, the 31-year- old single mother’s designs are in more than 300 stores nationwide and available through Amazon.com, Posh Tots and other Internet outlets.
Q: How hard was it to take that first step?
A: My background was in business before I had kids. I was an event planner and in sales and marketing. Being an entrepreneur runs in my blood. My father and grandfather both started their own businesses. Maybe it was the boredom of staying home. I borrowed $5,000 from my mother and got a booth at a Junior League holiday craft sale.
Q: Why children’s shoes?
A: Right before my first daughter was born my best friend talked me into taking a (craft) painting class and it just so happened I was good at it. I came up with the idea of painting shoes, copyrighted some designs and then …
Q: Has being a mom helped your business?
A: Sure. I realized people will spend more money on their kids’ fashions than themselves.
Q: What’s next?
A: There are so many ideas in my brain. I would love to go into more accessories. I plan on ruling the world with children’s shoes (laugh). You never know where you’re going when you’re in the middle of it and then you look back and say, ‘Oh that’s why I did that.’ I’ve been so blessed.
