Sarah McNamee | Founder of What Little Wonder
Sarah McNamee
Q: Walk us through your story!
A: I initially launched the shop after my son was born - I saw a need for more gender neutral items for babies that weren't covered in baby animals or tagged with cheesy sayings like "drool monster". I knew there had to be other moms that felt the same way, and a few short years later I created What Little Wonder. The shop really focuses on a curated collection of essentials for baby with a boho and modern inspired flair.
Our products are well suited for moms that are tired of the traditional pink and blue and wanting items that integrates seamlessly with their own personal style and home decor. I curate pieces that can easily be mix and matched with each other in colors and prints that are warm, aesthetically beautiful and functional. I'm so proud to also be able to integrate my personal love and passion for supporting other small shops by seeking products made by brands that are small to mid sized and owned by other mamas! I am extremely humbled by the continued support I receive from our community of moms both on and off social media.
The journey to success for What Little Wonder has been a learning experience and hasn't always been easy. As a mompreneur and solopreneur, being able to juggle, motherhood, being a wife, and growing a business has come with challenges. Finding a balance is an ongoing goal, but I'm so grateful to have the support of our community and my family, which inspires me every day to push myself to succeed.
Q: Who has been the most inspirational person in my life and at what stage?
A: My mother has been THE most inspirational person for me in my life. When the shop first began I was a single mom, and choosing to add a side hustle to my already very busy life was not easy. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur - I just didn't know I would one day be running an ecommerce shop for babies! My mom has always been so incredibly supportive of me and my ideas which has inspired me to dream big, without hesitation.
Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a career similar to yours?
A: The best advice I can offer if there's someone wanting to be an entrepreneur and launch their own business is to go for it. Sometimes as people, especially as moms, we can easily come up with a million excuses why we shouldn't do something. But can rarely focus on why we SHOULD. Taking a risk is not the scariest thing, in fact it's actually not even trying to take the leap to follow your dreams. If there's a dream that has been on your heart to pursue, why not try it? Start with small steps, do the research, educate yourself on how to take those first steps toward making it happen for yourself and set attainable goals. Surround yourself with a strong support system (trust me, you'll need it!) that will encourage you and cheer you on when you start to doubt yourself. No one ever started a business having it all together.
Q: What are the best resources that have helped you along the way?
A: I'm a huge research person. I love to learn information and educate myself the best way that I can. I'm not afraid to try new things and I always say, "I don't know what I don't know" so I'm always seeking more and more information that can help me grow my business. Podcasts and masterclasses have been huge for me. Learning from individuals that have been where you are and truly understand what you're going through and trying to achieve is priceless. I believe that in order to be a success, you have to be willing to learn; be a sponge and soak up as much as you can - take what you learn and know how to apply it to your business and make it work for you.
Q: What are your top self care routines?
A: This is something I've especially been focused on the last few months. Up until then I had NO self care routine and have recently made a conscious effort to carve out time for myself in small ways. Right now, morning coffee without any of the kids around before my work day begins really helps. Just taking 30-45 minutes to think clearly about the goals I want to accomplish for the day or the week or just reflect on something that happened the previous day is really helpful. Also I enjoy take hot baths - again just to relax and reflect. As a wife and mom of 5, I've learned that taking time to step away and recharge for YOU is so valuable. As a mom, it's so easy for us to get caught up in caring for everyone else and putting our own needs on the backburner. But at some point it's impossible for us to pour from an empty cup - it's so vital that we pour into ourselves so that we can continue to pour into others.
Q: What is the most challenging part about what you do?
A: The most challenging part of what I do is having to be a solopreneur. Right now, I am the business - doing it all. As you can imagine, it's not always easy having to wear so many hats; especially when I most certainly am not the best in all these areas. I've had to learn to leverage my strengths while building on my weaknesses.