We're always inspired by stories of everyday gals who take a good idea and turn it into something big. (Wouldn't we all like the courage to take an idea and run with it?!) Well, GalTime talked to one "mompreneur" about how she did it.
Maureen Christy was working as a medical sales professional in Florida when her inspiration struck. Maureen invented a product that warms bottles and makes life easier for moms on the go. Her bottle warmer now sells at Toys R Us and other big retailers.
GalTime:
What inspired the On The Fly Bottle Warmer?
Maureen:
In the 1990's I was a busy, on-the-go single mom who traveled frequently with my infant son. Like many of you, I was frustrated at the lack of a simple solution to heating my son’s bottle. Seventeen years later, in 2007, I became the proud godmother to my best friend's daughter, Sophia. While out shopping with "the girls", I was shocked to learn that, all these years later, there still wasn't an easy and safe way to heat a baby's bottle.
Our product is a baby bottle warmer system that uses a special fabric with all natural warming pads that produce 12 hours of continuous warmth for each pad. This allows for a full day of activity without worrying about having warm bottles for baby. Tepid bottles reduce colic and increase nutritional value of baby’s formula. Tepid is the temperature of mother breast-milk and the reasons babies prefer tepid bottles.
GalTime:
What prompted you to become a "Mompreneur"?
Maureen:
To come up with a solution for an unmet need as a parent, there were no bottle warmers that could be used on the go especially in travel that could be used multiple times in a day and where simple.
GalTime:
What's been the scariest and most rewarding aspects of going into business for yourself?
Maureen:
The scariest: The financial backing and getting the product on the market.
Most rewarding: Talking to parents that love the product and now have something they can use to make life simpler.
Galtime:
You've already had one invention success. what kind of expansion plans or new ideas are in the works?
Maureen:
I'm focused on getting On The Fly Bottle Warmer to all the parents out there that don’t know about it. I have lots of fun information about new products to offer, but only after they are patented!
Maureen lived in Florida for many years before recently relocating to Park City, Utah. She has a son in college. Maureen says it took about two years to develop and market her bottle warmer.
Know of other "mompreneurs"? Leave a comment and maybe they'll be featured in a GalTime story.
Free consultation 
