mamas rock: penny seto q&a
By annemarie on August 18, 2010 | Filed Under biz tips, faces & places
Here’s the full transcript of our interview with Milk Factory’s Penny Seto. We couldn’t fit all her great thoughts into our article, so we wanted to run the full q&a here:
What did you do before you became a mum?
Ahhh. Important question, methinks! One that all mums must remember the answer to by keeping the “pre-mum you” alive, whether you have one, three or five kids. I was much more active and creative than post-kids. I truly try to live without regret but looking back, I see I let some of my passions slip away. I lived for sport. Any sport. And, art. And, cooking. . .real food. Slowly, I’m bringing those passions alive again. The gym. Cycling a bit. Art is in much of my work. And, I did start a food blog that I will, one day, make public. Oh, but by “do” you probably meant work? For many years I was Manager of Operations for a group of high-end retail stores in Vancouver. It was there that I realized I was meant to work for my own family and not someone else’s.
What inspired Milk Factory?
I met my co-founding partner at the local community centre while on maternity leave. We’d head out for a walk but wouldn’t get very far before one of our babies had to be changed or fed. While we were sitting on the damp grass, we explored the idea of making a really big nylon-lined blanket that we could all sit on. At the same time, I wished for clothing that would dry quickly and help protect my son’s skin from drool and heat rashes.
What gave you the confidence to take it from idea to reality?
While testing products, we both went back to work full-time. It didn’t take long for us to see that working for someone else limited the flexibility that we both wanted for our families. Once we had prototypes to test, we knew we had some amazing products. We quit our jobs and dove in head first. At the time, there wasn’t a line of quick-drying clothes for infants and toddlers. The speed at which the shirts cleared up and protected my son’s skin from those rashes was amazing. UV protection was icing on the cake. The SpillProof Blanket (editor’s note: we’ve been using our blanket all summer long. For picnics, the beach, basically any outing, it rocks!) has made a name for itself, proving to be indispensable for families on the go. 7 years later, my original is still going strong and the SpillProof Blanket is the favorite amongst Milk Factory customers – new, old and yet to be.
What gave you the impetus to recently rethink the whole business and your product offering? If you can give me a bit of background on what that looks like that would be great too.
Life is simply too busy. Everyone says so. Yet, many of us do little to reduce the chaos, often saying “yes” when we should be saying “no”. There were many, many factors that came into play but for some time I’d been thinking about how I could make changes and still do everything in a way that is truly satisfying. “Back to basics” is the approach I’m taking. I want time for me – to do things I’m passionate about, outside of family and work. I want quality time with my family and friends. I want to keep offering great products through Milk Factory. And, I want to make the most of another part-time-flexible-no-inventory business opportunity that I’ve taken on – see, can’t say no! By going back to the product that started Milk Factory Designs, the SpillProof Blanket, and sticking with some other favorite and easy to manage products (the beanie and bucket hats, the multi-mat and bag plus a brand new blanket), I’ll be able to get a better handle on everything else. As anyone that has inventory can attest to, it’s a lot more work than it looks at the beginning!
What’s next for Milk Factory?
In the immediate future, there will be one final clearance of the Quick Wick Activewear in September, as part of our annual birthday celebration. The winter will be used to think long and hard about where the collection goes from there. I have many, many ideas that I would love to implement but for now, I’m practicing saying “no”…until the time is right! Just as it’s been for many customers, it’s been sad watching my boys out grow the clothing. . .there’s a good chance it’ll be back next summer, in one form or another.
Do you run your business from home, or do you have an office?
From the beginning, Milk Factory Designs has run an office out of a Vancouver factory where our products are made. It was impossible to hold the volume of inventory we had at home and the office made it a bit easier to leave work at work. Not to say that there weren’t (many) long nights spent at home working on something for the business! I’ve had a blast over the past two years, opening “the studio” to the public for an in person shopping option. It was like an extra large trade-show booth that displayed all that Milk Factory had to offer, without the chaos of the trade-show itself. It was so much fun meeting customers and their kids in person. Unfortunately, as part of the whole “rethink”, I chose to close the studio at the end of July (though, should people still wish to pick up their orders, that can be arranged). With much less inventory and storage still at the factory, I now have a cool and quiet space in my basement that is dedicated to Milk Factory Designs and anything my creative heart desires! As an added bonus, I see my husband kicking around the house during the day since he most often works evenings.
How do you organize your workday? What kind of childcare arrangements do you have in place?
I function on what I call “organized flexibility”. I have two boys, ages 5 and 7, who will be in the same school this year and then after-school care til 6 pm. Theoretically, this leaves me lots of time to fit everything in. Scheduled appointments (the gym, meetings etc.) and tasks with deadlines take priority. Packing orders and the other business are fit in next and everything else falls into the cracks in between. This flexibility gives me a bit of structure but lets me drop everything for something important – even if it’s a chai + chat with a friend. Still, some things seem to fall through the cracks but I’ve decided that I’m okay with that and get to it when I can. Luckily, my husband seems to enjoy doing laundry – which kind of lets him off the hook for choosing to work evenings!
What are the rewards of having your business?
Hands down…flexibility. Being my own boss means that I can take a few hours or days off to take care of sick kids (or myself for that matter) and often work from where ever, when ever.
Do you miss anything about working for someone else?
I really don’t think so. Sure, I could say benefits and steady income but things have come full circle – I have a steady income and, when we need it, we’ll get benefits. Until then, I have everything that working for someone else doesn’t give me.
Wonderful interview and great insights. Wishing you all the best, Penny!
When people think about business, they so often think about business planning, marketing planning, production and so on. But the reality is that real people start and run businesses and you have to take into account your unique circumstances, desires, goals and so on. Penny has done a great job of building her business and she’s shown a willingness to evolve. Plus her products are great. I am a huge fan of the bucket hats, which everyone we meet comments on. Brilliant.
Hurrah for Penny – very inspiring! Thanks for a great article!
Congrats on the blog Penny. We love you!!! Miss you!!! Wish you were here!!! Okay we’re crying now!!
Penny has always been a tremendous inspiration to me – in the workplace and out. She is continuously in my corner, supporting me as I work hard to grow my business. Her marketing savvy and financial acumen has been paramount to the growth of my business and I rely on her as an adviser and friend. Milk Factory is a fabulous business run by a fabulous and generous woman. Whatever you choose to do with your career, Penny, I know for certain that you will always succeed!