Health & Fitness
January 2014 NOVA Business Spotlight: Marcia Sheehan of Magnificuffs
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Marcia Sheehan, a Mompreneur and Mommy blogger at a Mom's Night Out Event hosted by Micaela Willamson of Go Kid Trips. This woman has so much energy and enormous passion that within one minute of meeting her, I asked if she would mind sharing her entrepreneurial spirit with the readers of ClarendonMoms. I had an opportunity to interview Marcia and find out exactly what she and her company MagnifiCuffs is all about.
ClarendonMoms: How did you come up with the idea for MagnifiCuffs and the name?Marcia: A few years ago I bought my first pair of convertible pants, ie pants that have a fabric strip sewn into the inside pant leg and then a button on the outside of the leg. I was able to transform my pants into capris and thought how wonderful it would be to have that function available with all my pants. Naming MagnifiCuffs was a difficult process. It finally came to me in the shower. I thought of having an umbrella company for all the different lines to come and the idea of MagnifiCo entered my mind. From there MagnifiCuffs was spurred.ClarendonMoms: Can you describe the type of items that you sell? Are they feminine, masculine, unisex? Do you cater primarily to women, children, to men (everyone)?Marcia: Since starting MagnifiCuffs (we've only been in business since July!) we have focused primarily on women but have recently branched into girls. Since magnetic fashion accessories are brand new to the market, we have had to provide product knowledge and also attempt to find out who our market is. To say it has been a process would be an absolute understatement! We have lots of ideas for different uses and markets for our MagnifiCuffs in the future but will primarily focusing on the women and girls right now.ClarendonMoms: How can a busy mom (like you) find the time to establish a new business?
Unfortunately I can't. I mean, I am establishing MagnifiCuffs but not at the speed and growth I would like. At this point in my life, and theirs, my sons are my number 1 priority. Once the older one is in full time school and my 3 year old is in preschool next year I will be able to focus a lot more. It's a very difficult juggling act but being an entrepreneur is so rewarding that the countless sleepless nights and early mornings make it well worth it. You have a natural high that propels you forward. You also have loved ones that bend over backwards to support you (I love you Aa (that's my sister)!). My husbands full time position as a tennis pro has benefitted in that he has a couple mornings a week where he doesn't work until 11. I get my meetings in at 8 or 9 am on those days.ClarendonMoms: What is the biggest challenge with having your own business and being a mom? And what is the solution to that challenge?
Marcia: The same answer as number 3, stealing pockets of time for the business. When I'm with the boys, I am focused on them. They are my husband's and my priority. Although the boys are my priority, I am also very pulled by the business. It is extremely frustrating to feel a creative burst, or get hit with a brilliant idea, and be unable to immediately put it into action. My solution to the challenge is to write down ideas and text myself and I'm also up til around midnight or 1 am every night getting work done. I guess you could also say my solution is coffee....lots and lots of coffee.ClarendonMoms: What type of advice would you give to a new mom interested in taking a step towards becoming an entrepreneur?Marcia: Take yourself serious and if others don't, don't take it to heart. This will be your baby, and no one will love your baby like you. Also, get a mentor and meet with him or her at least biweekly. He/she will be absolutely essential with keeping you focused and providing logical next steps for maintaining and growing your business.Also, know that you can't do it all. If you attempt to, you will burn out or burn bridges. You will need to prioritize what is most important and take steps to treat it as such. If growing your business is most important, put your kids in daycare or get a nanny. Being an entrepenuer is a way to contribute to our families monetarily but if it interferes with the treatment of the children, it may not be the right move. Another suggestion is ask for help! Your spouse, your sisters, your girlfriends. You will never know how many people want to support you until you take this huge step.
One of my other suggestions is to have a set dollar amount of how much you will put into your company. Once you reach that threshold, do not pass it. Starting a business as a stay at home mom is probably to provide you with a creative outlet but most likely to bring money into the home. You shouldn't bleed money out. My mentor refuses to allow me to buy inventory. She reminds me constantly, "If you get an order for a thousand sets, you can then order the materials and get the MagnifiCuffs made and sent out. If you are sitting on a bunch of inventory, that's money in the bank that could be spent elsewhere."ClarendonMoms: Who are your biggest influences that you've learned from or that you've possibly idolized as other mompreneurs?
Marcia: Over the past few months I've had the extreme pleasure of getting to know Carin Kilby Clark of The Mommyhood Mentor. She is a single mom of 3 with a full time job and the entrepreneurial spirit like no one I've ever met. Her positivity is absolutely contagious. She markets, she mingles ,and she connects. Carin is the real deal and a definite idol, role model, and trusted confidant.
Recently I also had the opportunity to work with María José Ovalle of the Very Busy Mama. When I first learned of Maria I fanned her Facebook page and was very impressed with her engagement. I also had the opportunity to hear her speak at the Femworking Conference in October 2013. She is absolutely adorable but you can tell there's some fire inside! She's got quite the sense of humor. Anyways, she did a feature of me on her site and was extremely professional, thorough and clear. It's hard to believe she has a one year old! I could barely function when my second child was just a year. Maria is juggling a lot and makes it appear seamless. She is definitely one of my idols!ClarendonMoms: Is MagnifiCuffs a part-time business, a full-time business or just a hobby for you?Marcia: MagnifiCuffs is a full time obsession but part time business at this point. Although I clock at least 40 hours of work a week I believe a full time business would require at least 3 times that amount of time, which is something I just don't have at this point.ClarendonMoms: How instrumental is your husband as your partner in this business?Marcia: My husband is an amazing sounding board and has unbelievable connections with his job as a tennis pro. He's been at the same country club for over 13 years and has clients who love him dearly. The support we have received has been heartwarming and humbling. He gives me money for the company too which is really sweet.ClarendonMoms: What can we expect from MagnifiCuffs in 2014? (For example, you have your online shop, will you be branching out into local, national or international retail stores?)Marcia: Our 2014 is starting out very exciting with Laura Evans from Fox 5 news highlighting MagnifiCuffs on her "Laura's Likes" segment! That will happen the third or forth week, we'll know the date soon. In January we will also receive our first purchase order from a brick and mortar gift shop! As for where we go from there, we are holding on tight and excitedly enjoying every opportunity that has been presented to us.ClarendonMoms: Thank-you for your time and for sharing with us! Marcia and her husband Ryan have two sons ages 5 and 3. MagnifiCuffs operations are run out of their home in Burke, VA. For more information and to order a pair of MagnifiCuffs, please click here.