Meet the Mom-Trapreneurs Spurring Local Businesses By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
Vivian Lee started her Facebook group Palos Verdes Moms Swap & Shop years ago to recycle, reuse and reduce alongside other moms on the Peninsula. With about 2,300 members, the group allows moms to exchange items in a safe marketplace. It has also opened up an avenue for the creation of other groups, like PV Mom Friends group, where mothers can connect with each other.
Every year around the holidays, Lee uses the Palos Verdes Moms Swap & Shop as a way for local mom-trapreneurs to leave their mark on the community and find support. During the month of December, moms with small businesses can share what they do on her page.
“In this day and age of online shopping, I have a platform that [these mom-trapreneurs] can use in addition to that. So I thought, why not?” Lee says. “The primary reason for the group is to swap and shop, just to help each other out — to sell things, get things, buy things — but it's also a community. That was my other mission: to bring our community of moms in Palos Verdes closer together.”
Check out some of the stories of local mom-trepreneurs below.
Confections of a Midnight Mommy
“Cookier” Trisha Flores runs her business, Confections of a Midnight Mommy, out of her kitchen at home. After taking a cookie decorating class a couple years ago, she decided to try her hand at decorating cookies for her daughter’s cast in a play at St. John Fisher. When her “The Lion King” themed cookies were a hit, she started to view it as less of a hobby and more of a business venture.
“I stayed up all night decorating and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very therapeutic for me,” Flores says. “Everybody loved them, and it kind of just went from there.”
She launched her business in August, making cookies for the Parent Teacher Association at the start of the school year. Since then, she has consistently received orders.
When it comes to juggling her responsibilities as a mom and an entrepreneur, Flores is candid: she is still searching for balance.
“I’ve been super busy ever since I’ve launched it. I’ve had orders every week and with the holiday season, it sort of spiraled,” Flores says. “[The name of my business] is Confections of a Midnight Mommy because I stay up very late at night to get it all done.”
She also works another part-time job, which makes it even more difficult to balance her workload.
“My goal this year is trying to balance it all,” Flores says. My kids obviously still come first, so I just try to fit it in here and there.”
Ultimately, she hopes to build a she-shed in her backyard where she can work and hold cookie decorating classes.
“Life is short. Just do it,” Flores says. “As long as it’s bringing you joy and happiness, you’re going to be a better mom for it. There’s nothing wrong with giving your kids an example of being a great mom and still following your dreams and goals in life.”
Mineral Springs Floral
Nandi Haidl runs Mineral Springs Floral, which focuses on providing floral designs and bespoke pieces for individuals, private events and weddings.
“I try to do a lot of it while he’s at school so I can have focused one-on-one time with him, and I make sure I set time aside for self-care as well,” Haidl says. “Also making sure to get enough help when I’m doing these big events and weddings is really necessary so I’m not taking it all on by myself.”
Haidl hopes to keep growing the business with an aim to eventually open a local lifestyle store that will sell gifts and flowers, and potentially feature a cafe as well.
“[My advice to mothers is to] choose something that you’re passionate about, that fills you up and really makes you feel that you are doing something good in the world and giving back in a way,” Haidl says.
Passion4Gemstones
Karen Horowitz, a former teacher and principal, has now moved onto her second career after retiring in 2018. After taking some classes in silversmithing, she began making and selling silver and gemstone jewelry. She sells on Etsy and at craft fairs, and she hopes to eventually bring her products to retail or start a collective shop with local women.
While Horowitz’s children are older, she often assists one of her children, who has special needs. However, she has learned that in order to show up for her kids, she needs to show up for herself.
“You have to make sure you take care of yourself and your needs,” Horowitz says. “Otherwise, you’re not a good parent to your children. I want to make sure I have time and patience for my children, and I think I have more patience when I get to do some of the things I like to do.”
Horowitz’s final piece of advice to mothers? Do something for you.
“Moms have two full-time jobs,” Horowitz says. “It’s great when we’re able to do something that makes us happy and I think when you’re an artist of any kind, it makes you feel better that you can express yourself that way.”
Local mom-trapreneurs directory:
Business: VattArtt
Business type: Custom portraits of animals and pets
Maddy Livingston
314-814-3349
Instagram: @vattartt
Business: Luceworks
Business type: Custom cards, invites and gift items
Marcia Luce
310-367-3969
Facebook/Instagram: @luceworks
Business: Confections of a Midnight Mommy
Business type: Cookie designer and baker
Trisha Flores
805-624-2604
Instagram: @confections_midnightmommy
Business: Working Mama Hobbies
Business type: Crocheted stuffed animals, ornaments bowls, play toys, blankets
Amanda Crossman
310-938-8703
Instagram: @workingmamahobbies / Etsy shop here
Business: Noelle Rose Studio
Business type: Handmade candles and soaps
Sara Robinson
310-923-1932
Website here / Instagram @noellerosestudio
Business: Santa Mulberry Designs
Business type: Upcycles and refurbishes furniture
Santa Arreola
424-757-7350
Etsy shop here
Business: Straight Outta Judea
Business type: Hanukkah and other Jewish shirts/sweatshirts/stickers
Katie Vanderhal
Instagram @straightouttajudeashop
Business: The Acrylic Garden
Business type: Seasonal hand painted soaps, gifts and original artwork
Shannon Yoo
424-265-2680
Instagram @theacrylicgarden
Business: A&R Workshop
Business type: Owns a local DIY workshop with a retail section
Jennifer McDonald
310-892-5824
Instagram: @arworkshoptorranceca
Business: Ties That Bind Jewelry Creations
Business type: Custom handmade jewelry
Jessica Dowlatshahi and Christie Bernal
310-350-1038
Instagram: @tiesthatbindjc
Business: Mineral Springs Floral
Business type: Floral designs, gift cards and custom gift baskets
Nandi Haidl
310-890-3923
mineralspringsfloral@gmail.com
Instagram: @mineralspringsfloral
Business: Elizabeth Grace Floral
Business type: Florist
Hillary Allbritton
214-755-8891
elizabethgracefloral@gmail.com
Instagram: @elizabethgracefloral
Business: Just Jen, Inc.
Business type: Custom rhinestone clothing and totes
Jennifer Smith
310-804-5221
Business: Passion4Gemstones
Business type: Gemstone jewelry with silver, copper and gold
Karen Horowitz
310-994-8510
Instagram @passion4gemstones_ / Etsy shop here
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.