Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aly Shampain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I started Take a MOMent when my (now) 2 year old son was 15 months old. But it was something that was in my mind since before he was born. When I was pregnant I would walk around Hoboken, and when seeing all of the bumps and strollers, I thought to myself, “There must be so many mom groups to decide between, I can’t wait!” I was really surprised when my son came along and my options were limited to a breastfeeding group and a group located at the local hospital. These are both fabulous resources, but not what I was envisioning. I went back to work in education, both teaching and coaching teachers, and in the back of my mind was always this idea of a curated intimate moms group run in conjunction with local pediatric and postpartum experts.

One day, my husband and I were doing a meditation during our son’s nap and it just came to me – now was the time to start. Thanks to the encouragement of my husband, family, and community, I did it. We started with 7 moms in April 2023 and have scaled up to running groups for more than 50 moms at a time at present day. In total, we have worked with over 140 moms in just 8 months.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Take a MOMent has become more than just a “moms group”; it’s a resource and community for expecting and new moms (and we use the term new very flexibly). At the core, we run groups tailored to the first 0-6 months, meeting once a week for 8 consecutive weeks. To ensure your experience feels intimate, we limit the number of moms/babies in each group. Each session features local pediatric and postpartum experts (think: sleep consultant, psychologist, pediatric PT, and more) to answer questions and provide advice for the moms.

Our community is what makes us unique – once the 8 weeks are over, you’re still a part of the community. We host events with local businesses, such as baby sweater embroidering, cooking events, workout classes, and more, so moms can continue to Take their MOMent and foster their friendships. Our moms are why we do what we do; they walk in week one as strangers, and by week 3 they are going to lunch after group, meeting for a BYOBaby workout class, hosting holiday parties and more. The friendships say it all.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

At Take a MOMent, we believe word of mouth is the best way to grow. We find that most of our moms within the first few weeks of joining the group, or after attending a prenatal event, tell their friends that Take a MOMent is a must-do for any new or expecting mother. We also are pretty shameless about collecting testimonials as we feel that is the true marketing of the business.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Vulnerability and face time are key. As the founder, I make sure that I am at each event, group, and am an active voice in the discussions the moms are having. Upfront, I share with the moms that I am not the main source of information – I simply find the people who can give them the answers. I am not afraid to share my experiences – whether positive or negative, and ask for advice too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.takeamoment-moms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeamoment_hbk/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alyson-shampain-33719b64