We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lora Palmer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lora below.

Lora, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you manage your own social media?

I definitely manage my own social media. As a small business owner, I’m doing as much as I can myself to grow profitably so I can eventually hire people to take on certain tasks. Managing my own social media allows me to stay authentic, connect directly with my audience, and keep costs low.

For me, social media is both a creative outlet and a critical business tool. A significant amount of my website traffic comes from the reels I post on Instagram and TikTok. While I’m on both platforms, I enjoy Instagram more, so I focus most of my energy there. I love creating fun, relatable, and creative content about my product, the Bonobo Baby Bidet.

One of my most popular videos, with nearly 4 million views, shows me cleaning a “poopy pumpkin.” I spread peanut butter on a pumpkin to demonstrate how many wipes it takes to clean up a mess (5–6 wipes on one side) versus using the Bonobo Baby Bidet (just one wipe after spraying with water on the other side). It’s fun, eye-catching, and educational—a perfect mix for social media!

I also share relatable parenting moments as a mom of two toddlers, which helps build a connection with my audience. I’ve had several videos reach millions of views without spending a dime on ads. It’s been incredible for business, but it also comes with challenges, like dealing with trolls. Negative comments can sting, especially when they make you question yourself. But over time, I’ve learned to tune them out and focus on the positive impact my content is having.

The other tricky part of social media is its unpredictability. One week, your reels might consistently hit millions of views, and the next, a video you feel great about completely flops. It can be discouraging, but the key is to keep creating and learning from the process.

My biggest advice? Have fun with your content. If you enjoy making it, even a flop won’t feel as bad. Social media is a long game, so staying consistent, creative, and true to yourself is what pays off in the end.

Lora, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The story of Bonobo Baby began when I was a new mom juggling the demands of work and parenting. Like many moms, I relied on baby wipes to clean my son’s delicate skin during diaper changes. But wipes alone often fell short—they didn’t always clean thoroughly, and using multiple wipes left his bum red and irritated. I remember one day in frustration, I reached for a spray bottle of water to loosen the mess before wiping. It was like magic. The poop came right off with just one wipe, his bum was perfectly clean, and there was no redness.

But there was a problem: keeping track of that spray bottle. It wasn’t convenient or accessible when I needed it most. The idea of pairing water directly with baby wipes stayed in the back of my mind for years. Then, my second child, my daughter, was hospitalized with a UTI. That moment made it clear to me how important proper, gentle cleaning is for babies. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much better it would be for parents if water was somehow attached directly to baby wipes—making it as simple and accessible as possible.

Determined to bring this idea to life, I spent a year developing a product that was compact, durable, and went everywhere your wipes go. Teaching myself how to sew, I worked through failure after failure until I finally created the Bonobo Baby Bidet. The design features a durable, waterproof neoprene pouch that adjusts to fit any pack of wipes, along with a portable atomizer spray bottle. It’s simple, effective, and provides the gentle cleaning power of water right where parents need it.

Babies deserve better for their delicate skin than wipes alone can offer, but moms and dads need convenient solutions that fit into the hustle and bustle of everyday parenting life. Bonobo Baby is all about bridging that gap—offering a practical, gentle, and realistic option for parents who want the best for their little ones without overcomplicating their routines.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started Bonobo Baby’s social media account before I even had the finished product. From the beginning, I’ve shared my entire journey with my followers—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. My goal was to create a connection with my audience and make them feel like they were just as much a part of this journey as I am. I wanted them to truly understand what the brand stands for and why I created this product.

One thing that’s really helped is involving my followers in the process. Whether it’s showing behind-the-scenes moments, asking for their input, or sharing personal stories about parenting, it’s all about building a genuine connection. I think that transparency and authenticity have played a huge role in building trust and loyalty among my audience.

For anyone just starting to build their social media presence, my biggest piece of advice is to focus on connection and consistency. Share your story, be authentic, and don’t be afraid to show the messy parts of your journey—it’s what makes you relatable. Also, remember that it’s not just about selling a product; it’s about building a community that believes in what you’re creating.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

This business has been bootstrapped from the beginning. I’ve done everything I can on my own, from learning how to sew to personally making each order that comes in. The revenue I’ve generated from sales has always been reinvested back into the business.

I was able to hire a lawyer to file a patent and still have enough left over to move forward with having the product manufactured. I’ve also taken a hands-on approach with content creation, never spending money on ads, but instead focusing on organic growth through social media.

By handling much of the work myself and being smart with my reinvestment strategy, I’ve been able to remain debt-free, allowing me to continue putting money right back into the business. This approach has kept things lean and has allowed for steady, sustainable growth without relying on external funding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bonobobaby.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.bonobo.baby/

Image Credits

Photos by Heather Clegg