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

Alright, Meagan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Here’s the link to the Amphiba Baby story: https://www.amphibababy.com/about

I quite honestly didn’t know if I would be successful in business. I have no marketing background and never took a business course. But I felt that this product was a game changer for parents and I had to share it. I’ve spent the past eleven years working with expectant and new moms and dads, helping them transition as smoothly as possible into parenthood. Babywearing is the single universal tool that makes everything easier.

And as a babywearing mom of four, I personally understand the challenges of raising multiple children, as well as the unique needs of active parents. New parents have a lot to learn, and experienced parents adding to their families have a lot to juggle. That’s why I designed the Neptune Carrier to be as easy to use and as versatile as possible.

With simple buckles and an adjustable panel, putting this carrier on is simple and intuitive. It doesn’t require any extra brain power. It can also be used for day-to-day activities, in the shower, at the beach, or even by the pool. It has unique features, such as an XL adjustable hood, three large pockets, one of which is a water-resistant zipper pocket, and an inner lining made of cool max mesh-wicking material. The material itself is UV-protected, chlorine and mold resistant. Put simply, it’s a one-of-a-kind carrier that resolves a lot of pain points new parents face as they welcome a new baby into their lives.

What gets me the most excited is making babywearing more accessible for parents. I know firsthand the benefits of babywearing and how it can provide confidence to the parents and comfort for the baby. Plus, it helps strengthen the bond between parent and baby.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

*Answered the first few questions on the previous page*

The journey has been long and full of challenges, but I’ve kept at it. So I would say I’m proudest of the fact that I haven’t given up. It took me eight years to finally get to the point of launching. I had to source and test out a ton of materials before I found the right ones. It took approximately 23 samples before I got to the high-quality product I have today. I went through roughly five seamstresses and two manufacturing companies. Then there are legal requirements. To sell a children’s product in the U.S., it has to pass SGS testing, and I failed three times before I finally passed on the fourth round. (I failed because of silly things, like the wording in my instruction manual and the font I chose.)

Every setback was heartbreaking because I invested so much time and personal family money into it, but I kept going because I knew that this product could seriously help parents just like me. Even while I went to nursing school, had two more kids, got my IBCLC certification, moved, changed jobs… and just handled the highs and lows of life.

Launching in itself was scary; I didn’t know how to market or share my product, but I make an effort to put myself out there and learn new things every day. I try to be as genuine as possible. The mission isn’t to sell as many baby carriers as possible; the mission is to share and encourage babywearing. The positive emotional impact it has on families supports a generational effort to become more loving and kind individuals.

Babywearing also has numerous physiological benefits for babies, and it makes it easier for parents to be active themselves. The Amphiba Baby brand is specifically geared toward encouraging activity by making it easier and more comfortable to get outside, whether you’re going hiking, taking the kids swimming, or any other outdoor activity. My ultimate goal is to encourage happy, healthy families through the emotional and physiological benefits of babywearing and staying active.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Like many, many families, ours was hit hard during covid. Both my husband and I lost our jobs, and, with them, our health insurance. Meanwhile, my youngest son, who was born with kidney disease, had to have two major surgeries in April and May of 2021. He was two years old. I was back at work by then, but I was part-time and ineligible for insurance. My husband, who is a bartender, was still out of work. His hotel didn’t re-open until the fall of that year.

It wasn’t all bad. My son recovered very well, and we spent a lot of time together as a family, which we all valued greatly. However, we took a beating financially and emotionally, and I almost gave up. Truthfully, I had given up. We were living paycheck to paycheck for the first time since before we got married, and I was struggling with depression caused by the anxiety over my baby’s health and our unstable finances. It was my husband who rallied and worked every day to encourage me to keep going.

I took a baby step, dipping my toes back into the production of my baby carriers. Over time, and I don’t even know how exactly this transformation happened, those worries became my motivators. I have to succeed now. I have to show my kids that we can do hard things. That we can rise above our own worries and grief and still go after our dreams and pursue what we’re passionate about.

My son will always have kidney disease and I don’t know what his future holds. Our finances are still unstable. But I’m stronger now for having gone through all of those things. I’m also more compassionate. The experience helped strengthen my resolve and now my focus is to be present with my family, and my mission is to help other families do the same. Because that’s essentially what babywearing does for parents. It makes everyday tasks easier. So by removing some of the stress and weight off of parents’ shoulders, they can focus on what matters most, which is just being present with their family and enjoying their kids.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

At this point, it probably comes as no surprise when I tell you that I had absolutely no idea how to manufacture a product. Similar to every other step in this journey, I didn’t know how to do it, but I figured it out along the way.

It cost an arm and a leg but I hired a production and manufacturing coach in NYC that held my hand and walked me through the process. Anna at V.Mora is worth every penny. Not only is she compassionate, but she knows her stuff. She taught me about tech packs, and samples, and introduced me to the manufacturing companies she trusted and has worked with for years. My first manufacturing run was done here in the United States. I really wanted to support working families domestically, but it was not financially feasible. The cost to make the carriers here in the US was more than what I could sell them for. So I moved manufacturing offshore to China. Without Anna’s guidance, finding a vendor would have been a struggle because the type of material my product is made of requires a special machine to make and most manufacturers don’t have it. Anna knew right away that I needed a company used to working with thicker materials like leather and neoprene. She knew the right people to connect me with. Figuring that all out on my own probably would have taken me three times as long.

One of the main lessons I’ve learned about manufacturing is to never approve a run until you have a PERFECT sample. Even then, double and triple-check that everything is right. Keep in mind, most people are not out to screw you over. Honest mistakes happen, so open and detailed communication is key.

Another major lesson? It’s going to take a lot longer than you think. Manufacturers will give you time frames based on things running 100% smoothly, but in my experience, that’s highly unlikely. Double the time frame they gave you and that’s closer to the truth. Also, don’t be an asshole. Kindness wins every day, all day, and having a good relationship with your manufacturers will be far more beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amphibababy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amphibababy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amphibababy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgYbf21rfsSl6qO_DcXhD_Q