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

Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think success is relative. Everyone’s definition of success is different, and how I view my success over the years has changed. For a long time, to be successful, I did whatever it took to create a business and a title for myself that I was proud of. I let a lot of boundaries get crossed. I worked long hours and sacrificed much of myself (and sometimes my family, friends, etc) to get my career to a place I was proud of. I wouldn’t change any of that, but now, success is a balance of living my personal life to its fullest, enjoying my family, and continuing to grow my career and develop my place in this business. Success can’t be quantified by just one thing; I’m sure my vision of success will change and grow over time, but right now, my ability to “have it all” is my ultimate success.

Sarah, 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?

In 2016, I decided to stay home with my new baby and not return to work. Ever. I didn’t know how I would make that work, but I knew I could never go back to a traditional job. I wasn’t a traditional job kinda gal. Some new moms can probably relate, but staying home with a baby was the busiest and most bored I had ever been. It was hard and tedious and rewarding and tiring. I was constantly craving more and more but just couldn’t think of what I could do while at home with a baby. During our first trip to see my mother-in-law with the baby, we rented baby gear from one of the founders of BabyQuip in Santa Fe, which quelled my new-mom worries about traveling without all my baby “stuff” and presented a serendipitous opportunity. BabyQuip (branded under a different name then) was going national and needed Quality Providers to service cities nationwide with baby gear rentals. I have a background in customer service and a degree in psychology, and I had a desire to make it work. The rest is history!
I started my BabyQuip business in May of 2016, and it has truly been a life-changing experience. With no formal business or entrepreneurial experience, I started my own baby gear rental business, became a mentor for others who wanted to rent baby gear to traveling families, and started working full-time for BabyQuip Corporate in 2020, managing the Community of Quality Providers and the Service Department. I have become a sought-after thought leader in the baby gear space, providing recommendations and commentary on baby gear. I learned “on the job” and taught myself a lot about managing a business while in the trenches. I made many mistakes, which I owned up to, and I used these mistakes to help guide others. I also made a lot of smart choices, which led to a lot of success. There are some things you can’t learn about business in school, some things are innate. Customers like working with me because I feel like an old friend who wants to make their vacation with kids a great experience. I combine a degree of casual friendliness with above-and-beyond service. I care deeply about BabyQuip’s Quality Providers and I think that shows. I want everyone to succeed. That success looks different for everyone, and helping each QP carve out their success path is rewarding. My dedication to the BabyQuip brand and everyone at BabyQuip is strong, and it is exciting to see where this is all taking me.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The year was 2020. Does everyone’s pivot story start in 2020? In March 2020, the world shut down, and no one was traveling, so there was no need for baby gear. Not only were there no new orders coming in, but all the previously booked orders were being canceled in record numbers, and business was in the red. By this time, the business had become a very important financial part of my life, and I needed to continue bringing in money. I had enough knowledge as a baby gear expert to start cleaning baby gear with BabyQuip as a way to subsidize my rental business. It was the perfect transition in 2020; the world was focused on cleanliness. I knew everything there was to know about cleaning car seats and strollers, and it was a contactless job. Cleaning baby gear with BabyQuip helped keep me afloat until more people started renting baby gear and traveling again.

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

BabyQuip is a unique business. It doesn’t require a lot of capital to start. If done smartly, little to no initial investment is required. I started with a small balance credit card that I paid off with each order I received. I paid for new gear as I received orders for it. I never bought outside of what my business could afford with the small balance credit card or cash. It took longer for my business to start making money, but I wasn’t in debt. I started with mid-range gear, which was nothing fancy, and as I could afford more luxury brands, I would invest my business funds back into gear my customers were interested in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.babyquip.com/sarah1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babyquipsarahhuff
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-huff-ma/
• Other: https://www.businessinsider.com/make-5000-month-rent-out-baby-gear-babyquip-2022-10