Interview with New Native Inc.
Being INDIE is not always being in the music business. We want to develop this blog to celebrate Creative Independents in business as well. Here is our Interview with Indie Manufacturers - New Native Inc. New Native Inc. is the manufacturers of New Native Baby Carriers.
Tell our readers what you do.
We make eco-friendly, high quality, organic cotton baby slings and other cloth baby products in Santa Cruz, CA. Our baby sling is a reinforced cotton sash designed to keep baby close, facilitating hands-free contact-carrying.
How long have you been doing this and how did you get started?
In 1992, our founder (Nancy Main) designed a baby carrier in order to work in her garden and still be able to provide her baby with physical contact and comfort. At the behest of friends and strangers alike, she began making the carriers for sale and trade, eventually launching a proprietorship doing business as The New Native Baby Carrier. The name reflects the fact that we are all natives of earth and therefore need to take responsibility for its future. Nancy’s company has supported her family ever since. She has never forgotten her humble roots; New Native contributes below-cost carriers to doulas, midwives and economically disadvantaged families.
Who made the most impact on you and why?
Nancy’s mother, always a free thinker, taught her to question the norm, look into things and make her own judgments. Thanks to Mom, she went to school with organic lunches in reused bags long before the advent of the "green movement". Nancy’s mother was always several steps ahead of her time, offering wise advice, encouragement to do the right thing and consistent reminders that her daughter could do or be whatever she wanted.
Give us a recap of the year 2008. What have you done to add to your success?
2008 has been both challenging and rewarding. We designed new packaging for our Organic cotton line, developed a line of reusable produce bags and are currently at work on a reversible baby carrier constructed from organic fleece and cotton twill.
If you could have done something different last year, what would that have been?
We really should have committed a larger portion of our profits to advertising. We faced an onslaught of companies manufacturing cheap imitations of our designs in China. An insistence on fair labor practices makes our price a little higher, but the more that people buy American-made products, the better it is for Americans. We probably should have launched an ad campaign to make that point.
Other than a stack of money, what are the resources that you need to help you?
Conscious buyers make a huge difference. We really need more of them. People are becoming more and more aware of their purchasing power. Supporting companies that produce organic products made with fair labor practices goes a long way toward improving everyone’s future. Word of mouth has gotten us a lot of business and the celebrities who wear our carries have made an impact as well; maybe more celebrity baby booms? And that stack of cash wouldn’t be so bad either.
What do you think you are going to need to learn about the business to help you be successful?
We need to learn better marketing strategies to reach eco-conscious consumers. After all, our target audience is parents who want to make a better world for their children. Boutique stores which prefer unique, high-quality products are really our bread and butter.
Are you working on anything new?
We are always working on new patterns; we actually design our own prints so our customers will have a unique product.
Where can people learn more about you? What's your web site?
Our web site is: www.newnativeinc.com or people can reach us at info@newnativeinc.com . You can learn more about us at our site, as well as at Success Through Play online magazine: http://successthroughplay.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-native-footed-blanket.html
What words of wisdom do you have for others who are just getting started?
Perseverance and never compromising the highest standards is the best advice we can offer. We’re successful because we make every baby carrier with the quality that we would demand for our own babies.
