Name of your website?Children's Harnesses by Elaine, Inc.
Your name?
Elaine
Your Location (city, etc)
Richmond Hill
Please give us a short summary of your website?
I hand-make toddler walking harnesses (a.k.a. "safety harnesses"), custom order harnesses for larger children and 2 chest strap harnesses for teens/adults. All my harnesses are for walking and/or supporting the person in their wheelchair/stroller
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I advertised my product in a few magazines and at trade shows and was very disappointed with the response. Meaning, I lost a lot of money!! I decided to try a website as a replacement to such advertising techniques because, by having a website, people who visit are people who are interested in my product and are actively shopping for a walking harness!
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
I have only one website and it was launched 10 February 2007. Yeah!
How did you decide on a name for your website?
I wanted a short name that was easy to type and which adequately described my product. "childharness" seemed to do it!
What makes it different from other, similar offerings?
Most other toddler harnesses on the market fasten in the front (so the child can easily undo it) or they break after a few tantrums (I still have customers who buy my harness to replace other products). My design and the materials I use makes my harness one of the strongest on the market. It buckles at the back, is easy to put on and remove and I custom make them to ensure the parent can use the same product for years.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
My goal is to help as many parents as I can who need walking harnesses to keep their children safe and to keep the parent more relaxed when they go for outings.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
I have heard, second-hand, that some parents would like locking buckles at the back of the harness. These locking buckles are extremely difficult to find (I can't) and if I did find them, I doubt I would be able to pay for them. If I had unlimited funds, I would use that money to order some of these locking buckles so that parents of children with autism and/or ADHD would have the harnesses the way they want. (Currently, I use a combination lock that is metal but I think some of the parents are concerned about using it on a harness for a 7 yr old, for example. The combination locks have worked extremely well for my older customers though.)
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
My priority is customer service. Each harness I make is made for a very precious individual - whether that individual is a newly walking toddler or a 38 yr old with special needs. Every harness I make is made with love and care and if my business got really big, really quickly, I would explain to customers that their order would be fulfilled as quickly as possible but with the same care as all the others. No compromises because I was busy!!!!
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Some people in advertising are not very nice and not very honest about keeping their word!!!
What has been your biggest challenge?
Convincing my husband that making walking harnesses for anyone, whether a toddler or a 7 yr old with autism, is important and extremely meaningful to me. (He's money oriented and money is one thing I'm NOT making!)
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
I've heard (also second-hand) that a lot of parents are saying very nice things about my product on the parenting groups forums. So, I guess the most successful method of promoting my website has been me, the care I put into making each harness and good customer service I strive to give because now people are talking.
What is your website address?
Children's Harnesses by Elaine, Inc.
