In September, I launched Lunnie 2.0.! This milestone was two years in the making and is a big leap for growing my business. I've officially moved the Lunnie bras out of my daughters' playroom where I've been personally fulfilling and shipping orders for years to a local warehouse. As an entrepreneur and mom to three little girls, this alone was a major breakthrough.
The Global Manufacturer Search
Shortly after I launched Lunnie 1.0 and gave birth to my third daughter, I quickly realized I would need a larger manufacturer to successfully scale my business. I was so grateful to produce Lunnie 1.0 with a local, small-batch manufacturer but they had limitations.
As someone who does not have previous design or production experience, it was a huge undertaking seeking out a global manufacturer. I spent an entire year prototyping with one manufacturer but walked away when I felt like the product wasn't meeting my standards.
I then hired a production consultant and fellow mom who helped source a world-renowned bra manufacturer in Vietnam. We spent another year prototyping, adding more leakproof coverage, extended sizes, and a new color.
Lunnie Hive Moms to the Fit Test Rescue
Just as I utilized moms in fit testing my first Lunnie bra, I asked local moms to fit test the Lunnie 2.0 prototypes. This time, I threw a fitting party at a local boutique where moms came to try on nursing bras, drink wine, and have a good time. Once again, I was blown away by the generosity and enthusiasm of this community!
New Inventory, New Warehouse
With a larger manufacturer comes larger minimum order quantities. It was clear the new inventory would no longer fit in our house. So I connected with a local warehouse that could store, fulfill, and ship orders for me. This partnership has given me so much time back, allowing me to focus on other aspects of the business.
Back to School, Time for Lunnie 2.0
With summertime being extra busy having my three daughters at home (ages 6, 4, and 2), I decided to hold off launching Lunnie 2.0 until they started in school in September. For all the headaches being a small business owner can bring, the ability to time things around my family is the best perk. The inventory arrived mid-August so I was able to spend a couple extra weeks getting everything ready.
Launch Day
We launched on September 3rd, which coincided with my two youngest daughters starting preschool. I got my girls ready, took first day of school photos in front of the house, dropped them off, and then went to a coffee shop to hit the launch button. This also marked my first time ever having all three girls at school (even though it's only 2.5 hours twice a week). Two big milestones that day!
What's Next
Now that Lunnie 2.0 is live, I can shift my focus from production and operations to selling and marketing. This is the fun stuff for me! I'm working on campaigns to reach new moms and national media outlets. I'm so proud of how Lunnie 2.0 turned out and can't wait for more moms to discover it!
As always, thank you for your support. Lunnie would not exist without this Hive community. As a small, women-owned business this means the world!
Xx,
Sarah Kallile
Founder + CEO
Lunnie