Meet the Maker | Yoomi Cho + a GIVEAWAY

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I’m so excited to kick off my Meet the Maker series! Yoomi is the woman behind LoveumKids, a kid’s handmade apparel and accessories brand. I just love how open and honest Yoomi is with sharing the whys and inspiration for starting her own business. The Meet the Maker series gives me the opportunity to introduce you to some of the makers, creators and artists behind some amazing companies and brands out there. It’s not only a great excuse to share some of the great things these women are doing and how they’re turning their passions into dollars, but it’s also designed to inspire others to say “yes” to their own creative journeys. If you are interested in participating in a Meet the Maker interview, I’d love to hear from you! Now, on to the interview:

Tell us a little about yourself and how you got here. Where did you get the idea to start LoveumKids? 
Hi! My name is Yoomi and I’ve been in business since March of 2014. I am a SAH-Working-mama to 4yo Eden, and 1yo Erin.  I married my college sweetheart, Eddie, in 2008 after nearly dating for 7 years.  I am a Physician Assistant by trade, but decided to put my professional career temporarily on “hold” until I raise my girls.

Motherhood is supposed to be amazing, right? Well, back in 2011, right after I had Eden, things just weren’t “amazing” as it was “supposed” to be.  I suffered from some major post-partum depression.  I felt alone; felt like I “lost” myself.

Well, that’s where LoveumKids comes in.  I needed a niche for myself.  I wanted to make “handmade” goodies that didn’t look “HOME” made. I hired a professional pattern maker to make my leggings pattern and searched high and low for good quality fabrics.  I knew nothing of sewing, so I took private sewing lessons.  I just knew that if I was going to make “money” from selling my handmade goodies, it just better be worth the money.  Selling something I HAND-made is very personal.  My motto is that “I only sell what I’d put on my own kids.”

How did LoveumKids get its name?
Most people think that I came up with “Loveum” because I want you to say “I love them!!” after receiving my items.  Well, that is absolutely true, but the real reason for the shop’s name is because I married into the EUM family.  LOVE EUM was one of the names we came up with when brainstorming names for our girls.  Although we ended up not using this name,  I thought it was so clever and brilliant ( I know, I’m a dork) that I couldn’t just “discard” it.  Thus, the birth of LOVEUMKIDS apparel and accessories.

Who/what inspires you? 
My mom and my girls inspire me. My mom has been in the clothing manufacturing business for over 30 years. If I ever have a question about patterns, fabric choices, or practically ANYTHING related to clothes making, I ask her.  She’s my toughest critic. My girls are the reason why I even started this.  They are the reason I do what I do.

What are the best and hardest things about being your own boss? 
The best thing about being my own boss is that I get to create what I want to create and the flexibility of when, where, and how I decide to work. The hardest thing that I still struggle with is prioritizing. I realize that being a mom is first, but some days, I have to work over-time to meet my order deadlines, etc.

What advice would you share with other women entrepreneurs? 
Do what you love! Take it one day at a time. Don’t feel like you need to “do it all!!!” Don’t feel bad asking for help!

What’s next for LoveumKids? 
I am currently only selling on ETSY, but for 2016, my goal is to create my own website!

What’s your favorite item from your shop? 
Harems are my favorite items. They’re unisex, hip, and comfy!

What show(s) are you watching right now? 
Food Network and HGTV are ALWAYS on at our house!

Thank you, Yoomi, for sitting down with me this week! I love the personal meaning behind the name of LoveumKids and how much work you’ve put in to created your brand to be what it is today. Find Yoomi and LoveumKids online at www.loveumkids.com and on Instagram at @loveumkids.

Anyone interested in a little GIVEAWAY from LoveumKids? Yoomi and I have teamed up to give one lucky winner $10 SHOP CREDIT to LoveumKids!

Entering is super easy! Just head over to the giveaway image on my Instagram page at @littlefirebrigade and follow the steps to enter.

The giveaway will run until Monday, January 18th at midnight EST. A winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and announced both here and on Instagram within 48 hours of the giveaway end. The winner has 24 hours to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen. U.S. residents only, please.

(Product photos provided by LoveumKids and @tys_threads)

The winner of the giveaway is @hollleighhh! Thank you so much for entering!