Jenifer Moore

Name: Jenifer Moore
Company: Pura Stainless
Position: Vice President and Co-Founder
Website: www.purastainless.com
Year company was founded: 2008
Family: Roger (Dad), Jen (Mom), Ian (5.5), Miles (3.5), Cosmo (dog, 7)

Tell us about your company:
Pura Stainless was created with a simple vision: to make a difference by responsibly manufacturing a safe, durable, and cost-effective alternative to bottled water and the inadequate reusable bottles available to consumers. In response to that vision, we have created the ultimate beverage bottle; one that not only makes an environmental statement but provides a safer and much more durable alternative to plastic, aluminum, and competing stainless bottles. We are proud to have been selected as one of the Top 50 Small Businesses in the US for 2009 by Intuit Inc. and as Working Mother Magazine’s Best Eco-Family style Company for 2010. One Life… One BottleTM

My a-ha moment: In 2008, before BPA was in the news, we found that the smell of the vitamin supplement drink prescribed for our toddler was impossible to clean out of plastic sippy cups. We looked for alternatives and only found aluminum bottles. When the aluminum bottles also proved to have a porous lining that held smells and were difficult to clean (their epoxy lining ended up also containing BPA), we decided that stainless steel was the only way to go! At that time there were few stainless steel toddler bottles available. All that were available used plastic components that still held smells and contained BPA or other petroleum-based chemicals. There were no stainless steel infant bottles available. Realizing this I started complaining to my husband incessantly. His solution: “if you think there is a market for stainless steel infant and toddler bottles then let’s make them!” I was on board before he finished his sentence!

How do you work your schedule to get a little flexibility? [e.g., any multitasking; working in the evening to get more daytime hours with your kids; loading up on kid-time on the weekend]:
All of the above! I get up before the kids get up and work for 60-90 minutes to get a jump on the day. This also allows me to get organized and be fully present when my children wake up. I don’t feel the need to try to jump on my computer to check e-mails while making breakfast because I already have! I work a couple hours each of the weekend days so that there is less pressure during the week.
I try to work in my office, away from our children as much as possible. When I work on the weekends I try to be clear about communicating with my young children. I let them know when I sit down to work. When they interrupt me I let them know when I will be at a good stopping point to help them. I make sure not to wait longer than 10 minutes before going to help them. Often they find their own solution in that time and I simply give them a hug and head back to work.

Can you offer any tips to other moms out there regarding growing a business or encouraging words for those with a small business?
You need endless reserves of patience and will power to get a new business going. Choose something you believe in whole-heartedly and you always find the stregth and will to preserver! Expect bumps in the road and be prepared for them.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about: new products, always new products! I love thinking of cool products that make life easier for mom with style and finess!

Best thing about being a parent: my kids! The great things they say and their hugs!

Best thing about owning my own business: One e-mail sticks in my mind. It was from a parent and simply stated that she thought our bottles were “sheer genius”. I know they are actually a good idea and a ton of sweat but notes like this make it all worth while! We strive to provide unique and industry leading solutions to the real challenges of the 21st century. We love the fact that in a crowded industry, our little business has been able to produce the best infant and toddler bottles available on the global market!

Guilty pleasure? I have no room in my busy day for guilt! However, I love my bathtub and a book!