Sherrie Allen

Please tell us more about your business and when you started it.

I am a mother of two and a nurse. When my twin sister had her first child, I kept him home with me while she worked for nearly his first year. He had very sensitive skin and eczema and very bad diaper rashes as a result of the skin issues and antibiotics for ear infections. We tried everything to help soothe and heal the rashes and no single thing worked. It was so frustrating to try to change his diapers; he was screaming, we were crying, and we felt it was ridiculous to keep going to the doctor for a diaper rash! Finally, through much trial and error, we created a 'concoction' that worked and we were a much happier nephew and family!

Over time friends and family wanted to use it, then we sold it at my husband’s compounding pharmacy and hospice nurses and pediatricians were recommending it all over town. That pharmacy closed and people wanted to know where they could still find what we called "Happy Tails". My mother had just died suddenly and our family was in a terrible time of grief, but I felt lead to get this product out there. I packaged it, figured out how to do the labels for it, and asked community drug stores and baby boutiques to carry it to see if it would sell. IT DID! We didn’t have huge sales, but they are growing every month and use 'word of mouth' for advertising. We take samples to daycares, doctors, and pediatricians and once people try it, they buy it.

Tell us how your "What’s Now" moment occurred and what did it mean to you?

My “What’s Now” moment happened after a few really bad months after my mom died suddenly and my husband lost his 'dream job' as a compounding pharmacist. We see now that when that door closed, it opened up the possibility for much greater things and more focus on what mattered most.

The closest time frame that your 'What’s Now' moment occurred was…?

After my mother died is when my ‘What’s Now’ moment occurred.

What are your biggest challenges?

My biggest challenges are just to stay motivated and find time to market Happy Tails Baby Cream, advertise, and make the cream, too. I work full-time as a school nurse and am very busy with my boys.

What are your aspirations?

My aspirations are to continue what I am doing, grow the business slowly, and help people.

What are your interests?

My interests are music, going to movies, skating or playing the Wii or games with the kids, reading, swimming, exercising.

What inspires you?

Helping others and seeing that they appreciate it inspires me.

On the Net: www.happytailscream.com

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