Traveling with little ones can be new and exciting. It also requires plenty of planning! The second most frequently asked question is going to be “can we get something to eat? Oh, what a hassle that’s going to be!”

Where can we go that has booster seats?
What are the odds they’ll have ENOUGH booster seats?
Why don’t they ever put that on their restaurant blurb?

Vanessa Carrington asked those questions, too. She’s been there, too! Lots of trips, too few solutions. Until she went on a trip to Great Britain and she saw a very special booster seat. Upon discovering the [amazon_link id=”B005RC7E1Y” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Go Anywhere Travel Feeding Booster Seat[/amazon_link] , Vanessa knew she had to share it!

Please welcome Vanessa to the Spotlight!

MCA: Welcome to the spotlight Vanessa! That must have been quite the “aha” moment when you saw the booster seat. Can you please tell us more about your product?
Vanessa: My son had just turned one and we were visiting family in England. My friend had this seat in her kitchen and I thought to myself “THAT” is exactly what I need. I thought it would be easy to find on in the States, but there wasn’t anything like it. I approached the manufacturers in England and now we are the exclusive distributors in the United States.

MCA: Now that you have an award-winning product, what are your goals for the next year?
Vanessa: 2012 will hopefully be the year that our booster seat becomes a household name. There isn’t a family around that doesn’t eat out, visit family with older (or no) kids. Our booster seat is essential for any parent that needs to feed their little one on the go.

MCA: Please name three ways your Mom’s Choice Award® will help you attain your goals.
Vanessa: I think it always helps to have another mom validate the quality of a product.  I know as a mom myself, if a friend referred me to a product I would be more likely to buy it than another product I didn’t know much about.

The award also shows that our booster seat has been reviewed and analyzed by a neutral panel of judges.  In this case, judges that see hundreds of products, are not only industry experts but parents, and who select only the best.

I think the seal on the packaging or marketing is the extra bit of confidence a parent can use in deciding whether to buy the seat.

MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an entrepreneur in creating your award-winning product?
Vanessa: I learned that I have learned a lot along the way, and still have PLENTY to learn on the path ahead. Much like parenthood, I guess.

MCA: Since launching your product, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Vanessa: When I look at my kids and I realize that all my hard work to bring this seat to the US was inspired by them-that is what makes me the most proud. I look forward to the day where I can share with them the adventure and that it all came about because of them.

MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Vanessa: How do you take a great product which is selling well, to a great product that is a household name?

MCA: Thanks for stopping by Vanessa, thank you for stopping by and in recognizing the rigorous processes and rewards that come with hard work!

Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors

[amazon_link id=”B0055869AC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B0055869AC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Go Anywhere Travel Feeding Booster Seat [/amazon_link] A Parent Company
Gold 2011 – Gear & Accessories
2012

 

Contact, Connect and Network with Vanessa

 

The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.