WEBINAR: Build a Virtual Team,
Tips to Build Your Business by Outsourcing

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It’s likely you’re overwhelmed, exhausted, maybe even burned out, and your business growth and income has reached a plateau. But it doesn’t have to be this way and it’s important you attend this webinar.

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Leslie Newton

Founder, Co-Owner and CCO
Timi & Leslie

In 1999, unable to find a stylish, hip diaper bag for a friend’s baby shower, Leslie Newton sewed together some vintage fabric, covered it in vinyl and created her own. It got a huge reaction. Soon, people were requesting she create similar diaper bags for them, so Leslie did just that, selling the bags for $25. In 2000, she and her business partner officially launched Timi & Leslie, essentially revolutionizing the diaper bag. In 2005, Women’s Wear Daily named Timi & Leslie number two on a list of those who have made a difference in the children’s industry during the past 20 years, ranking higher than prominent companies like Mattel, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street and Disney.

Leslie, a University of California at Los Angeles graduate who majored in theater, was acting with The Groundlings, the famous LA improvisation group, when she constructed the original diaper bag. As a child, Leslie was constantly making things and selling them. She always loved vintage fabric, collecting it for years.

An Incubator Intensive graduate, Leslie admits that starting the business wasn’t a conscious choice, explaining, “It just took off.” The timing was perfect. When Los Angeles-based Timi & Leslie was founded, the only diaper bag options were pastel-colored vinyl totes decorated with clowns, teddy bears or balloons. There was nothing out there that was fashionable, functional and made moms feel sexy. Timi & Leslie stylishly filled that void. Interestingly, neither woman was a mother back then.

At the time she launched her company, Leslie’s retro-looking bags weren’t immediately recognized as diaper bags. In fact, at her first trade show in New York, Leslie had to post a “diaper bags” sign because they were so fashion forward no one could believe the bags were meant for moms. She sold door to door to boutiques and in one weekend sold over $8,000 worth of merchandise.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive response Leslie received from her initial collection, she put her comedy career on hold to focus full-time on designing a line of stylish and convertible diaper bags. Leslie says her bags are for “the woman in every mom.”

Designed to accommodate both mom and baby, Timi & Leslie’s diaper bags not only include mother-friendly features such as stroller straps and insulated bottle totes, but also have matching change pads, clutches, key fobs and other accessories. The diaper bags are so sleek and chic that women are using them as purses and laptop totes. Leslie’s bags are sold domestically and internationally at stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Giggle and buybuy BABY.

Describing her company culture as exciting, fun and supportive, Leslie’s best moment with Timi & Leslie was being recognized publicly as a pioneer of diaper bags by Women’s Wear Daily. Her company has been featured in People, Marie Claire, US, In Style, In Touch, Wall Street Journal, American Baby, Accessories Magazine, Pregnancy Baby, Pregnancy Magazine and on shows such as Inside Edition, E! Entertainment and the Tyra Banks Show.

Today, Leslie is a wife and mother to a young daughter in addition to being the Chief Creative Officer for Timi & Leslie. Her former business partner, Timi, is also enjoying motherhood.

Timi & Leslie has a list of celebrity fans, including Angelina Jolie, Vanessa Williams, Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, Courtney Cox Arquette, Britney Spears, Chandra Wilson and Jessica Alba. Even Jack Black carries the men’s version.

What we learned from Leslie: “My best advice would be that old saying KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid. Especially as a small company, you don’t have a lot of manpower. At times, you’ll want to take on too much and will need to reign yourself in. “You’ll want to do everything well, but don’t get obsessive about it. If you do, then nothing gets done.”

Basic Instinct

“Initially learning the business was a real challenge. I’m completely self-taught. Teaching myself the industry worked in my favor. Since I didn’t go to design school, I was able to create without boundaries and always think outside the box. A lot of it is instinct.”

Hire Help

“Hire consultants, they can be helpful at times. Never be afraid to ask questions or reach out for help.”

Fight or Flight

“I had a really big order to fill with a tight deadline, and my regular contractor couldn’t do it, so I went with a highly recommended contractor. When the goods were delivered, the order was messed up. I called my friends and family and we worked late into the night to fix the bags. We did the impossible and got the order out in time.”

This Featured Lady was profiled by Megan L. Reese, WORDrobe™ Stylist for Her Write Image in West Grove, PA.

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