From New Mom to CEO: Melissa Mor’s Entrepreneurial Journey with Mrs. Push
Finding a meaningful push present to commemorate the arrival of a new baby is a common challenge for new parents today. Melissa Mor, founder of online push present destination Mrs. Push, struggled through this same experience after the births of her three children. Despite an extensive search, Mor was unable to find a push present that felt truly special and representative of her new babies.
In this interview, Mor shares how her frustrating hunt for the perfect push present sparked the idea for Mrs. Push. After realizing there was no one-stop-shop catering to the push present needs of new moms, Mor set out to create a curated collection of heartfelt jewelry and gifts.
Please provide a brief introduction of yourself and your professional background.
I started my career as a buyer in women’s fashion. As I had kids I shifted more into the e-commerce & social media space. I ultimately knew I wanted to start an e-commerce business of my own & when I was pregnant with my 3rd baby I had that “aha” moment.
Please tell us a bit more about your startup – what does it offer, what problem does it solve, and who is your target audience?
Mrs. Push is an online push present & mom jewelry destination. For those who are not familiar with the term, a push present is a gift given to a new mom. It is usually jewelry. We offer all different types of fine jewelry, with mom in mind. Think initials, nameplates & birthstones. When looking for my own push present, I was overwhelmed by the lack of catering to new moms. Everything out there seemed so generic. My target audience is parents. New & experienced! Many of my clients come to me saying “I have 2 kids & never got a push present, I want something to represent my babies.”
What inspired you to start your own business? What was the “aha” moment?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart. I love learning about business & always knew I’m meant to have my own. When I was pregnant with my 3rd baby I had that “aha” moment. I realized there was a void in the push present market, so I set out to create Mrs. Push. Leveraging my passion for predicting trends and scouting new designers, Mrs. Push is a curated collection of the most heartfelt push presents & mom jewelry.
What were some of the biggest initial challenges you faced in getting your business off the ground? How did you overcome them?
Mrs. Push is curated with different designers from around the world. At first it was hard for me to find designers that met my criteria for the “perfect push present.” Designers work in groups & once you get approved for one, the rest follow. Getting my first designer to say yes to my idea & sell to me was the biggest challenge but the rest followed. I didn’t take no for an answer & it also helps that most of my designers are female/moms. So they totally got the idea of my business & my why.
How did you identify a gap in the market or need that your business fulfills?
I lived this push present dilemma for years. I never got one with each of my 3 kids because, I couldn’t find the perfect one. Then I’d speak to friends who couldn’t decide on one either & they’d ask for my help. I became the “push present guru” totally organically.
What has been your approach to funding your startup? Did you use your own savings, seek investors, crowdfund?
So far my entire business has been self funded & I would love to keep it that way for now!
What have been some of the toughest decisions you’ve had to make as a founder? Any stand out as pivotal?
The toughest decision for me is knowing where to spend my money. There are so many different ways to grow & deciding to work with an influencer, a PR agency, a marketing company each can take your business in different directions. When I first started I definitley said yes to more people & things. Now I really try to take the time & sit with my decisions before saying yes or no.
How do you stand out from the competition in your space? What sets your product/service apart?
I relate to the overwhelm of the push present dilemma, because I lived it myself. When I have a new dad come to me for help because he doesn’t want to just get “anything.” That is where we come in & shine, because I’ve been there & know how important it is to get this right. It is a piece of jewelry that will last forever, bringing back such special memories.
What does a typical day or week look like for you? How do you manage work-life balance?
There is no such thing as balance. As a mom of 3- everyday is different. In general I work as much as I can when my 3 kids are in school. The afternoons/nights, I *try* to be offline as much as possible. When I’m traveling for work, my family life is not balanced & when I have events at the kids school, my work life is not balanced. I am grateful to have a support sytem!
What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about being an entrepreneur?
The most rewarding, is getting to be a part of my client’s push present journey. To know that a special piece I curated is in their jewelry collection & will be passed down to their kids is a pinch me moment.
The most difficult, is having to answer to myself. I’m the boss so wanting to run something by a higher up isn’t possible. I rely on my husband & other entrepreneur friends for this to bounce ideas off each other.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own company?
Just to do it! Just get started. The rest will follow.
Melissa Mor’s journey from struggling new mom to founder of the thriving push present destination Mrs. Push exemplifies the power of identifying a need in the market and taking initiative to provide a solution. Despite the challenges of sourcing product and making tough business decisions, Mor persists in her mission to create a one-stop-shop for heartfelt push presents. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs – “Just get started. The rest will follow” – rings true from her own experience turning frustration into a successful brand. Mor continues to find reward in helping commemorate precious memories for new parents across the country.
