Necessity is the mother of invention, and sometimes, this can even happen in your own life, as it did for Janice Wong, RN, the founder of BeCeBe Cloth (which sounds a little like “busy bee”).
She thought about a problem she wanted to fix, and in doing so, she started her side gig.
For ten years, she worked in psychiatric nursing and leadership positions. But, she says, after giving birth to her first child, she wanted more flexibility to prioritize her family’s needs, so she began working as an acute care case manager.
Wong took the time to answer our questions about her business. What follows is our interview, edited for length and clarity.
How did you come up with the idea for BeCeBe Cloth? Why did you decide to start your side gig with BeCeBe Cloth? When did you start it, and how did you go about it? What product was first?
I started BeCeBe Cloth after witnessing the destructive wildfires in California in recent years. In September 2020, the sky in San Francisco Bay Area turned orange, and I couldn’t help but wonder how my children’s future could be affected by climate change. So I started to pay close attention to the environmental impact I create as a parent of two kids. I began cloth diapering when I saw disposable diapers overflowing from my municipal trash bin.
The start of my cloth diapering journey was overwhelming. I spent weeks researching how the product works, how to wash the diapers, and potential hygienic concerns. But it turned out that cloth diapering was so easy, manageable, and fun! When I told my friends about my journey, I realized the steep learning curve was the biggest barrier. So I was determined to design my cloth diaper features that make it easy and “mess proof.”
Without any prior experience, I learned everything via YouTube and Google on product design, creating a prototype, fabric sourcing, and searching for overseas manufacturers to keep prices affordable while maintaining a healthy profit margin to sustain the business and its mission.
My first product was a set of uniquely designed, leak-proof cloth diapers that offer maximum absorbency. I also designed a two-sided, multi-purpose blanket that parents love when kids are potty training to help keep upholstery protected from accidents.
In Oct 2021, I launched a crowdfunding campaign to promote my company’s mission and products. Subsequently, I launched my e-commerce store and marketing campaigns.
What exactly do you do now with the business? Do you take all the orders and send out the products? Or have you farmed out those tasks? Please explain.
I am the solo worker in my business and wear all the hats–from marketing to shipping the products. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, and building brand awareness takes longer than most people think. My plan is to minimize expenses and operate my business from home until sales can match the wages of a nurse.
Did you have previous entrepreneurial experience? Or did you learn on the go? Did it take a lot of time or money to establish your business? Please explain.
Although I’ve had operational experience and budget oversight in nursing leadership, I had no prior experience in entrepreneurship, and I learned as I went along.
I made many phone calls and asked many questions when my children took naps, and after the whole family was asleep. I also joined female founder networking groups to hear about the experience of other founders.
Before launching the crowdfunding campaign, I invested in a marketing accelerator to learn more about one of the most important areas of a business and won the pitch competition.
What did you enjoy most about your side gig?
The most rewarding part of my side gig was hearing first-hand from other moms that my products saved the day!
The mission of BeCeBe Cloth is to make parenthood easier while reducing waste. Knowing that I was able to help a fellow mother is what keeps me going!
I also enjoyed learning about marketing, various business modules, and meeting other female entrepreneurs.
What are some of the challenges?
The time, courage, mistakes, marketing effort, and consistency required to start and grow a profitable business exceeded my expectations. It’s certainly not as easy as one may read in an entrepreneurship article, and entrepreneurship failures are not discussed in mainstream media. Over 20% of small business fails within the first year, and over 50% fail within the first five years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021).
Aside from business strategies and maintaining positive cash flow, staying consistent even when sales are slow is crucial in maintaining the business’ livelihood.
What are the biggest rewards of having your side gig?
Despite all the hard work, investment of time, and money, my side gig offers hope for building financial freedom while fulfilling a bigger mission–to help others outside of my nursing career.
I also have met a lot of inspirational and amazing female founders on the entrepreneurial journey. Many are willing to share their experiences to help each other succeed.
What would you say to someone considering starting their side gig?
Ask lots of questions, thoroughly research the pros and cons of your business idea, and know that it may take months or years to reach your goal.
There is a lot of noise on the internet about overnight success and passive income. However, discerning and filtering information is essential to take the best next step on the entrepreneurship journey.
Anything else we haven’t asked you that you think is important for readers to know?
Nurses are adaptable and have amazing skill sets! So don’t be afraid to explore what side gig may light you up!
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- A Day in the Life: Psychiatric Nurse - February 5, 2024