Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Howell, co-founder of Helmsie:
Helmsie is a children’s brand based in Georgia. After having children of their own, cofounders and friends Sarah Howell and Karla Pruitt dreamed up Helmsie. They have always agreed that the very best goods are practical and pretty, something both parent and little can enjoy together. Helmsie’s online retail store carries the goods they dreamed up, as do over 2000 retail stores across the US and abroad. Helmsie has also designed products for other companies who make fantastic goods as well, like hand screen printed wallpaper for Hygge & West, beautifully patterned home and baby goods for Creative Co-Op and an enamelware line with Crow Canyon to name a few.
Helmsie has grown exponentially, but intentionally over the past five years. This can be accredited to long hours, networking and focusing on building a brand that they love.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We chose not to take on outside capital to launch Helmsie, so we started out with little to nothing but our artwork and an idea. Our first year was a lot of drawing for my business partner, Karla Pruitt, and a lot of planning, trend casting, and digesting business how-tos and strategies for me. We launched Helmsie with a successful Kickstarter campaign and that set us up financially to launch our first products. Our growth has been organic and has been really exciting. We have worked hard to double our revenue each year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Helmsie?
I love that I get to be creative in my day-to-day and that my business partner, Karla, and I get to design what we love. It’s incredibly rewarding when an idea over your morning coffee turns into a new best-selling product or trend. Taking that idea, developing it, and then making it happen and getting to enjoy the final product with something tangible in your hands or in your home (and your friends’ homes), is just so fun. The flexibility of owning our own company has also been key as both Karla and I have young children and want to spend a good amount of time at home.
At Helmsie, we are known for our whimsical hand-drawn artwork and repeat patterns. The use of our own artwork on our own products, as well as those from our licensing collaborations set us apart. Some of our best-selling products are our sippy cups and our Mama and Me Cup Sets, we can hardly keep those in stock!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Helmsie products are thoughtfully and purposefully created with both adults and littles in mind. At Helmsie, you will find products filled with whimsy and joy that the modern mom (or dad!) would be proud to have in their home. Helmsie’s collection boasts of unique sets of hand-drawn flashcards, fine art prints and posters, and our popular “Mama and Me” line.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://helmsiebaby.com
- Instagram: @helmsiegoods
Image Credits
Danielle Hulsey Helmsie
