Entrepreneur Interview – Lindsay Marles

January 7, 2015
Entrepreneur Lindsay Marles is the founder and CEO of Austin Lloyd. She has a background in management consulting and product marketing as well as experience in the baby goods and logistics industries. She received her MBA from Duke University.

Interview Q&A:

1. What is your business/Business Name?  What does your business do?

Austin Lloyd. Austin Lloyd is a monthly subscription service of premium educational toys for children 3 and under.

2. Why did you get into this field?  What opportunities did you see?

80% of a child’s brain develops by age 5. With pre-K starting at age 4 and preschool starting around age 3, there seemed to be great opportunity to help children develop before pre-school. Kids learn through play, so sending a monthly box of developmentally appropriate toys makes it easy for parents to start engaging and helping their children learn.

I came up with the idea because I have three nephews and I always wanted to buy them educational toys that got them away from screens. After getting my MBA and then working at UPS, I gained the knowledge to launch the business and a foundation in logistics.

3. What have been your biggest challenges? 

Growth with little to no budget is by far the biggest challenge.

4. What has been your greatest reward?

There are so many! The greatest reward is probably the amazing network of people I have met within the start-up community. Everyone is incredibly supportive and we learn so much from each other.

5. If you could change something, what would it be?

I would have started building my business credit sooner. I decided to open some personal credit cards instead of business credit cards because they had 0% interest for longer timeframes. Getting business loans is more challenging without that credit history.

6. If you could give a new entrepreneur advice, what would it be?

Network and become a part of a start-up community as soon as you can. The relationships you build will help keep you motivated and excited about the business while also opening new doors.

7. Social Media.  Yay or Nay?

Yay

8. How do you market your products?

Social media and mommy bloggers are our primary marketing channels.

9. Is your business a service or a product?  If you are a product, how do you handle production? 

Service

10. What is unique about your business?

Austin Lloyd delivers customized boxes of toys that are developmentally appropriate for your child, right to your door. We find unique, high end toys that engage your child and help prepare them for pre-school and beyond.

11. Sell me your product/service.

80% of your child’s brain will develop by age 5. Why wait until pre-school to start educating your little one? We do all of the research to select engaging toys that are developmentally appropriate – and fun – for your infant or toddler. Subscribe to Austin Lloyd to help lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

Don’t have a child, but need to send a gift? We offer gift subscriptions too.

12. How can people get in touch with you?  What’s your website/Contact information?

Categories

More Posts:

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

Soe Tun: The Copy Doctor

Autistic kid finds out that he’s unemployable and doesn’t enjoy most social settings. Decides to be a pro copywriter as a result.

Annie Anderson – Business Strategist & WordPress Creator

Annie Anderson is the owner and digital creator at Midnight Rebel Digital Co. With over 25 years experience in design and development and more than 15 years experience with WordPress, Annie is a great person to have in your corner when it comes to websites, tech, and systems.

Fundraising 101: A Practical Guide for Entrepreneurs 

There are many great ideas that failed to become a reality because of the lack of funding. Start-ups need funding to stay alive, and entrepreneurs understand the importance of getting the necessary funding for the company to move forward in the early stages. In many...

Entrepreneur Interview- Anu Ramani

Anu Ramani is Managing Director of Isoline Communications, a London-based independent content marketing firm specializing in the technology B2B industry.

Entrepreneur Interview – Jeremy Ellens

Jeremy is the co-founder of LeadQuizzes, a quiz and survey software built for marketers to increase their leads and learn about their audience. Their users have generated over 4.7M leads and 73.9M questions answered.

Entrepreneur Interview – Lisa Kroese

Lisa Kroese has appraised and helped sell millions of dollars worth of art, antiques and personal property. She owns Expert Estates LLC, an estate liquidation and appraisal company in California. She also runs an estate sale business membership site.

Entrepreneur Interview: Brenda Miller

As a child, Brenda saw her mother run a successful beauty salon. Now, she reaches out to other business owners to improve their operations.

Entrepreneur Interview – Emily Kil

Emily Kil is the owner of Eco Bear Biohazard Cleaning Company – a company that provides biohazard, unattended death, suicide, crime scene, and homeless encampment cleaning services in Southern California.

Entrepreneur Interview – Myrtha Dubois

Myrtha Dubois knows all too well about life’s interruptions, such as feeling stuck, being overwhelmed, confused, frustrated, and running out of time. Time and time again, she rose to every interruption with three guides.

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

How to Expand Your Hiring Pool

How to Expand Your Hiring Pool

A diverse workforce can bring fresh perspectives, increased innovation, and a range of skill sets to your business. To create a more dynamic team, consider expanding your hiring pool in unconventional ways.  Hire From Outside Your Industry Hiring employees with...

Tips for Starting a Dog Park Business

Tips for Starting a Dog Park Business

Conclusion

Starting a dog park business can be very rewarding, but it requires careful planning in areas like design, safety, marketing, and community engagement.

By providing an enjoyable environment for both dogs and their owners and actively involving the community through events and partnerships, you can create a thriving dog park that meets a need for Colorado Springs residents.

With dedication and a focus on safety, maintenance, and the needs of visitors and their canine companions, your dog park can become a treasured community hub for years to come.

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, keeping up with technological advancements is essential for success. Implementing the latest technology can offer numerous benefits, such as improved productivity, enhanced data security, and reduced costs.  Improve...