OnTray Gets a Review!

I've been sending out samples to Websites all over the country. I received the first review from a Website based out of LA. http://www.lapregnancy.com/ says this about my product:


6/19/07
Mom Invented, LAPregnancy Approved - OnTray2Go
Mom invented, LAPregnancy approved! That's right, every parent needs one of these!
Take this ingenious device on the go with you to the market. No more buying everything in site for your kiddies to keep them entertained... Ontray2go is THE Answer! Snap it onto your shopping cart and keep your children entertained with their own munchies, toys, etc. Whatever works while you scoot down the aisles of your favorite grocery store!
We just love this idea invented by a mother for mothers!
http://www.ontray2go.com/

I am so excited and appreciative to LAPregnancy for their kind words of support!

Hilton Head

We're here at the beach. Hilton Head Island to be exact. We have been coming here every year since I can remember. We took last year off because Ty was just over a year old and we weren't sure how he would do. Boy do I love that child, but man oh man did I think he was just going to push me over the edge. Chad and I were talking about how when we would take the kids out to dinner when Ty was younger, he would just scream his head off. Jack and Luke were so easy to take places. Then came Ty. Wow! Just thinking about those days gives me a little headache. Hard to believe a little person can change so much over the course of a year. You should see them all here at the beach. They're enjoying each others company, sleeping together and eating together. Just like brothers should be. Constant company for each other. I hope they'll remember these days. It's all about memories.

My First Interview!

Well, my first interview is scheduled for July 5th. I could not be more excited about it. It's with the Westerville News and Public Opinion. Ok, so it's not with Newsweek or anything like that, but it's a start. My PR rep (the hubby, Chad) contacted some of the local media and the SNP was the first to "bite". The reporter is coming to my house and we are going to do the interview here. Then we are going to go shopping together. He wants to see OnTray in action. I'm so anxious to see what sort of response this brings. I read that local paper like it's my job. I love the articles and all of the ads. Hopefully I'm not the only one!

Moms helping Moms

Yesterday, I took a chance and sent an e-mail to another mom who runs a web-site where she sells adorable T-shirts she designs. I just told her a little about my story and asked if she'd look at my site and tell me what she thought. Wendy Irvine with http://www.multiplemomsrock.com , sent an e-mail back to me with some very encouraging and complimentary words. I was so grateful to her, and in fact she also gave me a contact person in Sacramento who is the editor of a kids magazine out there. I sent her an e-mail as well. I hope that works out. I would love to reach people out in that area. Well, at this point I'd love to reach people from anywhere!

Check out Wendy's site. She offers T-shirts with adorable sayings like, "Why can't I have a Time Out?" and "Raising twins is an extreme sport". Too cute. Thanks Wendy!

Monthly Newsletter

Well, I'm going to give it a shot. I have now incorporated a place on my home page where people can sign up for a monthly newsletter from yours truly. I'm actually really excited about it. I'm going to be able to keep people up to date on new products (which I hope to have soon), specials and also have stories that I think will be of interest to everyone. I have always enjoyed writing and putting in my two cents worth. Now, people can actually ask to read what I think. No, it won't necessarily be me voicing my opinion on the election in 2008 or anything like that. Very PC on my end. I think it'll be a fun ride!

Salesman/Woman of the Month

My mom and her friend Anne are on a mission to sell has many OnTray's as possible. Anne had me over the other afternoon to "brainstorm" some marketing ideas. My mom takes OnTray's in her car everyday. She goes to Book Club and sells five, she goes to New Neighbors Club and sells five. This morning she came by before she left for bridge because she needed to replenish her stock. It is just amazing to have people surrounding you that want to see you succeed. This has really shown me how kind, warm hearted, loving and excepting people can be. I feel blessed.

Over 1000 Hits!

Thank you everyone! I have had over 1000 hits to my web-site www.ontray2go.com (1059 hits to be exact). The word is spreading and I have shipped to SC, FL, PA, NY, IN, WV and all over Ohio. The friends and family letter really worked. Thank you to everyone who has supported me since I launched the site last week, and forwarding on the letter. I can't express in words what it has meant to me and Chad. Just know we are grateful!

Luke, Oh Luke!

Chad just reminded me that Luke has been left out in this whole process. Ty is my model on the web-site and on all of the print materials, and I've talked about Jack on my blog. Well, being the middle child in a classic way, of course I left him out! It wasn't intentional, but it happens. Why is that? The poor middle child syndrome.

Luke is just about as sweet as they come. He is so loving, accepting and reserved. He says that he is shy. I think he's heard me describe him as that to others. His older brother does all of the talking for him (and his mom too I'm afraid), so why does he need to be so outgoing? He starts preschool next year, and I am just thrilled for him. He will make his own friends and come into his own personality. It will be so neat to watch. It's hard to imagine him any better than he is, but I think it's just the beginning. I'm ready for the ride!

Kindergarten

Today was my oldest son, Jack's, last day of Kindergarten. His teacher organized a Last Day Luau. It was so much fun. Both the am and pm classes had the party together. They were all divided into separate groups with combos of kids from the am and pm classes. Jack was in an all boy group (hello energy) and knew only one other kid. I sneaked out of the station I was working to peek at him, and he was high-fiving these boys while they were playing "coconut bowling". I just sat and watched in amazement at how willing little people are to forge friendships with people they've never meet before. At the end of the party Jack said goodbye to his teachers and his friends. When we got in the car he said, "Now I have so many more friends. I can't wait until the first grade". That makes two of us!

My Friend Anne

My friend, Anne, decorated her OnTray with Stick-Ons from JoAnn Fabrics. Is she clever or what? This clear one was a sample I received. Maybe I should order some clear ones. People could put all sorts of stickers on them. Clever!

MyBlogLog

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Connections

You know what amazes me? There are a lot of kind people out there that want to help. In the past few days, I received e-mails from women I don't even know. They've received my letter from someone forwarding it on. They feel strongly about something, and they want to share it with me. One ordered my product then got in touch with me to see "how I did it" and wanted to ask some questions and share some ideas. Another lady just wanted to pass along some information about how to contact a children's catalog. A friend of a friend sent me information about a grocery store in NY that would love my product. I am just blown away by the support of people I don't even know. This is how it should be. We should all want to help people "make it". I would do the same thing, and I appreciate the support from those I know, and those I don't!

Press Release

The Container 2 Go!


42 Kids LLC
PO Box 1773
Westerville, Ohio 43082
Phone (614) 313-0530
E-Mail info@ontray2go.com
Website http://www.ontray2go.com/


Press Release
Contact: Laura Hamrick
Phone: (614)313-0530
E-Mail: lchamrick@columbus.rr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 A.M. EDT, June 4, 2007

OHIO MOM INVENTS NEW PRODUCT THAT

IS SURE TO MAKE SHOPPING WITH KIDS LESS STRESSFUL

Westerville,OH (June 2007) - 42 Kids, a Westerville, Ohio based company owned by
Laura Hamrick, announced today that it is ready to launch its first product. OnTray™ is a mom invented product that has been in production for almost two years. “I am so excited to finally share with other parents this product I’ve created. OnTray™ has really made shopping much more enjoyable for my three children and me”, said Laura Hamrick, CEO and Founder of 42 Kids. OnTray™ is a uniquely designed container that when attached to a shopping cart handle bar, faces the child in the shopping cart seat and allows them to feed themselves. “It frees the parent or guardian’s hands for shopping while at the same time promoting the child’s independence,” said Laura.

OnTray™ is compact enough that it easily fits in a purse or diaper bag and is useful in many applications. When you need a quick snack or distraction for your child, OnTray™ fills the need. It also allows you to monitor what your child snacks on. “Rather than the free cookie at the grocery store I can take along a healthier alternative.” says, Laura.

Starting June 1, 2007, OnTray™ will be available for direct-to-consumer purchase through the company’s web-site. Please visit http://www.ontray2go.com/ for pricing, photos and more information.


####


If you’d like more information about OnTray™, or to schedule an interview with Laura Hamrick, please call her at 614/313-0530 or e-mail her at lchamrick@columbus.rr.com

Orders!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The web-site has been viewed over 400 times and orders are coming in! Ok, so they're not flying in, but no one said this was going to be an overnight success story(that would have been something though:). I have had orders go to SC, PA and different parts of Ohio. Thank you to everyone who has purchased an OnTray, and thank you to all who helped me out by forwarding my friends and family letter. Your support means the world to me. This has been a very exciting first couple of days in cyberspace!

Running a Business From Home

I am slowly discovering that running your own business from home is hard work! I never stop. Everyone is napping in my house right now, but I am on the web blogging. Trying to promote my web-site. I just sent out a Press Release about 30 minutes ago (the first one EVER for me), how scary was that. I have been doing research on how to "grab the presses attention", or "write the best press release ever". It's all a little overwhelming for a stay at home mom with no formal training on writing, contacting or talking to the press. I'm nervous that someone may actually call me. Back to running a business from home, unlike having an office, I don't have regular wok hours. My work hours are when my kids are eating, napping, at a friends house playing or when my parents or our babysitter can come over. I just hope this will all be worth it in the long run.

Running a Business From Home

Friends and Family

Dear Friends and Family,

Over the past two years, I have been working on a product that I invented. I am so excited and finally ready to share it with you.

A couple of years ago I was at the grocery store with all three boys. Jack and Luke were “driving” the shopping cart that looks like a truck. Ty, not even a year, was up front in the child seat part of the cart. I was handing him one Cheerio™ at a time from a container that I carried with me everywhere I went. I was trying to shop, contain my “little truck drivers”, browse through my coupons, keep Ty happy and get all of the items on my list. Needless to say, I came home with a bunch of junk that Luke and Jack threw in the cart and was completely frazzled. I swore never to go shopping with the kids again! That day, while the children were napping, I did some searching on the web and found there wasn’t a product available that would free up adult hands to shop and keep little hands busy. OnTray™ was born. It was born out of necessity.

OnTray™ is a container that attaches to the handle bar of a shopping cart. It faces the child in the shopping cart seat and encourages children to feed themselves. This product allows the parent, grandparent or caregiver to have their hands free to shop! It makes shopping with children more enjoyable and stores easily in a diaper bag or purse. My mother uses it for her coupons and grocery list. She no longer has to dig through her purse to find the right coupon or her list. Everything fits nicely into OnTray™. The other day, we took the kids for a walk and discovered that OnTray™ also fits onto our jogging stroller/bike attachment. The kids were so excited to have their snacks right in front of them. When we are out to dinner we set it on the table and have snacks ready for the kids while we wait on our food. With OnTray™ being so multifunctional, it has really replaced our many Tupperware™ containers.

Please visit my web-site at www.ontray2go.com and check out the product, my story and some pictures of OnTray™ being used. It would also mean a great deal to me if you could pass this e-mail along to your friends and family. As with many new products, word of mouth is critical. I welcome your feedback on the site or if you want, just send an e-mail to say hello. If you should use the product, I would love to add your pictures and comments to the site.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. This has definitely been a wonderful learning experience for me, and I am passionate about sharing this with all of you.

Love,

Laura