Featured Member – Tereson Dupuy

Tereson Dupuy

When did you start your business and how has it evolved since then? 

I started my business when I was only 28 years old after my son Eden who was suffering with chronic diaper rash needed a better solution for a diaper.  Not being one to shy away from a challenge I sought to not only fix his rash when a “cloth diaper” option but to tackle all of the things I found unsatisfactory with both disposable AND cloth diapers.  I knew I could do better than the square pieces of cloth that were out there.  I am smart woman!  After initially fixing the rash problem I quickly sought to make this a business – however I never imagined how big this business or this industry for that matter would grow.  It is rare to NOW find a cloth diaper that does NOT have polar fleece incorporated into it somehow – I made that happen.  I started sewing diapers in my home and now we manufacturer in an industrial facility and provide products globally to parents all over the world. 

What do you love about being a female entrepreneur? 

I love beating the odds – about charting new grounds.  But what I think I love most is being an inspiration to other woman and working mothers. I definitely have a “can do” attitude.  I love showing woman that you CAN have it all.  I have a blossoming career, a happy life and am a single mom to boot! 

How does your faith play out in your business? 

While I do not consider myself an overly religious person, my FAITH is the foundation for everything that I do.  I live my faith in every decision I make in my personal life and in business.  I strongly believe in giving back – I have been so blessed!  My business is so much more for me than business – it is a way to make a difference in people’s lives and I seek to do that whenever possible.  Whether it is lending a helping had to one of my stay at home mom retailers or volunteering my factory, employees and machines to sew BOOM to help protect our wetlands from the incoming oil – I am there to do it!  Some call it Karma, some call it Faith and even others  “the golden rule” to do onto others as you would have done unto you.  Whatever it is it is my driving force for the life I choose to live. 

What is your BIG DREAM for your business? 

I think I am living the dream right now!  My business is a vessel to provide me a life I would like to live.  I am happy, I love what I do and my children are healthy.  I do have plans for new product development and future direction but I don’t focus too much on the bigger and better deal.  But I just take it one day at a time and feel like every day I have achieved the BIG dream.   I do have other things I would like to do such as business consulting for the small creative minded business and I would love to write a book about my story – those are future goals that I have.  I want to do a lot! 

What 3 tips would you share with a friend who is launching her own entrepreneurial adventure? 

Tip 1: Never give up – even when things seem very bleak.  Just keep on moving and figuring out what comes next.  I am not a fan of the “Business Plan” and can’t say I ever used one.  I have more of a “figure out what comes next” in the process mode of business development.  If you take things one thing at a time you will figure that out.  Having long term, short term and immediate goals is always a good idea. 

Tip 2: Never feel like something is too big for you and definitely do not let anyone shun your dreams.  I was once told by a PR firm that they could not “market a cloth diaper” HA!  You can achieve anything you just need to find out how sometimes. 

Tip 3: And most importantly don’t overwork yourself.  We as women tend to try to do it all.  Ask for help, delegate if possible and take time to smell the roses! 

Tereson Dupuy
www.fuzzibunz.com
tereson@fuzzibunz.com