This Mother’s Day we’re celebrating some local mamas around the Bay who are offering up inspiring insights into the delicate balance of work/family life and sharing with us what it takes to run a business (on top of it all). It’s important to note, these companies were launched with the help of little muses—nothing like a child to bring out one’s entrepreneurial side. From seasoned to soon-to-launch, read on for some sweet success stories on businesses you’ll want to bookmark for future visits.

Purposeful Living: Hunter’s Threads

Michelle Huang Scott’s journey to help her developmentally delayed son Hunter, turned into a passion different than she ever expected. “My first born son Hunter had problems that were proving to be overwhelming for me financially, emotionally, and physically. I needed to do something to help me and to help other moms who were struggling as well,” Scott says. From her struggle, Hunter’s Threads was born, first as a business of selling used clothing, where a portion of the profits pay for children’s occupational and speech therapy for the San Francisco community. The store, located in SF’s sunset district, now doubles as a clinic, with assessments, intake, and most importantly, free therapy offered in private rooms on-site in partnership with Build, Learn, Thrive, the same group that helped Hunter. The HT Therapy Play Groups began in January 2017 and have a growing waitlist. Follow the journey on Instagram at @officialhuntersthreads

What's the biggest challenge of starting your own business with a young family?
Doing all this with two toddlers and now pregnant with our third (due in June) has been quite difficult. As moms, we are expected to juggle a lot because frankly, we can. The challenge is being okay with working through the night on the branding, development, events, and procurement for the store while trying to stay caught up on your home and other responsibilities. When the days are slammed, it gets tough to stay relevant and raise awareness for the store while keeping a balanced life. That being said, it is purposeful living.

How about the biggest reward?
Hunter’s Threads has served almost 20 kids from January-April 2017 (5 kids a month, 4-week program). I’m so grateful for the many people I’ve met, the many people who want to help make this a success, and especially the shoppers and donors that are directly making an impact. I’m just providing a space for them to help each other out and I love sitting back and watching it all unfold.

Know a local company inspired after the birth of a child? Tell us in the comments below! 

—Sommer Naffz

All images courtesy of the companies unless noted.

 

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