Your Name: Sarah Eastman

Business Name: Trip Me Not, LLC

Type of Business: Clothing & Accessories

Business Location: United States

U.S. State: District of Columbia

Website www.TripMeNot.com
Twitter @TripMeNot
Facebook www.facebook.com/TripMeNot
Pinterest TripMeNot

Reason for starting
When I was getting married, my biggest fear was tripping down the aisle. I needed a way to practice walking in my gown, so I invented one. My patented product is like a skirt, except it’s long enough and wide enough to simulate the train on a wedding gown. It fits over a bride’s everyday clothes,so she can practice walking, dancing and climbing stairs.

Biggest Success
My biggest success was the effervescent response I got at my first bridal show. It was overwhelming to meet so many brides who loved my product. That day came early on, and it provided me with the boost in confidence that so many women entrepreneurs need in the beginning.

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
The biggest challenge came when my son was born. In the newborn phase, time was precious, and I was barely sleeping. It was hard to find time for anything, let alone a business. It sounds funny, but the thing that helped me the most was… my smart phone. I could rock that baby to sleep and check email, tweet about my latest sale and update my blog.

Who is your most important role model?
Samantha Goldberg! Wedding-planner extraordinaire, Samantha has built one of the most prominent bridal brands in the business. Her weddings are exquisite, and she has also become a sought-after media expert for her knowledge of the industry. Most telling of all, she consistently gets high reviews from her clients on wedding vendor websites.