Andrea Van Ness-Thumbuddy To Love

Andrea's Story

1. Tell us the story of your journey. Include details about what inspired you to go into business, was this a life long dream or a newer desire. Share as many details as you are comfortable sharing.

My name is Andrea Wulfing Van Ness and I started a company called Thumbuddy To Love® (ThumbuddyToLove.com) because I wanted to help children stop thumb sucking and make it a positive experience for them without the use of thumb polish (chemicals) or apparatuses thatdentists put in a child’s mouth that are costly and uncomfortable. Thumbuddy To Love® is forboys and girls and it comes with a beautifully illustrated book and matching thumb puppet in thecharacters of Ballerina Sue and/or Fireman Fred. I was a thumb sucker and I remember all the negative things my friends and family tried to do to get me to quit. To give up a comforting habit is hard and you need something positive to replace it. My grandmother made me a thumb puppet and it was her positive words and handmade thumb puppet that helped me to break the habit in no time.  I was so proud, that I took it everywhere including school.  Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier sucking can cause problems with growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth (American Dental Association). I was inspired to create Thumbuddy because there were not any positive teaching tools out there for thumb suckers. The books also come with a calendar and stickers that kids can mark off days and get involved. Dentists love it because they now have something fun and non-shameful for parents and their kids/patients. Kids love it because they don’t have to wear a glove or contraption or bitter nail polish. Thumbuddy To Love received a Mom’s Choice Award the year it came to market. My newest product is called the Binky Fairy and it helps children break the pacifier habit without all the tears or fuss. It calms children in knowing where their pacifiers go and just like the tooth fairy; she comes in the middle of the night to collect the pacifiers and leaves a Binky Fairy Puppet under their pillow so children look forward to waking and knowing she came! All of the Thumbuddy To Love® products are available on amazon or the website www.thumbuddytolove.com.

 2.  Did you go into business before or after you had children? How do/did your children affect your decision to go into business? 

I went into business after I had children. I wanted to be more available and at home so I left my real estate job and started Thumbuddy to Love out of my home.

 3. Share your trials and triumphs. We want to hear about your highs and lows. Did you have any low points or worries as well as high points and huge shining moments?

The only low points were really getting the business off the ground. Doing samples, getting the website up and spending money on marketing to get a business going can be stressful when money is not coming in yet. The high points were receiving a Mom’s Choice Award in my first year in business and then a PTPA Award for my product was a feeling of accomplishment.

4.  Do you have any encouraging words to share with mom entrepreneurs that may help to keep their spirits up on a trying day? Not necessarily trade secrets that pertain to business but more directed toward encouraging another mom not to give up and/or to keep following a dream.

I would stick with your gut feelings, believe in yourself and your product and the rest will work out in due time. Always remember that business does not succeed overnight. It is over a period of time and it may take years, but hard work does pay off.

Andrea's website is www.Thumbuddytolove.com