Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Gray.
Sarah , can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Over 30 years ago my mom, Jan Childress, was a working mother determined to both works and breastfeed her children (my sister Kate and myself!). This challenge inspired her to design a tote bag to carry her breast pump (the Express Bag) and a separate, insulated bag with a reusable ice pack (the DuffleCOOL) to care for the milk until she arrived home. Her products were shared with others through the limited budget and sheer determination in the truest guerilla sense: directly & personally to other working moms. With the help of my Dad, Ron Childress, my parents built a long-lasting company while juggling a family, and in an industry that was relatively small and incredibly competitive.
So where do I come in (again?!). 🙂
While my sister, Kate and I, as babies, inspired the initial products for J.L. Childress, we both now co-own and operate the company. Kate and I are both mothers with previous careers in corporate marketing. Fresh out of college at the University of San Diego, I took a job with Advantage Sales & Marketing, working in their Shopper Marketing division, with major CPG brands such as Unilever, Bacardi, Borden Cheese and many more! (Psst… Kate also worked for them, I followed her to a great company!). While I loved the team I worked with, I wanted something I felt a little more passionate about and ultimately, wanted to ‘call the shots’ in my own business. The opportunity to join my mom and sister at JL Childress was presented, and in 2008 I took the leap and never looked back.
I am married with 2 beautiful children, Danny (3) and Ella (1). Being a mom and working in the baby industry is incredibly fun and helpful…product development is abundant as I tirelessly change diapers or stack legos after a full day’s work, or take the kids on adventures around the block or around the world. It’s fun making tangible products that benefit my best friends. At the end of every VERY long day, it’s incredibly rewarding. I also enjoy working day in and day out with my sister. We have an incredible relationship that is one of honesty, support, determination and ultimately a shared vision of success for our company.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I worked with my Mom, and I work with my sister. 😉 The biggest blessings but sometimes, you can “know” each other a little too well and it’s tough to keep up professionalism when you’re stressed or tired. But no bump in the road has ever been too big to tackle with a little bit of love and understanding.
Also, the baby industry is rapidly changing right now and even though we’re a mighty company, we are a small company still and sometimes we struggle to find the resources we need to get the job done as quickly as we want to!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about J.L. Childress Co. – what should we know?
JL Childress makes on-the-go accessories for parents, for adventures around the block or around the world. We make stroller accessories, car seat accessories, diapering accessories, feeding accessories and baby care accessories (so… lots of accessories!!). We are known for our car seat and stroller travel bags and were the ORIGINAL brand to develop these items and sell them to customers.
As a company, we’re most proud of our continued legacy and ability to change as our consumers change. We’ve been in business for almost 35 years now, which is no small feat! We’ve weathered the storms of the baby industry, recessions, etc. and have never been stronger or more poised for growth. We’re proud that we’re still 100% family owned and 100% woman-owned.
The fact that we’re still a small, family team… run by modern moms… but an established company… definitely sets us apart. We’re RELEVANT to today’s moms because we are them, 🙂 but we’re established enough to be a strength when it comes to product development and production, supply chain and all the heavy-lifting needed to work with some of the largest retailers today.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Pretty much all of the credit goes to my mom, Jan Childress… her idea, her drive, her passion. She was the true entrepreneur who ventured into this world and created something out of nothing. The other credit goes to my dad, Ron Childress, who ran the operations of the company. My parents grew this company hand in hand and I’m so proud of the work they did together.
They were inspirational, even though they met with their fair share of challenges. They also raised my sister and I… and without her, I don’t think I could be on this adventure. I don’t think I’d want any other business partner. So I have to thank my parents for starting the business, for raising my business partner, 😉 and for giving me the work-ethic and fortitude required to carry on their legacy into the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jlchildress.com and www.jayelle.com
- Phone: 1-714-939-9376
- Instagram: @j.l.childress
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jlchildress
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