BCM - How and Why did you start Handmedowns.com?

Handmedowns.com-  We started handmedowns.com because we wanted to use it ourselves! As moms, we didn't feel that craigslist was family-friendly--there are "casual encounters" an inch away from baby toys! So we decided to build a site with the practicality of craigslist without the creepy factor.

BCM - Tell us more about Handmedowns.com?

Handmedowns.com-  The shelf life of our kids strollers and toys and clothes amazes us. My daughter used her swing for 2 weeks and Jane's son asked for bunk beds and then changed his mind! We created a site where moms can buy and sell their "gently used" stuff to other moms. In this economy, we can all use the extra money and for environmental reasons, the fewer new big plastic toys we can buy new, the better.                

BCM - How can Big City Moms benefit from your service?

Handmedowns.com Big City Moms is an amazing resource for NY moms and handmedowns.com is an additional trusted service that allows you to post and buy "gently used" kids items like strollers and toys as well as services like photographers, swim instructors, birthday party vendors and especially mom-owned businesses. Jane and I have worked closely with Big City Moms to create a dedicated area within BCM where you can use our handmedowns service directly through big city moms. This way, you can choose to only buy from other big city moms, for an added amount of comfort.

BCM - Both of you have a great dynamic of work together - How did you team up? Why do you think you work so well together?

Handmedowns.com - Jane has always been a role model of mine. She is the most wonderful mother to an 8 year old boy and a 6 year old girl. As a newer mom to a 2 year old daughter, I ask her for all kinds of parenting advice and of course, she gives me all of her hand-me-downs! That said, we have a rule. She posts them on the site and if I want them, I have to email her quickly! We both have business backgrounds that we are extremely passionate about. Jane recently founded a new market research and trend forecasting company, trendera; has authored the modern girls guide series including The Modern Girls Guide To Life and The Modern Girls Guide to Motherhood and is a leading trend forecaster who is a regular on the morning shows. I am a lawyer by training and was formerly an attorney at Skadden Arps in New York. After that, I founded and published an entertainment law publication, The Hollywood Reporter, ESQ. We are both passionate about our families and with our backgrounds, thought we would team up well together. We did!

BCM - What advice do you have for other moms who are thinking about starting businesses?

Handmedowns.com - I would say create a product, service, business, etc. that you would want to use and that solves a problem that you have in your life. I’m able to speak convincingly about handmedowns because I’m a user and a mother that truly understands the need for a service like this.

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do with your kids?

Handmedowns.com - I know this is hard to say to a New York crowd but living in LA, we get to take our daughter to the beach year round.