We are so happy to have connected with Melisa Mor, founder of jewelry shop Mrs. Push last year when getting our business off the ground. This Atlanta-based mama of three is a fashion lover to her core. Hailing from NYC, she has been growing her lovely shop the last three years, focusing on beautiful, unique and personalized push presents for new moms. Read on to learn more about her tips and tricks for starting a business and balancing it with life. It was also fun to hear about some of the nostalgia of her youth (American Girl dolls, anyone?!)
Q: Can you share a bit about what your family looks like as well as your work as an entrepreneur? How and when did your journey as a mother and business owner start?
A: I am a mom, wife and business owner. I have 3 kids - ages 9, 6 and 3. I launched my business, Mrs. Push about a year after my youngest was born. My kids and husband inspired my business - I became obsessed with push presents and trying to find the perfect one. All of my friends would come to me for the same challenge. We all wanted something extra special with a little extra meaning to remember that special time of becoming a mom.
Q: Do you have any favorite childhood toys, games, activities or even spaces that stand out to you?
A: OMG yes! I loved the American Girl dolls. Those were definitely a favorite. I had five dolls and all of their clothing and accessories. Every holiday or occasion - my gifts were American Girl accessories. I always loved fashion and loved to color and put outfits together. (Similar to the fashion toys my girls got from you at Spil Kids!) I also loved Full House - my friends and I were in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen fan club (cringey I know) and would reenact scenes from the show on play dates.
Q: What is hardest for you to juggle or balance right now? Have you found any hacks that are helping?
A: Working on my business, myself and my family. Balance doesn’t really exist because there will be days so family focused that work barely gets done and vice versa. I think it’s important to tally this by week or month and not by day. I *try* to put my phone away from 5-8 pm, airplane mode and in another room. This definitely helps me to stay present.
Q: Do you have any advice for an aspiring business owner who is stuck and doesn’t know where to start?
A: Just do it! And also find community and rely on each other. From my early business days, I joined mom / mompreneur communities. We all ask each other questions and bounce ideas off each other.
Q: I feel that being a mother often pushes you to embrace something that may not have initially come easily. For us it’s embracing the play and the mess. What might it be for you?
A: This might sound silly but to embrace my kids’ opinions on things even when I disagree. I’m not talking about anything serious, but for example I used to buy my two youngest (girls) clothing on my own. Then when it would be time to get dressed they’d refuse to wear what I picked out because it’s my style, not theirs. Now every time I buy something new I ask their opinion, even my three year old because it saves the battles in the morning. Fashion obviously runs in our blood and I want them to feel confident and love what they wear, no matter how hard it is for me to dress them only in pink, sparkly, unicorns and rainbows! I actually just started a Substack and have shared what I'm buying for my girls since it's a question I often get asked.
Q: What are your favorite activities or places to enjoy with your little(s) or big(s) nowadays? (And / Or if your littles are big, do you look back fondly on any particular activities with them from when they were little?)
A: I love to do 1:1 trips with my kids. I haven’t done one with my just turned three year old since she’s little BUT for my oldest who is nine - LA is our place. We go once a year for a Fashion Mamas gathering and we love it. My six year old daughter and I love Paris - I took her once when she was four and it’s become our thing. We did it again this past summer and she’s already asking when we can go back.
Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I always wanted to work in fashion. I went to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and my first job out of college, I was a designer women’s buyer and got to go to NY and Paris Fashion Week. I was living my childhood dream at 22. At that same job as a Buyer, I got to buy The Row (Mary-Kate & Ashley's Luxury Line) and meet them at their NYC showroom. That was a very full circle moment for me.
Learn more about Melissa Mor and Shop Mrs. Push by visiting their website at https://mrspush.com/, their Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shopmrspush/# and their Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/ShopMrsPush/. And take advantage of 15% savings in their shop through January 1st using code SPIL15.