Stay-At-Home Mom Sews A Business

The Daily News Tribune:

When Elizabeth Gallant’s daughter started kindergarten three years ago, Gallant made a list.

The graphic designer turned stay at home mom was determined to stay productive during the half-days her daughter was in school. Topping her “to do” list was starting a business.

Given her artistic background – she is a graduate of the New England School of Art and Design in Boston – Gallant started out making crafts and selling them through word of mouth.

Then, while trying to come up with a gift idea for a client, she offered to put her 35 years of sewing experience to use and made a diaper bag.

The diaper bag was a hit. Demand quickly grew for bags and other sewn accessories, Gallant said, and EG Designs was born. But rather than start looking for a storefront, Gallant developed a business model that employed the Internet through her Web site and wholesaling to boutiques to get her wares to consumers.

“I really couldn’t make it back to work and then back to pick my daughter up from the bus,” Gallant said. “So my goal to have it flourish was to do it from my house, sell to the stores and, eventually, if I had the opportunity, to open a store.”

So far, her model has worked. Her hand-sewn accessories for women and children can be found in 14 boutiques in five states, including 10 stores on the South Shore.