Myla Patterson-Smith (EMBA '14) developed a line of girls’ clothing based on her daughters' designs.

EMBA MOM LAUNCHES UNIQUE BOUTIQUE

Spring 2018

Printer Friendly

When Myla Patterson-Smith (EMBA ’14) launched her online boutique children’s apparel venture last year, she had the help of two savvy business partners: daughters Stephanie and Samantha Smith, then ages 6 and 3.

Their love of fashion and penchant for sketching creative outfits inspired Patterson-Smith to develop a line of girls’ clothing based on their designs. She calls their business SASS-E Todds (short for Stephanie and Samantha Smith Empower Toddlers) and works with a manufacturer in New Jersey to produce the line.

“My youngest daughter was born during my EMBA tenure,” Patterson-Smith says. “My classmates and I used to joke that she absorbed the curriculum through osmosis.”

She involves her girls in everything from design and textile selection to sales and partnerships. “They are truly learning every aspect of the business,” she says.

Their unique mom-daughter venture has attracted media attention in Chicago, where they live, and nationally. In March, she and the girls were featured in a live segment of NBC’s daytime talk show “Megyn Kelly Today.”

Patterson-Smith says she still consults her notes from her business strategy class. “It taught me the importance of differentiation, identifying my ‘perfect customer’ and how successful businesses make decisions,” she says.

Categories

  • Vita2
    NEWS 12070
    4 FEEDBACK TIPS TO DRIVE ETHICAL BEHAVIOR 12073
    WHEN ‘DOING GOOD’ HAS ITS DOWNSIDES 12089
    PARENTAL INFLUENCES ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY 12118
    SHIFTING FEES AND INCREASING RESTATEMENTS 12181
  • Features4
    SIRI, SHOULD I BELIEVE IN GOD? 12120
    THE NEW BOOM 12124
    THE BETTER FIGHT 12138
    TEACHING IN VIEW OF #METOO 12143
  • Family6
    ERIN’S CHOICE 12159
    'DADDY BILL' 12163
    RIGHT NEXT TO GODLINESS 12166
    TRAVELS WITH ANDY 12170
    ​THINKING ABOUT PONTIUS PILATE 12172
    FROM FINANCE TO FOODSTUFF 12180
    CLASS NOTES 12192
    IN MEMORIAM 12193
    EMBA MOM LAUNCHES UNIQUE BOUTIQUE 12194
    SPOTLIGHT: GRANT HAMMANN (MARK ’18) 12198
  • Salt and Light1
    ERIN’S CHOICE 12159
  • Profiles2
    TRAVELS WITH ANDY 12170
    FROM FINANCE TO FOODSTUFF 12180
  • Ask More of Business1
    'DADDY BILL' 12163
  • Alumni Community1
    EMBA MOM LAUNCHES UNIQUE BOUTIQUE 12194
  • First Person1
    TEACHING IN VIEW OF #METOO 12143
    RIGHT NEXT TO GODLINESS 12166