Say Hello To Heather Bedont

Say Hello to our April Featured Member, Heather Bedont of JDM Designs. Heather is full of creativity and loves spending as much time as possible with her family. Her launch of JDM Designs is unique and fun and we learned how it came to be when we sat down to interview her. Here is what we learned about this beautiful woman…

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am a wife and a mother, so I spend most of my time taking care of my son and my husband. When I’m not driving my son to band practice or swim meets, I’m usually cooking the next meal for him. My family loves to spend time outdoors, hiking, camping, swimming, or relaxing at the beach. I work part time for a pension consulting company, and spend the rest of my time designing and/or creating fun home décor items.

 

What is your professional bio:
I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise Science – Sports Medicine from Pacific University. While finishing up my college courses, I worked as a personal trainer at LA Fitness. After graduation, I worked for an orthopedic surgeon for four years as an office manager, report editor, and medical assistant. Yes, all at the same time. I currently work for LDZ Group, Inc., as a performance analyst, and I run my own business, JDM Designs.

 

Why did you start your own business?
In 2008, my aunt gave me a vinyl cutter. She had purchased it with the intent to start a business, but the market where she lived was already inundated with vinyl businesses. She thought if anyone could make it happen, I could. So I started out with the intent that any profit would go to my son’s college fund, hence the name – JDM Designs. (JDM are my son’s initials.) Seven years later, I am still making designs and loving every minute of it.

 

What are you most proud of in your business?
I am proud of how far my designs have come in the past seven years. I look back at the simplicity of some of my beginning designs and look at what I make now…. There is a huge difference.

 

What’s your super power?
My super power is being able to multi-task. I have vinyl cutting, paint drying, dinner in the oven, all while I’m working on performance reports.

 

What is one thing you can’t live without?
I cannot live without paper and a pencil. I have to be able to write my thoughts down, or draw ideas. I don’t need a computer or electronics, but I must have a way to get what is in my head out.

 

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not running your business?
My most favorite thing to do is go hiking/running. I can’t run very much anymore, but I love being outside.

 

What is one thing you wish you knew when you first started?
I wish I knew how to set up my website. I’ve tried three different times and still don’t like my website. So look me up on Facebook. I also wish I knew how to price my items. Owning my own business with my own products, pricing took a long time to figure out.

 

Any advice for new entrepreneurs or someone who is thinking of starting their own business?
Be patient!!! It was four years before I saw any profit, and even at that, it was only $250 profit that fourth year. But after seven years, I’m to the point where I have a waiting list of orders to complete, I have most of the supplies I need on hand, and most importantly, I’m making a profit.

 

You can learn more about Heather and JDM Designs by visiting her Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/vinylbyjdm