Heather Granata and Jenny Farnsworth: crafting dreams.

• Author: Haraldsen, Tom
• Position: Spotlight

It only takes four words for Heather Granata to describe Little Adventures, a company of dress up-style clothing she runs with Jenny Farnsworth.

"Washable, comfortable, affordable and adorable," says Granata. "That's what really sets us apart from the competition." Eight years ago, the Utah County moms and neighbors had little girls who loved to dress up. But their girls didn't want to just wear these clothes; they wanted to live in them.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"The business came from a need for us," says Granata. "Our little girls wanted to be in them all day long."

To meet their need, the two began sewing their own costumes for their daughters. Once word spread about their creations, they started selling the costumes at craft fairs and local events.

Although they worked hard to be prepared for every show, "we didn't do so well," admits Farnsworth. Then they tried to liquefy their leftover inventory on eBay, another seemingly unsuccessful effort. Realizing they had nothing to lose, Granata suggested a bold move: gradually raise their prices to find the price-point people were willing to pay. The gamble paid off. For the next three years, Little Adventures experienced steady retail growth.

"At that point, we were getting enough exposure and people started approaching [us]," says Farnsworth. "We took the big scary leap and sold the retail end of the company and just went wholesale."

Little Adventures' dress-up products are now be sold in national chains and mom-and-pop retailers throughout the country. Of the many kudos received, Granata and Farnsworth were excited to receive the Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child magazine.

Most entrepreneurs begin with trade shows and then move to the...