“Kahlmi brings ancient parenting traditions that are backed by science to modern families, using new innovation and technology.”
In today’s fast-paced world, nurturing a strong bond between parents and their infants is more important than ever. Elina Furman, the founder of Kahlmi, is making a significant impact in this area by introducing the first baby massager designed to soothe infants and strengthen the parent-child connection.
As a 2022 JPMA Innovation Awards finalist, Kahlmi offers a natural way for parents to bond with their children while providing numerous health benefits, such as improved digestion, decreased fussiness, and strengthened immunity.
Driven by her own experience with postpartum anxiety and her son’s colic, Elina became a certified infant massage therapist and instructor, ultimately creating Kahlmi to spread awareness about the benefits of baby and child massage in the US and beyond.
By bridging the gap between ancient parenting traditions and modern innovation, Kahlmi empowers caretakers to foster a deep connection with their children and help them reach crucial developmental milestones.
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We are thrilled to have you join us today! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Elina Furman: I am the founder of Kahlmi (the first baby massager that soothes infants and strengthens the baby/parent bond). A 2022 JPMA Innovation Awards finalist, Kahlmi is the first soothing and interactive massage and bonding tool tailored to the unique needs of parent/caretaker and child.
It helps to improve digestion, decrease fussiness, strengthen immunity, promote body awareness, and many other benefits, but in a natural way that allows parents to bond with their children. After suffering from postpartum anxiety while my firstborn son had colic, I set out to help other parents dealing with the same situation.
I became a certified infant massage therapist and instructor and was inspired to create Kahlmi to help educate and bring awareness to baby and child massage in the US and beyond. Baby massage helps build a baby’s brain, increases growth, and improves sleep naturally. It also helps alleviate common baby ailments like teething, constipation, gas, and restlessness.
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If you were in an elevator with warren buffett, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Elina Furman: Kahlmi brings ancient parenting traditions that are backed by science to modern families, using new innovation and technology. Our main hero product is the first patented Kahlmi baby and child massager.
By creating an educational platform and a massage enhancement tool, Kahlmi bridges the knowledge gap to help parents and underserved families embrace this evidence-based practice performed for thousands of years worldwide.
As the first handheld baby/child massager on the market, Kahlmi’s mission is to empower caretakers to provide a deep and lasting connection with their children. This involves aiding in the achievement of developmental and cognitive milestones while alleviating both the caretaker’s and the child’s anxiety.
What advice do you wish you had received when you started your business journey and what do you intend to improve in the next quarter?
Elina Furman: I spent a little too much on prototyping the first unit with a company. While I was happy with with certain aspects of the design, I now realize I could have saved some money by working with freelancers, as it was my sketch that was ultimately used.
The design I received was not ready for manufacturing and had to be reconfigured with a factory to be viable for production.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever—b2b, b2c, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, zoom medical consultations. What are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Elina Furman: Yes, direct-to-consumer shopping and brands are growing very fast. I have always been in the direct-to-consumer space having learned everything I know while growing another baby company client to $35 million in sales. Additionally, paid media ads have become harder to scale since the iOS update.
However, I am employing various tactics to grow the business. Organic social media remains our most significant sales generator; I have over 700K followers on Instagram and TikTok.
One of my main goals with the Kahlmi brand is to continue using education and awareness campaigns through organic Reels and videos to attract new customers and build awareness around baby massage.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Elina Furman: Right now, we are seeing challenges with the supply chain and cost of goods. Once I get my costs down and develop a strong inventory forecasting system, I can leverage more digital marketing and forecast my sales better. Also, for me, sourcing and producing new products pose another big challenge I will be facing this year.
It takes time to create a quality product and an even longer cycle to get it just right. I plan to release four more products this year that will cement the Kahlmi brand as a leader in the baby wellness space.
The other big challenge is education. I am working to develop courses and other digital education products to help parents learn and embrace baby massage in a consistent, inten- tional way.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Elina Furman: As a mom founder, I am always struggling to balance the daily responsibilities of the house- hold and children with the needs of my business. Time is always the biggest challenge and I am always working on coming up with efficient ways to get everything done while trying to be available for my family.
For example, my day has to end at 3 pm when I start driving for after-school activities. I have started to work outside the home on weekends and leaving the kids with Dad for a bit so I can complete the endless list of to-dos that pile up every week. It’s an ongoing challenge.
What does “success” in the year to come mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Elina Furman: For me, success is all about striking the perfect balance between business, home and my relationships with friends and family.
I am also excited to release my book next year that will educate parents on holistic baby care taking practices and solidify my position as a wellness expert in the baby space.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to WellnessVoice and the host of this interview would like to thank Elina Furman for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Elina Furman or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
Disclaimer: The WellnessVoice Community welcomes voices from many spheres on our open platform. We publish pieces as written by outside contributors with a wide range of opinions, which don’t necessarily reflect our own. Community stories are not commissioned by our editorial team and must meet our guidelines prior to being published.
Rockstar Profile
Kahlmi: A Revolutionary Approach To Infant Wellness
Elina Furman’s brainchild, Kahlmi, ushers in a new era of baby wellness. This innovative venture unveils the world’s very first baby massager, promising to wrap parents and their precious little ones in a cozy world of comfort and peace.
What sets Elina apart isn’t just her groundbreaking device, but her commitment to empower and educate parents. Yet, she’s not just an entrepreneur; she’s a social media sensation, boasting over 900,000 followers on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
Through these platforms, she’s created a close-knit community by sharing her wisdom on the art and science of baby massage. Her content is a blend of informative videos, research-based insights, and fascinating facts that have captured the attention of a global audience eager for valuable knowledge.
Why Baby Massage Holds Value
Baby massage is more than just a soothing practice; it’s a beautiful way for parents to connect with their little ones. This gentle touch creates a sense of calm and comfort, making it a cherished part of daily life.
Beyond the relaxation, baby massage has been linked to a range of advantages for infants. It’s been associated with promoting healthy sleep patterns, improving digestion, and even boosting a baby’s immune system. This simple practice offers parents a natural way to enhance their child’s well-being.
Kahlmi’s Mission To Transform Baby Wellness
Elina’s journey into the world of baby massage began intimately. As a work- from-home mom grappling with postpartum anxiety and daily life’s chaos, she often sought distractions to engage her little ones. This yearning for a deeper connection paved the way for her transformation. Becoming a certified infant massage instructor marked the birth of Kahlmi.
Kahlmi serves as a bridge between parents and their precious bundles, aiming to spread the love of baby and child massage worldwide. In 2022, Kahlmi made waves as a finalist in the JPMA Innovation Awards, offering parents an innovative way to bond with their kids while enhancing their well-being.
This brilliant idea brings a host of health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced fussiness, and a stronger immune system. Kahlmi’s core mission revolves around blending age-old parenting practices with modern innovation.
It empowers caregivers to nurture deep connections with their children and support their crucial developmental milestones. Elina’s goal is to bring scientifically supported, traditional parenting wisdom to modern families through cutting-edge technology, revolutionizing the world of baby massage and infusing the realm of parenting with a unique blend of compassion and innovation.
The Mompreneur Hustle
Being a mompreneur isn’t a walk in the park, and Elina gets that. Her main challenge is teaching parents about baby massage and why the Kahlmi baby massager is a game-changer. She’s carving out a whole new path, and that takes time.
But there’s one heartwarming story that really shows how her product can change lives. A mom got in touch with Elina and shared how the Kahlmi massager helped her son, Ryder, who had a tough start in life. It was the first time he used his right arm to pick up something, all thanks to the Kahlmi massager.
It’s moments like these that make the tough journey all worth it. Elina’s journey isn’t just about her commitment to her business; it’s about the big difference she’s making in the lives of parents and kids around the world.
Reaching Far And Wide With Marketing
Elina’s way is all about creating a close-knit community through relatable content. Her engaging videos, where she shares tips on baby massage and parenting, keep parents coming back for more.
But she takes it a step further by turning her fans into committed email subscribers, offering them valuable free guides and extra content to cement those special connections. Elina firmly believes in spreading her marketing efforts across a wide spectrum. She’s well aware of the myriad social channels and options available for content dissemination.
This is why she partners with traditional publishers and media outlets to ensure her brand’s message reaches a broad audience. One of her secret weapons, known as Prodport, acts as a powerful tool for optimizing her products.
Through Prodport, she has witnessed a significant 20-fold increase in conversions, all without the need for complex technical work – it happens seamlessly behind the scenes.
Key Skills For Entrepreneurial Success
In one of her interviews, Elina highlighted the three fundamental skills crucial for entrepreneurial success:
- Humility: Remaining open to learning and welcoming insights from those who have navigated similar journeys.
- Adaptability: The ability to pivot and adapt to evolving market dynamics and shifting consumer preferences.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Placing a strong emphasis on customer feedback and experiences, recognizing that customers are the cornerstone of any thriving business.
A Solid Foundation For Tomorrow
Elina envisions a future where her products promote mindfulness and mental wellness for families. She plans to expand into the Special Needs Market, serving therapists and wellness practitioners. Her goal? To establish a sustainable business, prioritizing steady growth over hasty success.
Elina’s mission is to bridge the gap in baby massage education within our culture. While concepts like skin-to-skin contact and natural products are well-recognized, the significance of baby massage often goes unnoticed. Her vision extends beyond products.
Elina is resolute in her mission to raise awareness about the scientifically-backed practice of baby massage, empowering parents with the knowledge to provide their babies with a solid foundation.
Empowering Tips For Up-and-coming Entrepreneurs
While Elina isn’t a fan of books, podcasts, or online courses, she finds case studies of successful e-commerce businesses and conversations with fellow entrepreneurs to be highly beneficial. She’s part of an e-commerce support group, which has proven to be a valuable resource for exchanging ideas and forming partnerships.
She also shares some priceless advice for those stepping into the entrepreneurial world. She under- lines the need to stand out and be yourself, urging individuals to discover what makes them special and passionate.
Marketing is like the lifeblood of any business, and Elina says it’s vital to learn the ropes and not rely on others. Getting up close and personal with customers and handling social media firsthand can be as valuable as striking gold. Elina Furman’s journey as a mompreneur, educator, and innovator is profoundly inspiring.
Her story exemplifies the incredible outcomes that come from following one’s heart, hard work, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of parents and children worldwide. With Elina at the helm, the future of baby wellness appears brighter than ever, and she’s only just getting started.
