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Photo by Savannah Schmidt
The Momtreprenuers of Trussville: (Left, front to back) Brittany Phalen of Illuminate Lashes and Beauty, Brittany Martin of Mockingbird Day Spa and Kelsee Philpot of Hattie's Toy Land. (Right, front to back) Kassi Porter of Moda Boutique, Heather Vines of Southern Hairitage and Amanda Glidewell of Sister Shirts.
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Photo by Savannah Schmidt
Lauren Scott plays with her dog Pearl; at Wildgoose Garden Store in Trussville. Scott and her mother run the shop and craft ceramics together.
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Photo by Savannah Schmidt
Taylor Stephens of Pound Fitness and Barbell coaches an athlete while holding baby Jacob on her chest. Pound Fitness offers personal training classes and accomodations for parents and pet owners.
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Photo by Savannah Schmidt
Taylor Stephens of Pound Fitness and Barbell coaches an athlete while holding baby Jacob on her chest. Pound Fitness offers personal training classes and accomodations for parents and pet owners.
At nine months pregnant, Amanda Glidewell was preparing for two major arrivals: the birth of her second child and the opening of Sister Shirts’ first storefront. After learning she would be induced the next morning, Amanda didn’t head home to rest. Instead, she went straight to the shop, grabbed a hammer and nailed baseboards into place.
Being both a mom and an entrepreneur demands grit, determination and an unwavering passion. In Trussville, a group of women are on this journey together, forming a community of “momtrepreneurs” who support each other every step of the way.
“Owning a small business as a mom is hard, but it’s so rewarding,” Glidewell said. “It’s nice to know you’re not alone during the hard times, and you have someone to relate to. It’s equally nice to have someone who celebrates your successes with you, knowing they don’t always come easily.”
Jill Copeland-Henderson, co-owner of Mockingbird Day Spa and a mother of two, believes that owning a business is, in some ways, like parenting. “We feel the need to protect our employees, lift them up, listen intently, give constructive feedback — and give big hugs often,” she said.
That’s a sentiment shared by Heather Vines, the owner of Southern Hairitage Salon.
“Starting a business is not for the weak,” Vines said. “That’s what makes a mother the perfect person for the job.”
The phenomena of so many new businesses started by moms has not gone unnoticed. Melissa Walker, interim director of the Trussville Chamber of Commerce, said the group is part of what makes Trussville different.
“Our community is unique thanks to the incredible moms who are also thriving entrepreneurs, balancing family and business with creativity and resilience,” Walker said.
According to the 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses, a study commissioned by Wells Fargo released earlier this year, researchers found that between 2019 and 2023, women-owned businesses grew at a nearly double of those owned by men. The growth was especially pronounced coming out of the pandemic, the report said. From 2022 to 2023, the rate increased to 4.5 times that of men’s.
The report recommended increased focus on mentorship and sharing best practices. That is something the women entrepreneurs have found in Trussville.
Kelsee Philpot, owner of Hattie’s Toyland, said the other momtrepreneurs have been there for her since day one. “I’ll never forget reaching out to local business owners for items to raffle off, and every single one of them … immediately and without hesitation, donated something from their business,” she said.
As she opened Illuminate Lashes and Beauty, Brittany Phalen recalled the impact that Amanda Short, co-owner of Trussville To Go, had by being there to steer her through the process.
“Her guidance and local insights were invaluable, providing not only practical support but also a sense of comfort knowing I had someone who understood the challenges of balancing a thriving business with family life,” Phalen said.
Taylor Stephens, owner of The Pound Fitness & Barbell, gave birth just a month before she opened her gym.
“Moms supporting moms is my passion. Whether it’s other mama business owners joining the gym, sharing our posts on social media or referring their customers our way — we’re frequently supported by other mamas,” Stephens said.
Kassi Porter, the owner of Moda Boutique, values the strong sense of community among mom-owned businesses in Trussville.
“Community over competition is so important — I’m forever grateful for my fellow mom-owned small business friends,” Porter said.
Becoming a mom has profoundly impacted her business mindset. “I want my kids to see what hard work and determination do for a dream,” she said.
Juggling family and business is the number one challenge these moms face because the demands of business ownership are never-ending, but family comes first. “My full-time job is still being a mom,” said Lauren Scott, co-owner of Wildgoose Garden + Pottery.
Scott, too, has found the community of mom business owners invaluable. “My mom and I met Beth [Seeley] and Dana [Weimer], who own Bookmarked Paperie, when they were dreaming of launching, and we connected immediately because they are another mom-daughter business duo,” Scott said.
Seeley and Scott bounce ideas off each other and encourage each other on the good and hard days. “Beth not only thinks of her own business and its growth but actually comes to me with really thoughtful ideas of things we could change up and add to ours,” Scott said.
For these momtrepreneurs, it’s their love for their families and for the Trussville community that drives them to invest in building their businesses here.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather lead a business than in this city, with these people beside me,” Philpot said.
