The MomSpot founder, Kelsey Guthrie, says she’s like every mom deserving of some “me” time, as she often arranges to enjoy nature, go horseback riding on the desert trails and take a break from family life and work.
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The MomSpot founder, Kelsey Guthrie, says she’s like every mom deserving of some “me” time, as she often arranges to enjoy nature, go horseback riding on the desert trails and take a break from family life and work.
“It allows me a few hours to recharge before a new week starts,” says Ms. Guthrie, 38, who recently began a venture in the niche mom space.
With a continued passion for connecting people in her personal life and in her 15-year career as a corporate event planner, what started as a mom blog in 2019 expanded to a one-stop shop for Scottsdale moms looking to connect with locally owned businesses.
This August, Ms. Guthrie launched the MomSpot Concierge, a free online service that provides custom referral lists for parents based on the businesses they select.
“As a mother myself, I know how long the ‘mommy to-do list’ can get,” states Ms. Guthrie.
“Sometimes, it takes hours of online research and asking around to find the services and providers you need for your family. I started to think that if I could provide local moms a way to find the information and referrals they need all in one spot it would save some time and sanity; and in turn, I would also be supporting local, primarily women-owned, businesses.”
Before launching, Ms. Guthrie contacted local Scottsdale companies and noticed an industry catering to moms also resonated with businesses that experienced a downturn from the pandemic.
The businesses were eager to sign up as MomSpot partners.
“While the current focus is Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and surrounding areas, my goal is to expand this hyperlocal mom concierge service into other areas around the Valley,” she says.
“Local small businesses are working hard to connect with new customers during this economically challenging time, and parents who are working and overseeing their kids’ schooling from home could use the help!”
Ms. Guthrie set aside her to-do list and answered a list of questions instead about her and The MomSpot.
Arizona native? If not, where are you originally from?
I grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa will always have a piece of my heart, but Scottsdale is my home now. I moved to Arizona in 2000 to attend ASU, fell in love with the sunshine and then fell in love with my husband, Ryan, in 2009. We have made Scottsdale our forever home and look forward to raising our family here.
What does your family consist of, i.e.: spouse, kids, pets?
We have two kids, a son who is almost 4 and 6-year-old daughter. We also have two Golden Retrievers — one is 10 years old and the other is a 6-month-old puppy.
Profession past and present?
I have spent 15-plus years in the hospitality industry. I just celebrated 13 years at Experience Scottsdale as the senior events project manager on the convention sales team. I am fortunate to work for an organization with amazing leadership and a shared passion for our beautiful city, Scottsdale.
While I have no plans to leave my career, I see The MomSpot Concierge as a way to fill my drive to service the community. I served eight active years in The Junior League of Phoenix and I’ve always had a passion for helping others. The MomSpot is a way for me to channel this desire to help a niche that I am now very much a part of as a mother with two young children.
How did you come up with the idea to launch a new online concierge service for Scottsdale moms?
I have always had a passion for creating things. I like to be organized and I love planning parties! Friends started to ask me how I do this and how I make that, and then someone suggested I should share my know-how with other moms. Just like so many others, I’m a mom doing the best I can to keep all the balls up in the air.
I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but in 2019 I started a mom blog to help other moms get organized, be more efficient and find balance in the always amazing — and oftentimes overwhelming — journey of motherhood.
I shared things that were working for me as a mom in hopes to help other moms overcome challenges with creating routines, getting organized and planning their next party, etc. I enjoyed blogging and making connections with other moms, but I wanted to have more of an impact on the local community.
As a mother myself, I know how long the “mommy to-do list” can get. Sometimes it takes hours of online research and asking around to find the services and providers you need for your family. I started to think that if I could provide local moms a way to find the information and referrals they need all in one spot it would save some time (and sanity) and in turn I would also be supporting local, primarily women-owned, businesses.
Why is it important to connect parents with resources including local business discounts?
The MomSpot Concierge is something that Scottsdale has never had. I am the resource that links moms up to businesses — a quick way to get the information you need to start checking things off your mommy-do list.
Whether you are looking for a nanny or planning your kid’s next birthday party, every mom wants to know who does it best. I have personally vetted each of the businesses on The MomSpot Concierge list to ensure only the best resources are included.
The exclusive MomSpot discounts are a bonus incentive for moms/parents to utilize the “Request a Custom Referral” form on The MomSpot Concierge page. More specifically, if you have multiple things you are looking for you can request them all in one spot! The information comes directly to you either via text or email based on your preference.
What are some of the small businesses helping busy parents?
We are proud to have 31 partners on our current referral list. The nanny and private educator category has been the most requested since the launch on Aug. 1 due to parents needing extra help at home during the pandemic.
For families still celebrating special occasions at home, our Celebration Essentials and Gifting category has a variety of solutions to celebrate during quarantine, like custom yard signs and The MomSpot’s very own curated themed party boxes – complete with themed decor – to host a small celebration at home or an easy way to bring a theme to a venue for your child’s next party.
The Healthy Living and Self-Care Solutions category focuses more on the needs of the mom. We have partnered up with a healthy meal prep service and a mom-focused life coach. We even have a home organization expert on our list!
Describe the benefits of your program?
The biggest benefit of the mom concierge is there is nothing else like it! You can find many referral lists online, but as a parent you still need to do the outreach to the service providers you are interested in hearing from.
However, the MomSpot Concierge gives you the option to tick off the services/products you want information from all in one spot. Our concierge service is a way for moms/parents to explore the options for whatever it is they have on their to-do list, and once the form is submitted the providers send their proposals/information directly to you.
Also, many of our partners have extended exclusive MomSpot discounts for coming through our concierge referral program. For example, if a mom requests to get information from The Nurtured Mama and books a massage with this provider she will get $20 off her first pre/postnatal massage.
What is the price range for fees for businesses that want to be involved?
The MomSpot offered a very nominal, discounted subscription rate to local businesses who signed-up pre-launch. As the program continues to grow and gain interest, we plan to price the subscription fee at a more competitive price.
To note, not just any business can sign-up to be on our list. I personally hand-picked many of the businesses on our list, based on research and phone interviews to ensure only the best options are provided on our concierge page.
Parents can select locally owned companies and request custom responses from MomSpot partners at https://themomspotaz.com/mom-concierge.
Starting my media career in 1994, rumor had it that newspapers would not exist much longer. Years later, the newspaper is still around and so is my passion for storytelling and capturing life’s moments for the community.
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