Lisa Komer is the founder and owner of Fancy That Gift Co., a unique gift shop operating out of her converted garage in West Portland. She started the business nearly 20 years ago as a new, stay-at-home mom looking for a creative outlet while caring for her young son.
Her entrepreneurial journey began with designing custom birth announcements and party invitations. Word of her talent spread quickly. "It kind of grew because the people who came to the parties or received the announcements started asking me to do that type of thing for them," Komer explained.
Her story reflects the resilience and adaptability needed to balance motherhood and business ownership. "I think probably the most important thing I learned is really resilience and adapting and really embracing being perfectly imperfect," she shared. Komer credits her husband, David, as a crucial part of her success, serving as both her financial advisor and her biggest cheerleader.
Komer's success is part of a larger pattern in Oregon. According to a recent analysis by LendingTree, the state ranks sixth in the nation for the earnings of self-employed mothers. Mompreneurs in Oregon earn an average of $29,181 annually, significantly above the national average of $22,880.
"Some places simply offer a better foundation for mompreneurs — with more demand, better support systems, or cultural acceptance of nontraditional work. In Oregon, the income potential speaks for itself," said Matt Schulz from LendingTree.
For other mothers looking to start their own businesses, Komer offers simple advice: trust your instincts and connect with others. She recommends "joining networking groups, talking to people in their industry and kind of not trying to reinvent it from the very beginning because there's all these resources out there."
As Mother's Day approaches, Komer celebrates the hard work of all mothers and the power of showing appreciation.