Des Moines Mom recognizes that moms wear a lot of hats. You are a mom, wife, friend, diaper changer, nose wiper, meal planner, lost toy finder, the list goes on and on!
This summer we are thrilled to feature some local moms who are thinking outside the box and making a difference in our community through the businesses they own, organizations they are involved with, and work they do. Check out the rest of the series and read profiles from previous years here.
Hannah Krause took over Eden, a self-care apothecary located in the East Village in 2020. She lives in Des Moines with her husband and two kids.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
I am a Cleveland native who moved to Des Moines 7 years ago. I spent 10 years in Chicago where I attended Loyola University Chicago and worked in media sales and marketing for brands like Cosmopolitan and Food & Wine magazines. I have a passion for brand marketing and storytelling which I try to emphasize in my professional and philanthropic pursuits. I have 2 kids, Simone and Arthur, who I love dearly. While I don’t necessarily feel that motherhood is one of my most defining identities as a person, I enjoy watching my kids learn and grow and love them with a fierceness I never knew existed.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of motherhood to be? Biggest joy?
For me, the biggest challenge of motherhood are its physical demands. I found pregnancy to be….well…..insane…and lack of sleep is very challenging for me. The physicality of sleepless nights, carrying busy infants and toddlers, the packing, the shlepping…..it wears me down. The greatest joy is exploring this new parent/child relationship. It’s a new type of love that feels so different and intense than anything I’ve experienced before. It’s opened up a whole new part of my world in a wonderful way.
When did you take over Eden? What was your goal?
I purchased Eden in July 2020 with the goal of ensuring that this brand that I loved so dearly had a strong future. My goal was to tell Eden’s brand story in a more consistent and visually engaging way so that the brand could grow beyond it’s brick-and-mortar space. I did that through building a website, redesigning our logo, and putting language and a story around who we are and what we do at Eden.
What’s the best part about being your own boss?
I always thought the rigidity around schedules in corporate America had a lot to do with optics and not actual productivity. I love being my own boss and managing my days in a way that works for me.
What’s the hardest part about running your own business?
Working ON your business. Owning a small business means you spend time working IN your business – stocking shelves, ordering inventory, balancing the books, running payroll – and it’s hard to think strategically about your business when you are managing the day to day. I often have to spend time outside of the shop to work “on” the business.
What advice do you have for moms who want to start a business?
DO IT. START IT. LAUNCH IT. BUY THE REAL ESTATE. WRITE THE BUSINESS PLAN. GO! We need more women and mothers in business and we need more women-owned and mother-owned small businesses. Don’t let the details get in the way. Start the work and keep moving forward until it happens.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
I wish I could have prepared myself for some of the crummy things people say to you on the internet when you own a small business. Now I have a post-it on my desk that says “Haters gonna hate” which I remind myself of all the time. Any time you do something big, brave, or bold *especially as a woman* you will have critics. We can never let those small voices get in the way of our progress as women business owners. Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.
What do you love about raising a family in Des Moines?
At this moment in time, I have a lot of fear about raising my family in Des Moines. I worry that my daughter won’t have adequate access to reproductive healthcare. I worry that our public school system, what I believe is the backbone of our democracy, is being defunded and a dangerous school voucher system is being championed by our governor. I worry that guns and the political currency they represent are being prioritized over the safety of school children, my children, our children. These issues are too top of mind for me to ignore and I look forward to the day I can push these aside to focus on the reasons why Des Moines can be an amazing place to raise a family.
Quick Takes
Favorite local restaurant – HOQ. The Chef Suman’s Bowl is my favorite weekday lunch
Best place to take kids – Confluence Brewery patio! The kids play, the parents drink beer – win win
Favorite summer activity – bike rides with the kids
What’s the last show you watched, thing you listened to, or book you read? The last book I read was called “You Have the Right to Remain Fat” by Virgie Tovar. Every woman should read this book – it’s made an amazing shift in my relationship with my body.
How/where do you relax? At home with my husband – drinking a beer and watching a show or reading.
If your life had a hashtag, what would it be? #howmuchcaffeineistoomuchcaffeine?
Connect with Hannah
Know a Des Moines mom we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with details and we will be in touch.
