Some stories begin with a spark. I met Beth Benike while we were working together in the corporate world. Even then, her passion and drive were unmistakable. When the idea for Busy Baby first came to her, there were no sketches, no formal drawings. Beth took what she had and started cutting and gluing materials together at her kitchen table, creating a simple prototype for something she believed would help parents everywhere.
Busy Baby was born out of love, lived experience, and a whole lot of determination. Beth, a veteran and a mother, transformed that hands-on concept into a trusted brand. Her signature silicone placemats with tethers didn’t just solve a problem. They gave parents peace of mind, supported caregivers, and made mealtimes a little easier for families across the country.
Beth built her business from scratch. She prototyped, patented, pitched, and persevered. Her story is one that reflects true grit and resilience, the kind that pushes through the noise and inspires others to chase their vision.
But now, that dream is facing serious challenges.
Recently, Beth shared an emotional update on social media. Busy Baby is on the brink. New tariffs on products manufactured in China—some as high as 145 percent—are threatening to shut down her operations entirely.
“Our inventory will run out in three months,” Beth wrote. “After that, there’s no revenue. No money to pay employees. No way to cover our lease or loans. We’re at risk of losing everything.”
It’s heartbreaking to hear, especially from someone who has worked so hard and done everything the right way.
One of the biggest questions people ask is, why not move production to the United States? Beth has been open about this too, and her answer is clear. It’s not that she doesn’t want to. It’s that it simply doesn’t work for a small business.
Building a factory in the U.S. would take over a year and cost millions of dollars up front. Working with an existing factory here would still require over $150,000 just to create new tooling. The materials still need to be imported. Labor is expensive and hard to find. And even if all that worked, the final product would cost two or three times more—putting it out of reach for many families.
This isn’t a matter of preference. It’s a matter of survival.
Beth isn’t asking for a handout. She’s asking for time. Time to adjust. Time to keep her team working. Time to keep her doors open. That’s why her supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bridge the gap and keep Busy Baby alive.
🔗 Support Busy Baby here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-busy-baby-veteranowned-business-fighting-tariffs
🔗 Learn more about Busy Baby: https://busybabymat.com
Beth is a veteran, a mother, and a business owner who poured everything she had into building something that makes life a little better for others. Now, she’s fighting to hold on to what she’s built.
If you believe in the power of women-led businesses, if you’ve ever used a product that made parenting easier, or if you believe in rallying behind someone who has done the work and led with integrity, this is your moment to help.
Beth Benike is more than the founder of Busy Baby. She’s an example of what it means to dream big, work hard, and never give up.
Let’s show her that she’s not standing alone.
