FundaGeek Premium Marketing Offer Only for Womentorz Followers

Womentorz is pleased to announce a special offer from FundaGeek.com, the only crowdfunding site approved by the United Inventor Association. The first two followers from our network who launch a project on FundaGeek will receive Premium Marketing Resources at no additional charge. 

This enhanced marketing support is provided by FundaGeek and usually costs an additional 4%. This special offer is only available to the first two Womentorz followers who launch their crowdfunding project on FundaGeek before
October 31^st.

You can read about Premium Marketing here:

http://goo.gl/nG46A

Or better still, start building your project at FundaGeek's Inventors portal and win this valuable prize:  goo.gl/OekF1

To receive the special offer, please identify that you've learned about this offer through Womentorz when filling in your FundaGeek Member Profile by listing  www.womentorz.com  under ‘websites’ on that form.

You’ll find FundaGeek is very supportive and will greatly assist you in building a project on their site.

Products Gifted to Jessica Simpson and Baby Maxwell

We had so much fun putting the gifting together for Jessica Simpson and Baby Maxwell.  The products were so adorable AND useful for a new Mom.  We're sure that Jessica and her fiance Eric Johnson will agree!

Please support these hardworking and talented women by visiting their websites and sharing their products with your friends.  We're sure you will love their products as much as Jessica does.

Products Gifted to Jessica Simpson

Scratch Me Not
About: Our company, Short Stacks, started shortly after our family grew with the birth of our daughter. Upon learning that she was scratching her skin due to eczema, we began searching for anything to calm her skin. Over time, our comprehensive search became a passion. We found clothing that worked somewhat, but either the material wasn’t breathable, it was too rough, or she was able to take it off. With newfound inspiration, we came up with the ScratchMeNot Tinies and Tots! Simple yet effective gear that aids in preventing children from scratching their skin. This allows a better healing process for whatever skin irritant a child may be dealing with.

Silly Creatures
About: SillyCreatures.com is a family owned and run company. Simon (our chief designer) is seven years old and loves to design and make the silliest of creatures. He loves to give them weird names too. We are a socially responsible company. We manufacture our products in the USA because we want to keep and create local jobs to help boost our economy. We strive to be green – from our products to our packaging and daily operations, we are taking steps to help improve the world around us. In addition we donate our toys to school fund-raisers and children’s charities.

Purely Shea

About: Purely Shea® was developed by a pharmacist who suffered from severe skin rashes as a result of using harsh hand cleansers in a hospital pharmacy. Countless products were used to help the condition, including refined shea buter, but nothing seemed to help. A family friend suggested the use of Pure Unrefined Shea Butter instead to provide relief. And then something amazing happened-3 days later the rash was gone. After much intensive research, it was learned that ALL SHEA BUTTER PRODUCTS ARE NOT EQUAL! Purely Shea® was created to tell the true story of shea butter.

 

Hold Your Haunches

About: We are 2 busy moms and friends from Macon, Ga with 6 kids, 2 husbands and a gaggle of pets between us. Together, we created HYH luxury shapewear pants. Unable to find our miracle pant, we invented it. HYH streamlines shapewear and fashion. Besides improving the view, our product eliminates the annoyance and discomfort of rolling, binding and sagging – we take the suffering out of shaping. The secret is a layer of highly graded compression shapewear sewn comfortably underneath a fashion pant; thus creating the rear lifting, silhouette smoothing, premier go-to item that we ourselves want to wear. The result of our efforts has made getting dressed and feeling confident a truly fun process! There is nothing like instant gratification. Trust us, they work.

 

TZ Burps

About: I was a new mom when I decided to make my own bibs and burp cloths for my little girl, Emma. She was such a messy eater! When she started solid foods thank-goodness we had “TZ-BURPS” bibs! I got a lot of compliments on my bibs which is why I decided to start making them for others to enjoy. From there, I branched out and started making environmentally friendly wash-rags to help clean up the mess after a meal. Then, I added ribbon blankies for little ones to snuggle up with at nap time and night time. Now, as my daughter grows so do my items. I make all sorts of things: XL changing pads, hair clips/bow holders, gift sets, and my newest creation…fleece owls and birds.

Thank you to each small business owner for participating in our Jessica Simpson gifting. We appreciate your talents and passions!

To follow our gifting, or share this article on Twitter use hashtag #jessicasimpsongifting.  

Click Here to see all of the photos of the Jessica Simpson Gifting.
Click Here to check out the article on MommyPerks featuring the Jessica Simpson gifting.

When our women are able to send their products to a celebrity they are able to benefit from the connection online.  We realize that celebrities receive a lot of products, but there's a reason why....because it's great marketing for the hardworking entrepreneurs trying to bring exposure to their product.  It's a win, win for everyone with a lot coming back to the gifters.

Click here to see our many client testimonials!

Click here to read an article on how to make the most of celebrity gifting. 

Celeb Hoopla  is a joint effort between Womentorz and Mommy Perks. Long ago, our clients asked that we offer this service and we agreed to do so. Combining the gifting with SEO + blog posts + promotions is one way we can support moms in business.  

Inventor Showcase: The Breast Chek Kit

Now that Linda Lewis, the inventor of The Breast Chek Kit and extraordinary business woman, has been introduced in the previous blog posting, I am please to be showcasing her product and letting her tell her story in getting her product to market.  Anyone reading this will be amazed and inspired by her vision, tenacity and perseverance.  I am extremely proud to have her part of the Womentorz community.

Q. How did you come up with the idea of your lifesaving invention?
When I was younger, I never knew how to perform a breast self exam and so never did one. When I did learn, I did it as a hit and miss type of thing...touch here, feel there, but never the correct way. Breast Cancer is one of the cancers that run in my family so as I got older and as my immediate family were being diagnosed with breast cancer, I started to take performing an exam more serious. I was to young to get a mammogram so I learned how to do an exam the correct way. Some time later, I found my first lump while doing a breast self exam.

As the owner of lingerie boutiques I provided custom mastectomy and bra fittings as a service to customers. After years of hearing the issues associated with not knowing how to perform a breast self exam from customers, or being afraid to perform the exam, I started showing women how to do the exam along with the bra fitting service. However, it was not until a request came from a customer and hospital administrator for a product that clinicians could use in a classroom setting that the concept for the shirt was developed. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, I worked in corporate America for a fortune 500 company, so I called on a few old friends from various backgrounds to form an exploratory team.

Q.  What unique features does your product inherit? 

The Patented Breast Chek Shirt is a thin seamless knitted garment that has a traceable & trackable diagram for performing a breast self exam knitted into the garment. Once on, the shirt & diagram molds to fit the breast. It [diagram] covers all of the breast tissue, including lymph nodes under the arms and up to the collar bone areas. 

A specialized knitting process causes the diagram to be slightly raised so women who are visually impaired can feel and follow the diagram do an exam; and, the shirt works exceptionally well for women with breast augmentation. 

The shirt can be worn while taking the exam standing up or lying down. The characteristics and fit of the shirt, allows for the natural sag in a woman’s breast while standing or lying down, it also accommodates for the breast as it falls to the sides when lying down to do the exam. The kit also contains a special fabric marker so that if a lump or bump is located the wearer can make an X wherever a concern is located to track the movement or growth of a lump or bump. There is also an annual calendar with a place for notes and date of when the exam was taken. All of which makes it easier to remember exactly where the lump was located for the wearer and easier to discuss and share findings with a physician.

The yarn used in the knitting process allows the shirt fit a wide range of breast and body sizes, from bra cup sizes A-KK and above and band sizes 28 & up.

"The shirt is NOT a replacement for having an annual mammogram or seeing a physician."  It is a tool for educating women and young ladies starting at the age of 20 to become more familiar with how their breast look and feel making it easier to notice any changes in their breasts.
Since younger women diagnosed with breast cancer often experience a more aggressive cancer, performing a breast self exam is most important. The earlier abnormalities are found, the more treatable. Visit us on the Womentorz website or visit our website for more comprehensive information at: www.bckshirt.com.

Q. What was your experience like in the actual design and manufacturing of your product? 

Complex, fascinating & exciting! Going from a retailer to wholesaler/manufacturer was a life long dream. Executing it was something entirely different!

First there was finding a person who could turn my so called sketches into an actual drawing and ultimately a pattern. Then, because the product is not a typical cut and sew product, I had to locate yarn. Not an easy task! Because of my experience in the intimate apparel industry, I knew bra pattern makers, but did not know about the complexity of sourcing and importing yarns or knitting manufacturers. It was only when a yarn specialist from an importer took me under her wings, did I have a crash course in the various yarns, knitting machines and the benefits of all of them.

I envisioned a seamless product from the beginning that would have all of the characteristics the product ultimately has, but getting to that point was another story. Seamless manufacturing is a unique process that is only done by a handful of seamless manufacturers in the U.S. with specialized knitting equipment. Yarn is imported from countries around the world so learning about so many different types of yarns and their benefits was a huge undertaking.

Nonetheless, I began knocking on doors. None of the seamless manufacturers I contacted had ever attempted to create a computerized program for a knitting machine that could knit a shirt with such precise detail in the diagram, so research and development was interesting, time consuming, as was fitting the diagram to accommodate the range of breast sizes needed. That called for many different programs to be created. Once created the testing and color tests began. I had no idea in the beginning that all knit products come without any color, so experimentation and another crash course for me in various dyes and color!

There were so many steps to getting a product as complex as this to market that it would take more time than we have here. However, I must say that every manufacturer I worked with loved this project from beginning to end. As for me the exhilaration of watching the first raw shirt being knitted from a bolt of yarn to a potentially life saving product is one that I will never forget. With the help of these manufacturers, the product came to life in record time.

The Breast Chek Kit Shirt just received its first of 2 U.S. Patents on April 13th. a process that was 4 years in the making. Going through that process while also trying to get the product to market has been a test of faith and patience. We hope to have the 2nd Patent in 2011 or 2012.
 
"There were times when I was so tired that I wondered what and why I had taken on such a project. But each time I had those thoughts, I would meet someone at a trade show or a health fair where women would share their story with me on how the early detection of breast cancer saved her life. It was those types of stories that kept me going and knowing that this product is much bigger than me and that it could truly help women."

Q. How do you balance launching a new business with family?

It's difficult for me at times because I am driven and passionate about my businesses and can become immersed in work so I tend to work very long hours and travel frequently. My husband knows this and some years ago as a joke he started putting up a "Closed" sign on my office door and tried to lock me out of it. As he stood there with the keys and a smile, I got the message loud and clear. So when it looks like I am burning the candle at both ends he keeps me grounded from going over board by placing that "Closed" sign on my door! I have come to count on it. At the end of the day though, it is the love I have of my faith, my husband and family that keeps me balanced.

Q. What did you do prior to your invention?

I owned a designer lingerie boutique with 2 locations and an online store of the same boutiques and worked in corporate America for over 20 years.

Q. What fact would readers find interesting about you?

That I love antique car shows, I am a huge fan of Formula 1 racing & drag racing and I am learning how to ride a motorcycle so I can ride with my husband

Q/A with Womentorz Owner, Melinda Knight

Q-Have you always been an inventor?

A- No, but I have a design background and am always thinking of creative and new ways to solve problems. The AttachaTray is definitely the first time that I took an idea and ran with it. Because of my success in business in general, I felt comfortable exploring other avenues to invest my time and resources. I definitely inherited my father’s entrepreneurial spirit and always look to him as an example when I have choices to make.

Q- When did the inspiration hit you to invent your laptop tray?

A- The inspiration for the AttachaTray came while I was working out at the gym and was thinking how nice it would be to be able to get some exercise while keeping up with my businesses. The gym I go to has WIFI, and I knew that if I could get it made, it would be the perfect place to showcase it. I spent the next month or so studying the equipment and making sure there wasn’t something already on the market similar to my idea.

Q- Tell us about your family?

A- My husband Brent and I have been married for over nine years and have two children, Payton age 5 and Rylie age 2. We have lived in Edmonds for the past seven years and have no intention of leaving anytime soon. We are quite the home bodies, so usually our nights are spent watching movies and relaxing. I think it’s because of the daily stress in our business lives that the thought of going out is completely overwhelming.

My husband is very supportive with all of my ventures since I’ve been able to prove myself to him over the years. It isn’t unusual for him to get a little scared at first, but he comes around eventually. I appreciate that he believes in me.

Rylie is quite the ham and always puts a smile on our faces. He has a lot of personality! Everything is dialed to the highest volume in everything that he does. Payton is our sweet and energetic child who loves to cuddle. He loves ice skating and is quite the pro at it already. I have no idea why he decided that was the sport he wanted to go in since Brent and I have never discussed it, yet alone put ice skates on. He’s been at it though for over a year now.


Q- What is one of your goals?

A-I would be nothing without my family. We are a very close unit that is supportive and loving. It breaks my heart when I’m not able to give them the attention they deserve all of the time. My goal is to do a better job of balancing my time.

Q- What are your hobbies/interests?

A- I used to be an avid football and rugby player, but that was a LONG time ago. Sports were my passion back before I had a family. I met my husband while playing football actually. I was also asked to play on a professional women’s football team in Seattle, but turned it down due to my heavy work schedule at the time. The name and the ownership of the team has changed, so I’m not completely sure how they are doing now.

My love for sports has been replaced with a love of interior design. My passion is definitely in making spaces beautiful and working with clients to fulfill their dreams. I wish I was able to take on more projects, but it keeps me from my children and my other businesses that are more lucrative. I have a tough time taking pay for something that I love to do.

Q- What makes Womentorz different than what is already available out there?

A- That’s the thing-there isn’t anything out there like Womentorz. There isn’t anything out there for inventors in general let alone for women inventors. We are providing a marketplace where buyers can go to one place to see all of the latest inventions by women instead of a website here and there that they most likely don’t even know exists. We are providing the missing link between buyers and sellers with our investment in marketing, public relations and advertising. This is an opportunity for women to come up with even more inventions because they know they don’t have to worry about getting their product to market. All they have to do is please the buyer who will be the determining factor to their success.

Q- What do you see in the future for Womentorz?

A- Eventually, I also see Womentorz being an investor in some of these ideas. Jen and I have so many ideas in areas we can take Womentorz. The boundaries are limitless!

Q/A with Jennifer Cannon, VP of Global Communications, Part 1

Q-How did you and your business partner, Melinda Knight, meet?

A-Melinda and I met at the Chicago casting call for Milojo’s (Kelly Ripa’s production co.) Women Inventor Show.

I decided to stay at the hotel where the call was held the night before so that I could be in the lobby as early as possible the next morning. I had no idea if fifty or several hundred women would show up. It was all pretty mysterious with even the hotel staff not knowing much about what was going on.

I resisted the urge to be in the lobby at 5:00 a.m. and instead went down at 6:00 a.m. There were just a couple of other ladies there and I joined them in a small seating area. It must have been right around or a little before 7:00 a.m. when Melinda made her way over and sat down behind me on the fireplace hearth. I turned around to say hello because a) it’s in my nature and b) most of the ladies were pretty friendly and introducing themselves to one another.

When I heard more about her, I couldn’t believe that she flew across the country with a recumbent bike which she still had to put together before we went in! We chatted until it was time to go downstairs but then lost track of each other before going in to register.

After my turn in the "30 second room" I was able to say goodbye and exchange information with a few of the ladies and Melinda before I ran out the door. I am realizing more and more how fateful that day was! I was also surprised recently to learn from her that I was the first person she met that day. Alot has happened in a very short time!

Q- What are your hopes for Womentorz?

A- I feel so passionately about the need to create and connect and share information with others that I hope that Womentorz is going to be a place that encompasses all of those things for many, many women.

I see a global e-commerce site with women from all over the world joining together and selling high-quality, innovative products- creating a one-of-a-kind shopping experience for all consumers. I would also love to see a “Young” or “Junior” Womentorz for girls ages thirteen to eighteen.

I hope that we can help a lot of women out there realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

Womentorz Selects The Spellman Company for Launching Success

We are so excited about the selection of The Spellman Company as our public relations firm. They will be truly instrumental in letting the public know both locally and nationally about Womentorz and the amazing talent that can be found on the site.

The Spellman Company has helped a bevy of the nation's leading companies — and some of Seattle's hottest entrepreneurs — build their brands and create buzz. A clever campaign, an appearance on Oprah, coverage in the New York Times or The Robb Report, a show-stopping event — these are just some of the tools used by The Spellman Company to launch new companies and products. Founded in 1995 by Kat Spellman, this boutique lifestyle marketing firm has continued to grow by knowing the Pacific Northwest market inside and out and by offering clients access to national contacts and expertise gained over decades. Read the latest news on their blog http://thespellmancompany.blogspot.com/ or visit their website http://www.thespellmanco.com/to discover more.

The Spellman Company will be an amazing compliment to Womentorz and an invaluable partner in bringing success to the launching of the website.