October 2016 – The Beehive

45: Ianthe Mauro Makes Objects with Purpose

October 31, 2016 By AlisaIvorySmith No Comments

Ianthe Mauro has high standards in both and quality. She created Objects With Purpose candles to deliver a non-toxic sophisticated and conscientious experience to others. We discussed her approach to candle-making in great detail.

Her Philosophy

Share light and keep things clean and light. Remove mental blocks by figuring out how to make things work on a practical level.

Her Advice to Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

Talk about your ideas to everyone you come in contact with. Start to get feedback. Make it real by talking about it first.
Come up with your word(s) – what is your bigger reason, the reason that you’re doing what you’re doing?
Allow yourself to take risks. Once you figure out what you want to do and you talk about it, try things even before you’re an expert. Take action.

Links

http://objectswithpurpose.com/

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44: Tippy Tippens Makes Goods That Matter

October 19, 2016 By AlisaIvorySmith No Comments

Tippy Tippens is the Founder and Chief Eternal Optimist at Goods that Matter. She is also a social entrepreneur, designer, gandhiwarmer, and she’s passionate about building sustainable growth. Tippy does this by making the objects that we live with work for us instead of against us and ultimately wishing to contribute to greater happiness.

I wanted to learn more about Tippy’s approach as a social entrepreneur. During our conversation, we talked about how to create products that have a positive impact on society.

Her Philosophy

Design for good. Make sure that the work is doing good, is beneficial to the environment and beneficial for the customers.

Her Advice to Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

Just Start.
Never give up.
Ask for advice but know when to accept it.
Trust your intuition when making decisions.

Links

http://ourgoodsmatter.com
https://teuxdeux.com/

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43: Dr. Wei-Shin Lai Creates SleepPhones®

October 15, 2016 By AlisaIvorySmith No Comments

Dr. Wei-Shin Lai, MD, is a family doctor turned entrepreneur. She has helped 600,000 people live happier, healthier, well-rested lives. When she was in private practice and struggled with her own sleep issues, Wei-Shin and her husband invented SleepPhones®, the world’s first headphones designed for sleeping. I was interested in talking to Wei-Shin due to her technical background in medicine.

During our conversation, she highlighted the idea that our life experiences can often inspire new solutions for old problems. We also talked creating success through team work.

Her Philosophy

Respect everybody.

Her Advice to Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

Know yourself. Understand yourself and what motivates you or sucks your energy away. know what you’re capable of, your strengths and weaknesses.
Ask for help if there is something that you don’t know about.
Know when to fire yourself. Focus on the things that you know you’re good at. Hire others to take care of the rest.

Links

http://www.sleepphones.com/
http://www.runphones.com/

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42: Nancie Weston Creates an Ultra Light Water Purifier

October 2, 2016 By AlisaIvorySmith No Comments

Nancie Weston is the inventor, founder and chief designer at GRAYL Inc., the maker of advanced yet stylish water filters and purifiers that allow you drink water from any source, anywhere in the world. She founded GRAYL due to her concerns about water quality and the impact of plastic from bottled water bottles on our land and oceans. Nancie had worked in sales and marketing for over 25 years and then she found her true passion product design.

I wanted to talk to Nancy to better understand how she came up with such an innovative idea and also to find out how she was able to get her product manufactured.

Her Philosophy

Never taking “NO” for an answer.

Her Advice to Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs

Never take “no” for an answer. If you believe in your product, your passion and your vision, just keep going until you get someone who will listen.
Don’t be afraid of your weaknesses. Instead, hire people who can help. Use a subcontractor, friend, relative, volunteers, etc.
Before launching your product or starting on the design process, get retailers on board. Ask them: 1) What does it take to get into your store?; 2) What do you need?; 3) Would this be a product of interest?; 4) Theoretically, if you were going to order, how many would you order?
Use the retailer information (above) in your negotiations with manufacturers
Be very sure of the people you are hiring. Don’t just hire the first person who comes into your office. Wait until you get the right person.
Believe in yourself. Understand what you like and what your vision is.

Links

http://www.thegrayl.com/

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Month: October 2016

45: Ianthe Mauro Makes Objects with Purpose

44: Tippy Tippens Makes Goods That Matter

43: Dr. Wei-Shin Lai Creates SleepPhones®

42: Nancie Weston Creates an Ultra Light Water Purifier