We are Catalina Escallon and Daniela Guarin, a dynamic duo with a serial entrepreneurial spirit. We are Co-Founders of Noodo, an idea accelerator studio, where we cultivate, accelerate and bring ideas to market. We help brands come up with creative solutions for challenges they face like: creating innovative marketing campaigns, finding their message, visual identity, content creation and more!

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

The bottom line was that we both wanted something more in our careers. We wanted to feel more valued and connected to what we were creating. We actually started during COVID, Cata had been urging to start something on her own so she had the idea, and 2020 happened, and it ended up being the perfect year to take the leap of faith.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

Cata’s background is in graphic design and Dani’s background is in strategy, and we both share industry experience in both product management and product development in the interior design space.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Cata always knew, ever since we met we’ve been dreaming about working on our own thing. However Dani took a bit more convincing since she said she wasn’t ready to be an entrepreneur.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

Cata launched in March 2020 when the pandemic just started, and Noodo officially launched in September 2020. We went after people in our industry first, with contacts we had and referrals but we quickly realized that our offering was more powerful with startups and small businesses as they are in stages we can interviene more successfully.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?

When we first started we gave client big reports and data which no one read. We used to spend so much time in these reports that no one read, so we needed to adapt. We created new processes and now we work on a workshop base method. We are co-creators with our clients. We are the experts, but we are also facilitators, moderators and producers of their ideas.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

We started Noodo with no resources, without raising funds and just an idea. There was a lot of uncertainty as if it was going to work and if it was even worth it. We put together our business plan and marketing strategy in just a couple of months and we launched! It’s been incredible to see how every-time we work with a new client the process and the experience gets better. Seeing it evolve and our ability to adapt in that evolution has been really rewarding.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

It is something we strive for everyday. We believe in work/life balance but also in having fun while working. The reason we left our jobs was because we had no motivation at work, so we started chasing a new type of motivation. As en entrepreneurs sometimes we forget to disconnect but I think remembering to do one activity in the day that is for you and is not related to your business is crucial, eg: working out, embroidering, whatever makes your heart sign. We also are huge believers in taking care of your mental health, as your business is a reflection of yourself, and when you are ok your business thrives.

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

“It does not have to be perfect.” Sometimes all you have to do is launch. Follow the leads, go connect with people, network, put yourself out there. There will be a community of people that like what you do, you just have to go after them. Knock on everyone’s door, ask for advice, ask to be featured, collaborate with people. The worst answer is only a no (or maybe no response) but life goes on and another person will say yes! And those are the people you’d want work with.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

We are working in a series of workshops that touches on everything we offer in a condensed format. This will allow more people to be able to access our content at more affordable prices. We want to reach more people that are still in baby stage and for them to be able to benefit from the services we provide.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We want to work with more female founders and women from diverse backgrounds and cultures. We think that we bring a diverse perspective and we want to see more women like us thriving. We are all about building community, so we want to keep expanding our own.

What excites you about being Entreprenista League members?

Connecting with so many amazing women! Being able to learn from them, get mentorship, and uplift one another brings so much value. We believe in community and in finding people with similar mindset and values.

The post Catalina Escallon and Daniela Guarin of Noodo Studio on bringing ideas to market appeared first on Entreprenista.

RielDeal Marketing is a full-service boutique brand marketing firm. My team and I handle everything from brand strategy (refresh and launch), website development, social media management, paid advertising email marketing and automation to help ensure our clients ideal customer experiences a clear, consistent message….because as I always say – confused customers don’t convert. In my personal time I enjoy spending time with my favorite humans, taking vacations at the beach, focusing on personal development and wellness, and soaking up every special moment with my two dogs, Hops a rescue and Teddy the Schnoodle. 

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I’m a brand strategist and digital marketer who got my start in the industry in 2008, while still in college. I discovered marketing while pursuing my Business degree and immediately fell in love. The problem was, I was nearing the end of my college time and knew I didn’t want to change my major to learn the “book version” of marketing, so I started my consulting firm to get as much real-life marketing experience as possible before graduating.

I leveraged a few freelance projects and my communications background to land my first full-time job — and every job after. I’ve worked in corporate environments and in startups, with franchise systems, Fortune 10 companies, and family-owned small businesses. Intentionally seeking out a diverse collection of brand and business-types to soak up as much experience as possible.

I lived the “side hustle” life for over 9 years, navigating the demands of a full-time job — working for someone else by day, then transitioning to working on my business and servicing client needs on nights and weekends. In 2019, I left my corporate job to focus on my business full-time and that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I had this nudge inside of me that I would always be an entrepreneur after seeing my father’s entrepreneurial journey, but didn’t always have clarity on what business I would start. It kind of all fell together.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I honestly didn’t have a marketing strategy at first. It wasn’t until 9 years after launching the business – and transitioning from solopreneur to a business owner mindset and managing a team that I started thinking about business differently. I’m grateful nearly all of our business comes from referrals from previous clients and colleagues who know our work align the way.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

My most proud accomplishment is the growth that I’ve led RielDeal Marketing through in 2020 and 2021. Two of the most challenging years to be a human on planet Earth. I’m grateful my business is thriving my team is growing and we’re able to expand. I do not take that for granted, and I am so very proud of it.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

We hit our 2021 Revenue goal for the year in Q3 which has been an incredibly exciting milestone and motivator for the future!

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

This may sound cheesy, but the sky is the limit! Our short-term focus is on continued growth and scale of the business, bringing on more resources (including full-time employees) to support our expansion to serve our clients best.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

Community is one of the most powerful business assets I’ve built over the last decade. Groups like Entreprenista League help us cultivate those connections. I am excited about the connection, the support and the potential to mentor other women in this amazing group!

The post Stephanie Riel of Riel Deal Marketing on how building community can impact your business appeared first on Entreprenista.

In less than a year, MISS SWISS has been picked up by major retailers including Urban Outfitters, Verishop, Amazon, and boutiques around the US. Our MISS SWISS 2-in-1 Brush Holder & Drying Rack was awarded a Her Campus Beauty Award in October 2021, and our products have been featured in Star Magazine, Drift Travel, E! News Daily Pop, Her Campus, Style Caster, NBC News and Marie Claire. 

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

Entrepreneurial spirit runs in my family but I decided to launch my company, MISS SWISS because my concept for my Glamour on the Go makeup case literally fell into my lap. I was at a concert and had a “purse catastrophe.”  The friction between my eyeliner lid and the other contents of my purse caused the lid of the eyeliner to come off which not only ruined the eyeliner but also destroyed my purse. The purse was a gift from my boyfriend, now husband, who saved up to get me this beautiful purse. When I reluctantly told him what happened, he told me he couldn’t afford to replace the bag and that I needed to make sure this didn’t happen again. 

When I told my friends and family what happened they said that they had similar problems with other makeup products that have pop on lids like lipstick and that this spillage also occurred in their makeup cases as well. That is when I researched other makeup cases and found they were too bulky and heavy to carry in a purse or did not allow for proper spacing to prevent spillage, they only contained the spills. After I conducted focus groups on issues makeup wearers have, I noticed that there were multiple problems makeup wearers were frustrated about. It was at that point I knew I would be able to differentiate my product offerings from the major players in the beauty industry by not just creating great quality products, but making sure the products I launch have a purpose and solve a problem. 

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I launched MISS SWISS right after I graduated college in 2019.  While in college, I ran social media accounts for a luxury home real estate agent.  As an accounting and marketing dual major, I took as many business courses as possible so when I entered the workforce, I would be multifaceted and have at least a basic understanding of all aspects of business.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Personally, I didn’t think I would always be an entrepreneur, but my family always did. I was the child with the lemonade stand at 5, crafting and selling doll furniture at 8, and hand sewing fabric bags and purses in my teens. I always loved selling products but it wasn’t until I was in High School when I studied abroad and took my first business management class that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. 

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

Launching a new business is challenging, launching a new business during a pandemic was even more so. Before launching MISS SWISS, I conducted market research, held focus groups, created and designed my Glamour on the Go Cases over a year before the first mention of the pandemic. Our marketing strategy was all about selling a “Glamour on the Go ” lifestyle but with the pandemic limiting travel, everyone wearing masks, and quarantining, I had to shift the focus of MISS SWISS so it would still be relevant and useful during this very uncertain time. 

We decided to shift our focus to not only “Glamour on the Go” but also glamour at home. We launched our MISS SWISS 2-in-1 Brush Holder & Drying Rack a month after we launched our glam on the go Makeup Cases. The Brush Holder was not only perfect for traveling with your makeup brushes, but it had uses where it would be helpful at home too. The multifunctional benefits of the brush holder made it the perfect tool to prevent makeup brushes from getting ruined by dust and germs, made drying your makeup brushes easier, and was the perfect vanity decoration that could also be personalized with a name, initial, monogram, or social media handle. Shifting our focus during the pandemic allowed MISS SWISS to continue to grow and solve problems for makeup wearers even when people couldn’t be traveling. 

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

The accomplishment I am most proud of has to be having my first Invention, the Glamour on the Go Makeup Case,  being sold in Urban Outfitters. It was such a surreal feeling to have a product I spent a year+ bringing to life and patenting being sold by a major retailer.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

I recently was accepted into the Entrepreneur Magazine Leadership Network. I have been extremely fortunate to have a few mentors who have helped me get to where I am today. It is an amazing feeling that now I can do the same by publishing some of my business tips and tricks to a platform of over three million entrepreneurs.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

I am incredibly grateful that MISS SWISS has grown so quickly, this growth has really allowed me to start expanding MISS SWISS into makeup, skincare, and other travel accessories. We are working on creating vegan formulations for both makeup and skincare products we want to launch. We are also in the process of launching our own IOS app.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I am excited about being an Entreprenista League member because it will give me the opportunity to learn and connect with successful, inspirational and supportive professional women. I launched MISS SWISS in the middle of the pandemic, so my networking opportunities have been limited. I love meeting other women entrepreneurs, networking, and interacting with women I can learn with and grow.

The post Ashley Piszek of MISS SWISS on generating quick growth and expansion in the startup phase appeared first on Entreprenista.

We’ve all heard of becoming an expert in something we never wanted to be an expert in – that’s me. I didn’t want to become an expert in infertility. But after twelve scientifically assisted attempts, a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, and a termination for medical reasons, once I finally emerged on the other side of my rainbow I knew that it was part of my life’s path to help others along their way. 

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

My husband and I developed a podcast (Maculate Conception) documenting our own intimate infertility path in real-time. We were so grief-stricken and lonely, with no one who really “got it,” that we started recording as an outlet for mental health…. we recorded our appointments, phone calls, pillow talk, and when the podcast actually became successful, we knew it was because people stopped feeling so alone.  From sharing that story I was able to connect with women going through it all over the world, and that’s where this business idea started. These women were seeking guidance and advice at every corner. When I synced with my business partner, Sophie, who had been through her own harrowing infertility journey, and was a huge source of guidance, and empathy to me and others – we knew this business is desperately needed.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I have been all over the place, which is actually something I love about myself and my trajectory. At my core, and by craft, I am an actress. I moved to LA when I got my first big break, and I still act. It doesn’t fill my soul like it used to, and along the way I was able to work in other areas that I love and make an impact in the world. I have worked in marketing, sales, and operations. A diverse business background comes in handy when launching your own business!

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I’ve always had an entreprenurial spirit. My version of a lemonade stand was called “Tchotchkes Unlimited,” where at eight years old I sold glorified junk on the sidewalk outside my apartment in New York City. I don’t think everyone has that inclination from the early stages of life, but I believe that if you do have it, no matter what your career trajectory, you will always find some way to nourish that side of your soul. It needs nourishment.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

MOST proud of is a hard one. But my kids are way up there. Giving birth to twins after 6 years of infertility, loss, grief, a medically necessary termination, nearly dying in childbirth – I still can’t believe that I emerged on the other side of my rainbow still intact physically and continuing to heal emotionally.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

It may sounds cliche, but I do believe that when you do what you love it doesn’t feel like work. This is the best way to achieve work/life balance. I find it worth the risk to go for what you love and that gives you the life you want, then having to find a way to keep them separate and make each side suffer at moments.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We are looking to scale in many ways. We love our one-on-one (really two on one!!) impact, but we also want to be able to reach wider and help more women. We are now working on partnerships with clinics, and potentially adding inspirational products to help those handling the grief of infertility on a daily basis. 

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

Female business owners and hustlers are the actual vision of the future. If I can have the opportunity to collaborate with a slew of them, I am IN!

The post Abbe Feder of InCircle Fertility on stepping into her entrepreneurial spirit appeared first on Entreprenista.

People call me The Velvet Hammer. I help entrepreneurs achieve their goals without putting more on their plate by running a high performance team. I run a consulting and coaching company that supports clients with two things: business growth strategy and accelerated results.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I was the Marketing Director of the Entrepreneurship Center at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. I ran a team of young professionals, managed a multimillion dollar budget, and produced events for our millionaire and billionaire donors.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I’ve always had the most success in business by building real relationships. It’s easy for me to connect with new people and quickly build trust.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?

Mindset is by far the biggest cause of “drag” in my experience. I think it can really speed things up or slow things down. I’ve learned to believe, “Why not me!” instead of “Why even try.” It’s a powerful shift… and now work is play!

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Absolutely. You know that analogy of the rocks, sand, and water fitting into a jar? My family and health are my rocks. Business is the sand. As fun as it is to play in the sand… I’ve felt the pain of regret that comes from feeling you missed time with your babies. It’s now a non-negotiable for me to always put my “rocks” in first. And somehow when I do that, everything else seems to fit. 

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

Make an investment in the right person who can support you with the right strategy that works for what you want. Spend enough that it scares you, and go all in!

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

I’m shifting from a boutique consulting agency to a larger training and consulting company for movers and shakers. I’m building a rockstar team and organization that will change the way people look at business, leadership, and teams.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I love connecting with other women who also believe they can change the world in their own unique way! I’m intentionally upgrading the “5 people I spend the most time with”.

The post Performance Coach Natalee Champlin on running a high performance team appeared first on Entreprenista.

SHINERY

The globe’s first clean, plant-based jewelry and hand wash, SHINERY is the brainchild of newly minted Entreprenista Brea Fullerton. You can now wash your most precious jewelry in a plant-based cleanser that can truly clean off dirt and oils to restore lustrous shine, while being gentle enough to double as a moisturizing hand wash.

The all-natural, chemical-free formula uses nature’s most powerful botanicals to deliver a residue, streak-free clean that nourishes hands in the process in a first-of-its kind hybrid jewelry and skin cleanser that fits seamlessly into your natural-leaning lifestyle. It’s crafted with healthy, plant-based, skin-loving ingredients.

Shop the Sparkle + Shine Holiday Gift Set here!

Brilliantly

Helping women make the transition from confronting cancer to embracing life.

Founded by Entreprenista Kristen Carbone, Brilliantly helps women with the transition from confronting breast cancer to embracing life through innovative products, thoughtful content, and relevant services. Their flagship product, Brilliantly Warm, is an app-controlled warming wearable for the many women who experience a constant and distracting feeling of coldness from their breast implant reconstruction.

They’ve also started a portrait project, released a corrective exercise video series, hosted events, and featured interviews and blog posts on their online journal to benefit women everywhere.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA15 for 15% off your Brilliantly purchase.

Equipt

Founded by Entreprenista Kodi Berg (Kitchen), EQUIPT began with the desire to bring more movement into life. Kodi started the company with Ubarre, a product fusing functionality with design, now proud to be in hotels and studios around the world. EQUIPT recently launched their first super comfortable (and moveable!) elevated athleisure line with custom ballet barres, perfect for any fitness lover on your list!

Use code ENTREPRENISTA15 for 15% off your Equipt purchase.

Little Words Project®

Founded by Entreprenista Adriana Carrig, Little Words Project® aims to inspire and encourage people to be kind to themselves and to pay that kindness forward, one bracelet at a time.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA15 for 15% off your Little Words Project® purchase.

Otherland

Founded by Entreprenista Abigail Cook Stone, Otherland offers limited edition seasonal scents along with year-round favorites from their Core Collection, available individually or a “Build Your Own” custom three-pack bundle. Their candles are created using a coconut and soy wax blend and have up to 55 hours of burn time. Each order comes with a coordinating matchbox and gift-givers may add both a “matchbox greeting” and personalized note card printed on premium stationary, finishing touches that make this a fantastic gift!

Shop the Gilded Collection here.

Bonus: Listen to Otherland Founder Abigail Cook Stone’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

Sunflow

Founded by Entreprenista Leslie Hsu, SUNFLOW is a premium beach brand designed to turn every beach outing into a luxurious and indulgent retreat. Their signature chair is chic and transportable to use at the pool, backyard, roof deck, campsite, or park – the possibilities are endless! The chair, along with its innovative attachments and accessories are thoughtfully designed with user-friendly features, and promise a perfect day in the sand and sun will be simple and effortless.

Shop The Beach Bundle here.

Arber

Founded by Entreprenista Vanessa Dawson, Arber is the first-of-its-kind organic, non-toxic plant wellness company on the market. Like many others, I turned to gardening to help cope with the stress of being a new mother amid the pandemic but was surprised with how difficult it was to find gardening products that were organic and truly safe for my family and the planet. That’s why I decided to develop and launch Arber, bringing the science of biologicals (naturally occurring substances proven to prevent disease, ward off unwanted pests and promote growth) to make plant care safe, effective, and simple for all gardeners and plant parents of indoor and outdoor greenspaces.

Arber products come in the form of concentrates, making them an excellent value while also reduce packaging waste. In fact, one bottle of Arber equals 64 single-use plastic spray bottles.

Shop the Arber Kits here.

Elizabeth Sutton Collection

Entreprenista League member Elizabeth Sutton‘s in-house line of accessories features clutches, bags, straps, belts, and luggage tags. All of her gifts and accessories are beautifully packaged in custom boxes to create a full artistic experience for the recipient. She has also debuted nine wallpaper collections, drawer pulls, napkin rings, and disposable placemats, as well as five rug designs in Bali with custom-dyed threads from the finest New Zealand wool so that people can decorate their home with her art at any price point.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA10 for 10% off your Elizabeth Sutton Collection purchase.

Eberjey PJ Set

Co-Founded by Entreprenista Ali Mejia, Eberjey makes sleepwear for the softer side of life. For over 25 years, they have created styles and spaces that encourage softness, ease, confidence, comfort, and total authenticity.

They use only the softest fabrics and timeless craftsmanship to design iconic pajamas and beautiful, functional pieces that support sleep and individual style.

Shop the Gisele PJ Set here.

Digicards

The essential item for every virtual meeting!

Any Entreprenista will LOVE these Virtual Meeting DigiCards that include 20 colorful cue cards for virtual meetings that make them more interactive, collaborative and fun!

DigiCards take anyone’s digital meeting to the next level. These incredible visual tools let everyone participate at all times:

• Give immediate feedback
• Keep all participants engaged
• Avoid unnecessary muting and unmuting
• Add fun and color to any meeting

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 30% off DigiCards orders over $100!

Knours

Founded by Entreprenista Julie Chon, Knours makes perfectly kind skin essentials that are carefully crafted. Their products are clean and focus on maintaining skin wellness through a woman’s major hormonal cycles (the 3 M’s: menstruation, maternity, and menopause).

Shop the Treat Yourself Self-Care Sheetmask Duo here.

The post The best gifts for everyone on your list (from Entreprenista-owned brands, of course) appeared first on Entreprenista.

DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections

When Entreprenista Kristen Tomlan moved to New York City following design school, her passion for baking was as present as ever. Despite her tiny Manhattan kitchen, baking became a therapy of sorts. It was an escape from her busy schedule as a designer at a brand consultant firm and an outlet from the constant drum of the busy city.

Kristen loves the process of trying new flavors and recipes — the journey of taking raw ingredients and transforming them into a delicious creation that can be shared. She finds joy being in the kitchen and baking treats to share with the people in her life. From her kitchen to yours, enjoy the joy of sharing DŌ with your loved ones this year!

Shop the Happy Hanukkah Edible Cookie Dough Pack, Happy Holidays Edible Cookie Dough Pack, and Gingerbread Cookie Kit.

Bonus: Listen to DŌ, Cookie Dough Confections Founder Kristen Tomlan’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

playboxes

Founded by Entreprenista League member Heather Ray, Playboxes are eco-friendly, life-size coloring playhouses and activity booklets that bring HOURS of fun and joy to little ones.

Each playbox purchase includes:

• Life-sized playhouse (Cute-as-can-be playhouse that they will color and customize for hours)

• Educational activity book (Pages of facts-meet-fun activities, jokes, and imagination ignitors)

• Colorful stickers (Add pizazz with 50+ custom, colorful, and coordinated stickers)

Use code ENTREPRENISTA10 for 10% off your playboxes purchase.

Coco Beans

Founded by Entreprenista League member Jill Apgar, Coco Beans is a luxury home textile brand delivering the magic to bedtime. They source the world’s softest, premium fabrics to create “icky-free” bedding and sleepwear, perfect for your little one.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA10 for 10% off when you shop Coco Beans 100% Silk crib sheets + pillowcases.

Lovevery

Co-Founded by Entreprenista Jessica Rolph, Lovevery is an early learning brand that supports families with stage-based play essentials for children and multi-channel content for parents. Their Play Kits help you make the most of playtime by supporting your child’s learning during important developmental windows with play essentials that are tailored to their exact stage.

Shop the Play Kits here.

Bonus: Listen to Lovevery Founder Jessica Rolph’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

Markid

Co-Founded by Entreprenista Podcast Co-Host Stephanie Cartin, Markid is a marketplace for gently-used kids’ items made by parents for parents. With Markid, you can sell or buy preloved or never-used kids’ gear easily and seamlessly. From strollers and bassinets, to clothing and toys, Markid is the one-stop sustainable option for all your kids’ needs! 

Shop sustainably and save money on brands like UPPABABY and Nuna by joining Markid’s community of parents this holiday season! 

Bug Bite Thing

Founded by Entreprenista Kelley Higney, Bug Bite Thing’s easy-to-use suction tool effectively extracts insect saliva/venom from under the skin to eliminate the itching, stinging and swelling caused by insect bites and stings. The product is completely chemical-free, reusable, safe to use on children of all ages and adults, and makes a great stocking stuffer.

Shop the Bug Bite Thing here.

The Letter Nest

Founded by Entreprenista League Member Sally King McBride, The Letter Nest was born when Sally struggled to find a meaningful baby gift. She decided on creating letter art because there seemed to be a white space—or as she saw it, a blank canvas—for elevated alphabet art for children. Sally’s hope is that her work will bring joy, beauty, and delight to your spaces, as well as to the children who inhabit them!

Shop The Letter Nest here.

Aaron and Otto

Founded by Entreprenista League member Morgan Lituchy, Aaron and Otto customizes clothing and accessories for kids of all ages. Everything from jean jackets to sweatshirts, backpacks, snack cups, and onesies are available on their website!

Use code ENTREPRENISTA15 for 15% off Aaron and Otto bestsellers: Jean Jackets, Sweatsuits and Holiday Onesies/Tshirts!

PrintArtKids

Founded by Entreprenista Abbe Lunger, PrintArtKids is a women-owned and operated small business that creates fun, creative, unique, personalized items featuring kid’s original art. Products include custom holiday cards, note cards, stationery, puzzles and home decor!

Shop PrintArtKids products here.

Craft Studio

Owned by Entreprenista League Member Lindsay Peers, Craft Studio’s craft kits are the perfect gift for kids of all ages! They are hand packed with love, the best quality materials, and on-trend products. They have everything from Winter Wonderland White Chocolate Houses, to Unicorn Pillows, Tie-dye kits, and so much more!

Use code ENTREPRENISTA20 for 20% off Craft Studio’s entire shop now through 1/15/2022.

STATE Bags

Co-Founded by Entreprenista Jacqueline Tatelman, STATE Bags offers inclusively cool accessories for the whole family with a purpose. Every STATE product purchased aids the brands giveback efforts to American families and children in the ways they need it most. 5% of all revenue is allocated to these efforts which have included fully packed bag drop rallies, virtual tutoring initiatives in underserved communities, non-profit and charity partnerships and more. Their kids bags are functional and fashionable, making them an irresistible gift!

Shop STATE Bags’ Lorimer Kids Fanny Pack + Kane Bike Bag.

ArtSugar

Founded by Entreprenista Alix Greenberg, ArtSugar is a women-founded e-commerce retailer pioneering art curation for the Instagram generation. ArtSugar curates works by artists making a splash on social media with a colorful and eye-catching aesthetic, and provides a seamless e-commerce destination for people to buy the art they “like” on social media. Customers know to come to ArtSugar for its chic and uplifting aesthetic featuring on-trend designs, bright colors, and stylish patterns – all at an accessible price point. Plus, ArtSugar donates proceeds from every purchase to a selection of notable charities. Decorate your little one’s room or playroom with ArtSugar this holiday season!

Shop ArtSugar here.

Bella Tunno

Founded by Entreprenista Michelle Tunno Buelow, Bella Tunno is the women-owned baby brand behind dozens of teething and feeding products designed to make parenting easier and more fun. For every product sold, Bella Tunno donates at least one meal to a hungry child through partnerships with Feeding America and the Global FoodBanking Network. To date, the brand has donated more than 7.2 million meals!

Shop Bella Tunno here.

The post The 13 best gifts for kids from Entreprenista-owned brands appeared first on Entreprenista.

And if you are a Mamaprenista, consider this your sign to treat yourself! What’s better than going into the new year feeling healthy, stylish, and relaxed?

Natalist

Make every morning a good morning. Keep nausea at bay with Natalist’s organic, hand-packed Good Morning Tea blend. A delicately spiced fusion of organic ingredients, including organic, Indian ginger root and organic, Egyptian peppermint, this custom-made herbal tea for pregnancy is designed to support nausea and digestive relief.

Natalist makes beautiful, evidence-backed fertility and pregnancy essentials with a net-zero plastic footprint. Their team of moms and doctors has been there and is making the journey to parenthood better for others.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA10 for 10% off when you shop Natalist (one use per customer).

Small Packages

The Small Packages Holiday Self Care kit is the perfect gift for any Mamaprenista in your life! Small Packages offers curated care packages for every event with the mission to “take a huge bite out of the loneliness epidemic.”

Use code ENTREPRENISTA10 for 10% off your Small Packages purchase.

Momful

Perfect for a new Mamaprenista, Momful offers “mama founded, doctor formulated” vitamins and supplements designed to support the unique needs of a breastfeeding mom. They provide convenient yet comprehensive nutritional support that enriches your milk supply while combating postnatal depletion.

Shop the Daily Regimen here.

MLM Brand

MLM Brand knows that motherhood can be challenging, and they believe that getting dressed shouldn’t be. Founded by Entreprenista League member Magda Lasota, MLM Brand offers chic breastfeeding-friendly dresses and elevated essentials made for the modern mom.

Shop the Little Breastfeeding Dress here.

Adoratherapy

Founded by Entreprenista League member Laura McCann, Adoratherapy creates breathtaking essential oil perfumes and body care for healing your chakras. Their aroma perfumes lift and shift your mood in the moment, allowing you to tap into your best self.

Treat the Mamaprenista in your life to a new signature perfume that will benefit her holistically.

Use code WEADOREYOU for 20% off when you shop Adoratherapy.

Toffee Twins

Founded by Entreprenista League member Samantha Miller and her twin sister Chelsea, The Toffee Twins make out of this world toffee, as the name suggests. Their Milk Chocolate Potato Chip Toffee and Oreo Toffee are bestsellers, and we’d recommend the variety box for any Mamaprenista with a sweet tooth, so she can try a few!

Use code ENTRE20 for 20% off Toffee Twins products.

Modern Mom Style Box

Modern Mom Style Box is the rental service for busy moms that makes it easy to wear new clothes all month long without any stress or commitment. From seasonal staples to statement pieces from popular brands, rent unlimited looks for just one flat fee of $60/month, shipped directly to your door. Founded by Entreprenista League member Tara Clark, a Modern Mom Style Box subscription is sure to bring a smile to any Mamaprenista’s face.

Use the Entreprenista link here for a one month free trial!

SISTAIN

SISTAIN is a DTC marketplace (founded by Entreprenista League member Jaclyn Tracy) that offers sustainable goods and educational tools to help consumers to live more sustainably, one small step at a time. From fashion to beauty to kitchen/home, the brand curates products across all categories. SISTAIN’s goal is to make a greater difference by educating, activating and making sustainable consumerism not only easier, but aspirational.

The Mamaprenista in your life is sure to love SISTAIN’s Coffee Connoisseur Set, with all the essentials for their perfect cup of morning coffee.

Shop the Coffee Connoisseur Set here.

R2R Cosmetics

R2R creates vegan, cruelty-free and multipurpose products designed for use on the eyes, lips, cheeks, or just about anywhere else. Their colors are high pigment and waterproof, and are designed to not only reduce the number of products you need to create your unique look, but also spur conversations, connect, communities, and inspire creativity. R2R’s mission is to make every color safe, vegan and multipurpose – one color at a time.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 15% off R2R Cosmetics!

Lively

LIVELY is a community and brand created to inspire us all to live life passionately, purposefully, and confidently. They make bras, undies, loungewear, swimwear, activewear, and beyond — taking the best elements of high-style and ultimate comfort from each category to develop a brand new POV of lingerie they like to call, Leisurée. Through innovation, a mission of inclusivity, and their badass community, Lively has established an experience that reminds, inspires, and empowers us all to do what we love, every. single. day.

For the Mamaprenista in your life, The Mama Self-Care Kit is the perfect way to show her you’re thinking of her!

Enter code ENTREPRENISTA15 at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at wearlively.com (one use per customer, offer expires 12/31/21, first-time purchases only)

Bonus: Listen to LIVELY Founder Michelle Cordeiro Grant’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

The Functional Chocolate Company

The Functional Chocolate Company believes that treating your health should be a treat.

This premium chocolate stacked with clinically researched ingredients and proven botanicals is the perfect gift for the health-conscious Mamaprenista who loves a good treat.

Their bars are made with Fair Trade 60% cacao from a cooperative of South American farmers, and crafted in the USA. They’re also 100% plant-based, vegan, dairy-free, non-GMO, cholesterol and gluten-free!

Shop Functional Chocolate here.

Anisa Beauty

ANISA Beauty understands that what touches your skin matters. ANISA designs each makeup and skincare brush through cruelty-free, vegan and sustainably responsible practices to elevate your skincare and makeup routines from hands-on to hands-free. The innovative design of these skin care and makeup brushes offer versatile application and fiber flexibility to achieve a great look – each and every time.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA50 for 50% OFF your ANISA Beauty purchase!

The post 12 Mamaprenista approved gifts from women-owned brands appeared first on Entreprenista.

We’ve curated our list with incredible gifts for the hardworking, biz-minded Entreprenista in your life – ranging from biz-boosting programs to self care essentials and office accessories that are the perfect addition to any woman founder’s busy lifestyle, so you can give the essentials that will help any Entreprenista invest in their growing business.

Brand Identity Breakthrough

If the Entreprenista in your life is getting ready to launch a new business for the first time or launching her next incredible offer – you already know how important it is that she has a cohesive brand in order to stand out online.

Nikki Arensman’s Brand Identity Breakthrough contains 30 Brand Identity Canva Templates with 90 Completely Customizable Modern & Professional Logo Designs that will take any business to the next level.

Brand Identity Breakthrough also comes with a step-by-step video tutorial that explains exactly how to do-it-yourself customize, edit, download and save your new complete logo set and brand identity kit once you’ve finished up the design process!

Use the Entreprenista link here for 40% off Nikki Arensman’s Brand Identity Breakthrough!

St. Brown & Co. Candles

The perfect addition to any Entreprenista’s desk!

St. Brown & Co. is a luxury candle brand founded by Entreprenista League member Cassity Brown, designed to elevate your next moment with the strike of a match.

With a chic, modern design, St. Brown & Co. candles disappear into the design of your home while adding a touch of luxury to your space. All of their candles are made with a natural coconut apricot vegan wax blend and non-toxic fragrance oils, and stimulate the senses with design, fragrance, and even sound if it features a wooden wick.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 10% off when you shop St. Brown & Co.’s Holiday Collection, Luxury Gift Box, and Best Selling Mandarin + Resins!

House of Wise

House of Wise offers high-quality, originally formulated full-spectrum CBD products that empowers women to give more intention and purpose to their daily routines so they can take back control and achieve greater results from their Sleep, Stress, Sex and Strength.

For any self care obsessed Entreprenista in your life, we suggest:

Strength Gummies
Sex Kit
Stress Kit
Sleep Kit

Use code ENTREPRENISTA20 for 20% off your first purchase, including your first month of subscription services (valid through 12/31).

Bonus: Listen to House of Wise Founder Amanda Goetz’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

Entreprenista League Membership

The Entreprenista League membership is the perfect gift for women who want to build their reputation and make the most of their success this holiday season.

Give the Entreprenista in your life a community of trailblazing women who can’t wait to help them succeed.

Peer-to-peer support is critical, especially during the early stages of business.

That’s why we created The Entreprenista League, providing women founders with access to virtual events guaranteed to lead to meaningful business connections, introductions to mentors, potential investors, prospects, maybe even their next employee or co-founder!

Gift a 1 year membership to your favorite women leaders here.

Wander Beauty

Wander Beauty creates effortless essentials you reach for every day, wherever you wander. Their travel-friendly products are perfect for the Entreprenista on the go!

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 15% off when you shop Wander Beauty’s Holiday Sets (valid through 11/30/2021):

Tasting Flight Mascara Kit

Golden Hour Skincare Kit

Baggage Claim Deluxe

Bonus: Listen to Wander Beauty Founder Divya Gugnani’s episode of the Entreprenista podcast here.

Clairebella

Clairebella is a lifestyle brand of colorful gifts and home decor. The brand brings bold style to everyday objects through founder, Kathy Story’s original artwork.

Whether the Entreprenista in your life wants to spruce up her office with fun wall art or she’s looking for her next go-to iced coffee tumbler to get her through the day, Clairebella has something for everyone – and most products can be personalized, too!

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 20% off Clairebella’s products.

WorkRobe

Entreprenista Podcast Co-Host Courtney Spritzer found herself working remotely every day after March 2020. Prior to that time, she was someone who would get dressed up for work everyday and enjoyed that part of her routine. After many zoom meetings, she started noticing that people stopped caring about their appearance on zoom.

Over time, Courtney started to fall into that same cycle too. She realized that the only outfits she wanted to wear while working from home were loungewear, but she could not find anything that was professional enough for zoom and comfortable enough for home, so she set out to create it. WorkRobe is the perfect gift for Entreprenistas who know that you can be a boss at work while working in the comfort of a robe.

Use code ENTREPRENISTA for 30% off WorkRobe!

Kiya Tomlin

Searching for that perfect accessory to compliment an Entreprenista’s style? Look no further! The Kiya Tomlin brand is designed for the energy and aspirations of today’s modern woman. The collection is handmade in the USA and made up of confidence-inspiring cuts in super-soft and sustainable bamboo fabric.

Use code KIYAHOLIDAY15 for 15% off when you shop this beautiful Infinity Scarf!

The FQ x Entreprenista Virtual Meeting Digicards

From the boardroom to happy hour with your girlfriends, The Female Quotient and Entreprenista have teamed up to bring you 24 colorful Digicards for your Virtual Meetings that will make them more fun, inspiring, and meaningful! 

Each pack contains high quality packaging to store your cards and 24 colorful 5 x 7 inch cards made out of durable paper card stock. 

Giving back with generosity…The FQ donates 20% of profits to advance Global Goal #5: Gender Equality. 

Shop The FQ x Entreprenista Virtual Meeting Digicards.

Gemist

Founded by Entreprenista League member Madeline Fraser, Gemist provides modern, handmade, responsibly-sourced fashion and fine jewelry that you can design yourself!

It’s the perfect gift for the Entreprenista who’s always looking to upgrade her work ‘fit with a bit of bling!

Use code GEMPRENISTA25 for $25 off $200 or more, sitewide!

Inspiro Tequila

Last but *certainly* not least, if the Entreprenista in your life likes to unwind with a cocktail at the end of a long week, Inspiro Tequila is the perfect gift. Founded by Entreprenista League member Mara Smith, Inspiro Tequila’s vision is to redefine what it means to enjoy tequila by crafting a clean, smooth and sippable 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila without any additives.

The goal was not just to create a one-of-a-kind tequila, it was also to make women feel seen and relevant in the spirits industry. Inspiro Tequila is proudly owned, operated and created by women. Women are involved in every part of the process from creating the taste profiles to getting bottles on the shelves, and Inspiro Tequila is meticulously handcrafted by legendary maestra tequilera, Ana Maria Romero Mena.

Use code ENTREPRENISTAGIFT for $20 off 3 or more bottles with $5.00 flat rate shipping!

The post The 11 best gifts for the Entreprenista in your life appeared first on Entreprenista.

For over 25 years, Eberjey has created styles and spaces that encourage softness, ease, confidence, comfort, and total authenticity. We use only the softest fabrics and timeless craftsmanship to design iconic pajamas and beautiful, functional pieces that support sleep and individual style. Through our fast-growing DTC business, four retail locations, and wholesale partners worldwide, we’ve become the at-home comfort the world craves.

What made you take the leap to start your own business? 

I’ve been passionate about sleepwear from a young age. I remember rummaging through my mom’s closet and being mesmerized by her gorgeous European lace lingerie sets and decadent silk gowns and robes. I became obsessed and started asking for pajamas for every birthday, slowly amassing a fine collection.

I showed up at my college dorm room with beautifully crafted PJ’s only to find myself in a sea of students donning raggedy old, oversized T-shirts and boxer shorts. This was back in the 90s when sleepwear wasn’t the well-known category it is today. I quickly became known as the “girl with the cute pajamas” and it was then that the first lightbulb went off.

After graduation, I dabbled in the corporate world but always had the desire to design a line of sleepwear. I was constantly searching for the pajamas and lingerie I desired, but never seemed to find anything that checked all my boxes. It wasn’t until I moved from NYC to Miami and started working in direct marketing that I decided it was time to design and my side hustle was born.

I found a retired lingerie patternmaker who helped bring my design ideas to life and finally felt fulfilled expressing my creativity. At the time, Mariela (my Co-Founder) and I were coworkers sharing an office at a global direct marketing agency. I would bounce into the office on Monday mornings eager to show her everything I had created. She loved what she saw and kept encouraging me to make more. We both had an innate entrepreneurial spirit and constantly brainstormed ideas about this lingerie idea I had. After six months of sharing, we decided to leave our jobs and start Eberjey together.

What was your background prior to starting your own business? 

I studied politics and Latin American studies at Princeton. After graduating, I went down a traditional route and worked in finance on Wall Street. It wasn’t a fulfilling path for me – I yearned for more creativity. I took a trip to Florence where I had the opportunity to reflect and hone in on my next steps surrounded by art and aesthetic beauty. I left NYC, moved back to Miami, and took a job in marketing at a global firm where I began designing on the side. That’s when I met Mariela, and it wasn’t long before we left the corporate world and started our own business.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? 

Back in the 90s it wasn’t the “norm,” particularly for women. I ran little businesses in high school and college and felt compelled to marry my entrepreneurial passion with my creativity –

I just wasn’t sure how. There weren’t many female entrepreneurs to look up to and Latina businesswomen were severely underrepresented at the time. With an innate knack for design and a creative eye, but no fashion or business experience, it was intimidating to take that next step. Thanks to Mariela’s shared vision and confidence in me, we were able to bring our dream to life.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned? 

At the onset, we didn’t have a strategic marketing plan in place or any connections. We had to rely on our own creative energy and hustle. We self-funded our business and didn’t have much capital to pour into a large marketing budget. We started before the internet really took off and long before social media, so we were much more limited in finding ways to organically grow our business.

We took every opportunity to talk about our designs with anyone who would listen. Our first marketing tactic was to pre-send direct mail postcards to the list of attendees at the trade show we launched at. We were able to reach a few of the right buyers who came to our booth through that postcard, placed orders, and put us in business!

We always learn the most from our mistakes, share a time with us that you made a mistake or had a challenging time in business and what you learned from it? 

We’ve had many mishaps and learnings along our journey. One that comes to mind was when we decided to upgrade the quality of the buttons on our best-selling pajamas. It was meant to elevate the product further, but instead turned into a huge disaster. Somewhere along the execution something went wrong, and the buttons ended up not closing properly. We had many upset customers and had to recall a significant amount of product. It offered us a great learning experience. After that, we implemented stringent processes whenever any changes are made to any product.

What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date? 

Nothing pales in comparison to what we just went through navigating the pandemic. There was that moment in March 2020 when all our wholesale accounts cancelled their orders, and everything came to a screeching halt. Panic set in and we had no idea how we would get through it. I’m thankful for Mariela and her leadership as CEO, and for our incredible team and how they came together to help get us out of an extreme and uncharted situation. I’m incredibly proud of how we came together, used our creativity to steer the company out of crisis mode, and shifted to become a more customer-centric organization. We learned how to talk to our customers in a more personal way and how we could be there to comfort them with our at-home pieces during such a challenging time.

When hiring for your team, what is your go-to interview question? Please share any hiring tips you can share from your experience? 

I want to know who the candidate is outside of the office. Their interests. Their passions. As a creative, I’m fueled by a mix of curiosity, ability to collaborate, and unique character to form a productive working flow and that takes finding the right culture fit as well. Critical thinking is also important to a creative role, so I always ask for an example of a challenge or mini crisis the candidate has faced and have them talk me through how they navigated it. It’s important to get a sense of how a potential employee would handle stressful situations.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years? 

We recently celebrated our 25th birthday with a rebrand. We’ve come a long way since we started and felt that it was time for us to get a fresh new look and feel. With an overwhelming desire to deliver the best shopping experience possible, we refined who we are, what we do, and how we do it transitioning our website, packaging, and more. We’ve evolved our logo and brand color palette as well.

We’ll keep supporting our wholesale partners who have been instrumental to our business over the years and welcome the chance to take more control of our own narrative with a strong DTC business. Our team worked incredibly hard to bring the next phase of Eberjey to life and we’re looking forward to seeing where this takes us through new product launches, fresh fabrics, and exciting partnerships.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were first starting your business? 

Having a great idea won’t bring you immediate success. We were naïve in the beginning pouring our hearts and souls into everything we did thinking people would instantly notice. We faced a lot of rejection in our early days and had to overcome disheartening obstacles. Finding success takes time, grit, and perseverance. Even now, after 25 years, we still have moments where we make mistakes, or something goes wrong. You need to make mistakes to learn from them and it’s important not to be too hard on yourself.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips? 

It’s not easy, but it’s imperative to our health and sanity. Eberjey is grounded in self-care and the importance of taking time to unwind. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Growing up my mom encouraged me to take long relaxing baths when I was stressed, and it’s a practice I’ve continued. Running a warm bath with soothing scents, candles, and jazz music then slipping into soft pajamas is the ultimate form of self-care. 

Getting more sleep is just important for your mental health as it is for your overall wellbeing. I try to block out blue light an hour before bed to help me get better quality rest. This helps me to wake up earlier so I can spend some time with my girls and prep healthy meals before we start our busy days. Journaling, guided meditation, dancing, and walks outside are all instrumental in helping me look inward and find my balance.

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you? 

It often surprises people that Eberjey is a self-funded, minority- and women-owned business. I was born in El Salvador and emigrated to Miami when I was seven years old. My heritage is deeply ingrained in me and has shaped me into the woman and mother I am today. I’m honored to help pave the way for future Latina female entrepreneurs.

What does being an Entreprenista mean to you?

Being an Entreprenista means having the courage to follow your dreams. It’s taking that blind leap of faith and trusting your intuition. It’s investing in a lifechanging journey of self-discovery and embracing resiliency. 

It also meaning coming together to change the world. I love that Entreprenista gives women a platform to celebrate each other’s wins. In supporting other female-led businesses, we find more support and inspiration for ourselves.

The post Ali Mejia of Eberjey on becoming the at-home comfort the world craves appeared first on Entreprenista.