Seed for Success | Empowering Women Entreprenuers

I am so happy to announce that my products are finished and the products will be in the air and on the ocean in the next few days. Everything will be in the USA by the end of September. 5 months after being named a finalist in Seeds for Success, we have our first product and its components created and printed and ready to sell. I will be busy in October setting up my kitting area to put everything together in my garage. My family has been gracious to offer to help me with this process. When I spoke to Bobbi Brown this week, she shared that I should do everything I can to save money. Luckily I have a great network of friends and family who are willing to help Head 2 Toe Publications.

So what’s the next step? Now it is time to finish the marketing promotions. Getting my website up is first priority. It looks fabulous! The site will be launched any day now. Next, I have a wonderful friend, Tara, who has offered to help me with website copy and creating marketing pieces for FREE. Speaking of marketing, I have taken the advise of Dr. Pam Dodd to promote Head 2 Toe on social networking websites. I created a page on Facebook and with the help of Suzanne Wright, I will be listed as a resource with Autism Speaks. Bobbi Brown also gave me great advice on how to create press kits and my friend and board member, Jennifer Leak, Director of Marketing for Easter Seals of North Georgia, has also offered to help me create these. So things will be busy to get our name out there and get people to our website to purchase Vocab U Grab.

Southern Living magazine contacted me last week to tell me that they want to feature me in their February edition about Alabama businesses. They will be doing photo shoots of my products in mid October. What a great way to reach a wide audience. Now is the time to practice all that Peggy Klaus taught me about promoting my company in an exciting way. She suggested that I use “grabbers” or “headliners” to get people’s attention. For example, ‘1 out of 150 children are diagnosed with autism, Head 2 Toe Publications creates and publishes games, toys, and books to help children with special needs reach their full potential by teaching developmentally appropriate skills. Head 2 Toe meets children where they are and helps them grow.’ When you grow up in the South, a lady is taught to not brag about themselves. I am learning how to promote without bragging. Peggy also suggested that I ask family and friends to describe my company so I can hear how they promote it. From them I might hear some headliners or it might help me learn that I am not getting my message across the way I want. I have learned that I should NEVER be afraid of feedback. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Let me share a few tips from some of my advisors. These are highlights from the last few months of talking to these great advisors.
1. Carolyn Kepcher said, “If you need funding, start with friends and family.” Ask for a loan or an investment. As my company grows, I could apply for funds from groups like Goldenseeds.com. It provides funding for women business owners.
2. Cathie Black, Bobbi Brown, and Pam Dodd suggested that I get involved in women network groups as well as other social network groups. I have joined a few special education network groups online and global social network groups also like Facebook. I also joined a Bible Study group at my church for entrepreneurs.
3. Peggy Klaus advised that I find facts about early intervention or special education like 1 out of 150 children have autism. Get people’s attention. Make people want to listen to what you offer.
4. Evan Carmichael said that I should ask for feedback from customers in my targeted audience. Find out what they want. Go where the money is and go after it.
5. Rosemary Coates has offered great advice weekly for me. One thing recently she shared is make sure you have it spelled out clearly how your manufacturers want payment and what they are willing to pay for when it is time to ship.
6. Dr. Lois Frankel helped me get my message clear and concise so listeners know exactly how I am and who my company is and what we are doing.
7. Eric Yonge says, “Make it POP!” Make your website, your products, your marketing pieces stand out from everyone else.

Hope these tidbits help you like they have helped me. It’s all about making your company different from your competition. You don’t have to recreate the wheel, but you have to make the wheel better and different and convince your audience that they must have it. Head 2 Toe Publications might look like some of the competition, but there is no other company that makes products that focuses on age appropriate skills and increases with complexity. We are about the WHOLE child.

The next announcement will be about the website. Amy and I will be announcing our next product soon, and I am headed to China in October for a Toy Fair. Head 2 Toe is not slowing down.

Time to get back to work.
Karla

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Posted by kduncan