She Owns It

Celebrating, Connecting, and Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

A Moo-ving Story From Our Sponsor @UdderlySmooth

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mooby Linda Kuzior

It was the summer of 1978. The Bee Gees were popular on the radio, women were dressing like Annie Hall, Grease opened in theaters and Jimmy Buffet was singing about Cheeseburgers in paradise.  This was also the summer that my parents decided to start our business.

My father, a registered pharmacist had a dream to be his own boss.  Together with my mother, they purchased a veterinary pharmaceutical company and created Redex Industries.  Our fledgling company started small.  The work crew consisted of my parents, sister, two brothers and myself.

We all piled in the station wagon each morning to head off to work. Not my idea of the ultimate summer vacation but we all did our part.  Our equipment was simple including a forklift made from parts of a WW II jeep and a temperamental labeler nicknamed Matilada.  The days were long with no guarantee of success.  However, my parents believed that if you worked hard that you could be successful in this country.

filling udderly smooth jars(2)

Today, Redex Industries, is still a small local company.   All of our Udderly Smooth moisturizers are made in Salem, Ohio of domestic components.  Our equipment is no longer WW II era, we’ve automated with high speed automatic equipment.  We can produce in an hour what used to take a day when we started.

So how did we get here?  It was the work of my parents and my father who developed Udderly Smooth.  This product was originally intended to relieve chaffing on dairy cattle.   Eventually word spread that our product was an excellent moisturizer for skin.  Today, Udderly Smooth is now found on the shelves of retailers throughout the United States, Canada and 12 other countries.

It’s been an amazing journey, we no longer ride in the station wagon, although most of the family is still involved in the business.  We are still  firm believers that success comes before work only in the dictionary

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Made in the USA for over thirty years. http://www.udderlysmooth.com/

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Woman Owned, American Made. Two Companies That Stepped Up For The 2012 Olympics!

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Photo courtesy of: http://pinterest.com/alexandani/

by Melissa Stewart

I know it seems a little late for an Olympics post BUT I couldn’t let the opportunity to spotlight these two amazing companies pass me by!

I want to shine the She Owns It spotlight on two Woman Owned and American Made companies who stepped up for the U.S.A. at the 2012 Olympics.

The first is Liscaro Scarves who, after hearing about America’s “Made in China” uniforms immediately offered their services to get our athletes wearing American made items BEFORE the games began!

The second is Rhode Island based jewelry maker Alex and Ani. Alex and Ani was selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to produce the charms for the 2012 London Games. It’s the latest sign of success for the company, which has gone from a small manufacturing operation with 15 employees and a store in Newport to an economic dynamo with 16 stores across the country.

 

Photo courtesy of: http://www.facebook.com/liscarodesigns

Liscaro Scarves Steps Up To Provide American-Made Scarves For U.S. Olympic Athlete

American Based Company Is “Willing And Able” to Provide Athletes With U.S. Produced Scarves For The 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Dallas, Texas — Liscaro Scarves, an American scarf company based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, is proud to say they can provide all U.S. Olympic athletes with American-Made red, white and blue scarves before the Opening Ceremonies on July 27, 2012.

Lisa Devereaux, company owner and designer of the Liscaro Scarf, heard about the uniforms not being made in America and took action by contacting ABC World News on Twitter stating, “NOT too late! We WILL have beautiful scarves for the athletes BEFORE Opening Ceremonies!”

ABC answered the Tweet and featured the Liscaro Scarves on its July 13 and July 14 airing of World News with Diane Sawyer.    During these broadcasts, Liscaro Scarves accepted the challenge, saying “We want to make them right here, and NOW. We can meet the deadline.”

Lisa Devereaux said, “I wrote to ABC and said we would be honored to offer our scarves to the U.S. athletes for the Olympic games. Now it is in the hands of the United States Olympic Committee if they will allow us to move forward. If not for the 2012 games, then we will gladly provide our scarves for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, to ensure that our athletes are clothed in American-Made apparel.”

Liscaro Scarves stated that all materials will be shipped from within the US and the scarves will be produced in Brooklyn, NY or Dallas, TX.

Check out these links for the ABC broadcasts featuring Liscaro:

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video platform video management video solutions video player

 

Associated Press  / August 6, 2012

Alex and Ani offers eco-friendly, positive energy products that adorn the body, enlighten the mind, and empower the spirit, designed by Carolyn Rafaelian and Made in America with Love.

From the company site:

Carolyn Rafaelian, Alex and Ani’s creator and designer, hails from a family of jewelers where mastering their craft was not only an aspiration, but a family tradition. Residing in Rhode Island, the jewelry capital of the world, Rafaelian knew she was destined to continue the family tradition and apprenticed herself to her father at a very young age.

Carolyn launched Alex and Ani in 2004, naming the company after her first two daughters. Once she introduced her line of patented signature bangles, necklaces, and rings, almost overnight, everyone was taking notice. Celebrities, major fashion magazine editors, and the finest department stores and boutiques across the country adored the concept and design.

As Alex and Ani’s product grew, she kept a deep focus on spirituality believing one can infuse thought into material to recognize one’s power and unique essence in their everyday wear. Rafaelian creates with deep reverence for the power these symbols possess to expresses awareness, empowerment, and inner beauty. “Take the inner journey” Rafaelian says, “the rewards are great.”

RI jewelry maker Alex and Ani’s rapid growth is helped by Olympic bracelet deal

Cranston jeweler Alex and Ani takes made-in-USA pride to London (video)

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Melissa Stewart is a serial entrepreneur who has had a “home office” since age 5. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, addicted to coffee and eternally optimistic. Her latest project https://sheownsit.com/ is a site committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by offering resources, support and inspiration. @melissaonline