I started my company Katie, Inc. about two years ago. I invented the innovative fashion fixer product called Kix By Katie that keeps the fabric of your pants from bunching between your heel and shoe. A common wardrobe malfunction that occurs while wearing long pants and open back heels. I've affectionately dubbed this fashion faux pas a 'Heel Wedgie!' Kix By Katie temporarily adhere to the inside back hem line of your pant leg. Acting much like a collar stay in men's shirts, they add just a little extra weight and rigidity to the pant leg to keep them hanging nicely. Voila, no more Heel Wedgies!

It took me about a year, from the time I decided to seriously pursue developing my invention, until I actually felt like a real business. During that year I put in place a process to manufacture my product. Searching out suppliers for needed materials as well as a manufacturer who could apply a self adhesive backing to my desired fabric. I also enlisted a graphic designer to help me design a fun, sassy, eye catching package.

I also joined a networking group of women entrepreneurs called Ladies Who Launch at about my 6 month point and found it to be the best thing that I could have done for my business at that point. I formed many lifelong friendships as well as valuable business connections from that experience, including my marketing partner, Cindy Aggson of The Carpe Viam Group.
Working solely from our own seed money I found it more cost effective (albeit more time consuming) to set up a mini factory where I die cut the components for my product and packaged them for retail myself. I soon hired my son as well as a teenage niece and nephew to help me on a part time basis. I soon had a manufacturing company out of Seattle, WA. die cut and ship the components to me but still did the packaging out of my mini factory. I have recently acquired a manufacturer who supplies all of my manufacturing and packaging. This was a major step forward for me since now I have the ability to fill orders for large accounts. So bring it on!! "

What prompted you to start this company, and what inspired you to create Kix By Katie?

Necessity really is the mother of all invention. Being vertically challenged (and okay maybe a few pounds over my desired weight) -- I love to wear long pants with high heel shoes for a long slimming silhouette look -- ahh don't we all. But when I wore my favorite open-back heels with my long pants I experienced the dreaded Heel Wedgie! Don't you just hate that?
Frustrated by this problem, and a lack of a commercially available solution, I created a prototype by cutting strips of plastic from discarded packaging and attaching them with surgical tape to the inside of my pant legs and an idea took flight. It wasn't pretty but it worked and I knew other women would want it too.

As a wife and mother of two great boys, I understand that a woman's time is valuable. We don't have time to muss and fuss over all these little wardrobe malfunctions that stand in our way of getting the important things in our day done.

It has been very exciting! I've always wanted to do something like this and I am so grateful that I get to pursue my dream. I have a very supportive husband and family. The house rule is that this is to be an enjoyable experience, fun, light and positive. I try to surround myself with things that make me happy and only work with those who share that view and add to that experience. That doesn't mean that everything has always gone perfectly. As with any business there are things that come up that need to be addressed but I choose to deal with them in a, constructive way. Focusing on solutions not problems.

I have learned so much during this process! I had some previous experience in business. My family runs a successful construction company, building and remodeling custom homes. I've been able to share in many parts of that including bookkeeping, office management, dealing with clients, etc. I was able to develop many skills that have been beneficial to me in my current business. I did not, however, have any prior experience in product development and design, manufacturing, marketing, public relations or sales. And I had very limited computer skills.
As I mentioned before, I have enlisted a wonderful marketing partner who has taught me so much and has really helped me guide my business in a successful direction. Cindy has extensive background in marketing and a real knack for recognizing good opportunities and quickly formulating a plan to act on them while keeping within the parameters of our budget and business model. She really has the best interest of my business at heart and to have her on my team has been a real blessing.

How that came about was kind of funny. It was one of those emails you get from a friend saying "you should enter this." So, late one night I filled out the online entry form and submitted it and quickly forgot about it. Several weeks later I got an email saying that I was one of the ten finalists in the nation! I didn't save a copy of what I had sent them and so had my fingers crossed that my marketing partner would approve. I did learn that when they ask you to attach an image file ..... usually they mean of the product your entering and not one of yourself! : ) We had a good laugh over that one.

Of course I was over the moon and very thrilled to be mentioned among such talented inventors! I wasn't the grand prize winner but it gave me a real confidence boost to have Kix By Katie recognized by such well known and respected magazines as Inc.com and Fast Company.

Balance is something I struggle with as I'm sure every working mom does. House rules are that spirituality and family come first, then business, etc. I've found that things work out really well when I follow that rule. However, I do admit to being a bit of a rule breaker at times and having to realign my priorities.

A typical day goes something like this: I generally get up at 7:00 am and enjoy a cup of coffee while I catch some Good Morning America. Since I home school our 11 year old son, Hayden, it's important that I get him squared away with his assignments right away. We have some breakfast and do a little housework. I also try to get in a little exercise. I've found that the more I do before I enter my office the better because once I check my emails it's all over. My day can go in any direction after that.

I work from a MAC laptop which makes my life a lot easier. I can take Hayden and a friend to the skate park or arcade and still get some work done. I generally print out things I need to read and take them with me. Add my mobile phone to the mix and ta da! A mini office wherever I go.

I feel very privileged to be able to do what I love. Be a wife, mom and have a successful career. I'm grateful to live at a time when women have so many opportunities available to them. Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men these days, many out of necessity, and it's not easy for them. But the modern technology that we have now has enabled many women to be able to work flexible hours or from home allowing them to spend quality time with their children and run a household while still earning a living. My hat goes off to all of you hard working wives and moms!

I wish I would have realized that; to know your limitations is a strength and not a weakness. To take on more than you can handle is not being humble, but proud.
Sometimes I would feel overwhelmed by the thought of something but would feel like I should do it for one reason or another. I've since realized, with the help of my husband, that if something doesn't fit our house rules, isn't fun for me or is causing me too much stress that it probably isn't right for me at that time.

I have a hard time saying "No", but I'm trying to be aware of my personal limitations and make good choices as to how I spend my finances and my time wisely. There are a lot of things that a person can do but you have to stop and ask yourself - Is this necessary? Will this positively impact the purpose and goals I have set for my business? What is the cost to benefit ratio? Does this translate into sales? If it turns out to not make sense for me or my business model - I Axe it!

Just do it! Did someone already coin that phrase? : )
There is never going to be a perfect time or the perfect circumstances. If you know what you want to do then start working toward it. Write down short term and long term goals then organize a plan to reach them. Even if it is just one thing a day or a week. You have the choice: Tomorrow or next week you can be where you are right now or you can be one step closer to your goal. So what are you waiting for? Hop to it!

Kix By Katie was selected to be featured in the"Everyone's a Winner" EMMY Nominee Gift Bags. It's very exciting to know that some really awesome celebrities have Kix By Katie as we speak!

As a result of being featured in the gift bags I had the privilege of being interviewed by Better TV. A syndicated news show that airs in 36 cities. I'm very excited about that!
Kix By Katie will be in the The Women’s Image Network (WIN Awards) celebrity swag bags on February 17, 2009.

Just today I received word that I was chosen as Women Business to Business Magazine’s Woman of the Month for March. This puts me in the running for Woman of the Year. I am very pleased and honored to receive this news!

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Thank you so much Katie for sharing your insight! Take a minute today to check out the awesome Kix by Katie!