My Journey Bringing GlamKin To The Marketplace
It all started with a vision...that was the easiest part. But even that sounds too simple. It was a billion micro-steps to the actual launch. It was a combination of highs and lows, money well spent and thrown away, promises made and broken, highs and lows, praise and criticism. It was a mixed bag. Oh, and a little cancer thrown in for good measure, and let's not forget, life in general. But I pursued and then prevailed!
The vision was the easy part. If you've read my first blog, you'll know how I came to have the vision of my glamorous napkin. I could see clearly in my mind how it would look and function. As an artist, I have a very visual brain. But what would the next step be? I could try to make a few prototypes and show them around. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing!
Me at the Official Lauch Party on October 11, 2023
I bought a sewing machine and some fabric without the foggiest idea of how to sew! Although I am artistic and creative with a talent for hand-sewing beaded jewelry and interior decorating, I had no idea how to use a sewing machine. I tried making a couple but got frustrated with the machine jamming up, bunching the fabric, breaking needles, ugh. Although I was very anxious somebody else might come up with the idea before me, I put everything away in a closet and just buried the idea. Oh well, I tried.
Then about a year later, Covid happened....
Eventually, I saw people making masks. So, I decided to take out the machine again, get on YouTube, and teach myself how to sew. In no time I was making masks that were good enough quality to sell in a local boutique. It was at that time I decided to pick up the project again. I remember that anxious feeling that someone else would come up with the idea before me. This is how sure I was that I was onto something, my gut was telling me to pursue.
My very first prototype, notice how short the straps are!
Because I did not know how to cut a pattern that would translate into a functioning garment, I started making some extremely rough-looking prototypes, lol. The straps were so short they barely made it over the shoulders. But the idea was there, and I was determined to figure out a way to extrude what I needed from this fabric!! Eventually, I got on the floor of my studio with cardboard and cut out a template to make my prototypes. It worked well.
Soon, I was able to make some decent prototypes that I would wear out in public. And they worked! Time after time saving me from spills and splashes! I was getting noticed when dining out in public, especially from servers.
Wearing one of my early prototypes at Old Glory In Keyport
I came up with the name GlamKin while at a backyard barbecue with some friends. We were tossing around different words, but it came to me while describing the product as a GLAMorous napKIN. Yes, I have a name! Almost immediately I asked my daughter Brittany to design the logo. It is my company brand, I use it everywhere.
In the middle of July 2020, I decided to commit to the idea of sitting down with what I thought would be the holy grail, Invent Help. But this turned out to be a huge waste of money, $15,000 to be exact! I met with them without realizing they could not assist me in bringing the product to market. They only shop the idea for licensing agreements with other companies. Live and learn. Although it was my first huge financial mistake, it was a big confidence boost. The one comment I remember to this day was that this was a product that would need minimal advertising because simply being seen worn by other people would be the best advertising of all. However, it takes a lot of people wearing these GlamKins to get them out there out there to truly get them noticed. Nothing is ever that simple.
Invent Help recommended the patent attorney that I hired and still work with today, and for that I am grateful. I was able to apply and obtain a patent on the design, this alone was a very lengthy and costly process but worth it. We are still working on obtaining a utility patent.
I received my official Patent Approval March 3rd 2023
I thought I was on my way! But then...
Two weeks after meeting with Invent Help I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. Needless to say, a lot of time passed by so I could focus on getting through my surgery, radiation, and ultimately reconstructive surgery. But through all of that, I was still working as a full-time Realtor and home stager so I could fund this dream and pay the bills while making GlamKin prototypes to share with my family and friends.
I tirelessly researched affordable, but high-quality trims to apply to the prototypes, extra financing to assist me with manufacturing and marketing costs, and searching for someone to design a high-end website.
My search to find a local manufacturer to get an idea of production was very frustrating. Because of COVID-19, most manufacturers were not taking on new business. I finally found a family-owned facility in Bloomfield, NJ. Ultimately it did not work out, but they were instrumental in the research and development and how I wound up with the final size, shape, and dimensions of the product. I loved their facility and the family, but the costs were not realistic for me to sell the product at a reasonable price to the public.
Moving on...
I use my GlamKin in the car all the time!
Feeling a bit frustrated about connecting with a manufacturer, I met who would become instrumental in my progress. One day while at my real estate office, I was introduced to a local seamstress who was closing a deal with another Realtor. Together, Evelyn and I started manufacturing small quantities and perfecting the functionality and look of the product. I was not selling them, but rather handing them out for people to try. Yet I was paying Evelyn for her time in producing what I call blanks. I would take them home, install the trims and logos, and package them up.
To this day GlamKins are packaged in a mesh pouch to store into
when not in use.
Fast forward to November 2022, I had just had my reconstructive surgery on the 7th and was slowly getting back on my feet. I received a phone call from a woman who owns a large financial company. She is a friend of my sister Lorraine. She loved the originality of this product! She asked if I could make 200 of them for her best clients as a Valentine's Day gift. It seemed a bit daunting but we came up with a fair price and Evelyn and I produced 200 of these garments. It was quite a feat for just the two of us, but we pulled it off!
Hand delivered the first order of 200 GlamKins to Long Island
I did not make $1 from that venture, but I did not care because deep in my heart I KNEW one of these GlamKins would get into the right hands.
And that's exactly what happened!
A couple of weeks after delivering that order, I was on the couch, sick as a dog from an intestinal virus that was going around. Although I could not lift my head off the pillow, I took a phone call that turned out to be the turning point of this venture.
A gentleman named Joe M. introduced himself and informed me his mother received a GlamKin as a gift from the financial company. He marveled at the item and tried to research it but could not find any information online, what a shock. He referred to the business card in the gift pouch and reached out, thank God I put them in there. He turned out to be an angel in disguise. He had long-time experience in supplying computer systems to accounting firms but had a lot of connections in the apparel business in Manhattan. He was interested in assisting me in bringing the product to market.
Thank you, universe!
His best advice to me was to develop this product for possible commercial use such as cruise lines, restaurants, and other venues. He got me thinking in a much larger scope than I ever intended, and I cannot thank him enough for that! I developed what I am calling The Bistro Collection of my product line. This is intended for commercial use, designed using fabrics and special manufacturing that can withstand repetitive use. Turns out nursing homes are considering these items.
Two of my best friends Deana and Jerry modeling The Bistro Collection at The Goat restaurant in Hazlet
I leaned on Joe for mentorship and guidance, and he ultimately led me to my manufacturer in Manhattan called So Harlem. They are an incubator for other designers to share space and have an outreach program to the local community to educate them in the world of fashion. I loved the vibe and Javier turned out to be one of the nicest people I ever met! They were willing to think outside the box and came up with a price that I could afford on my own. Of course, that meant I became part of the manufacturing process again. Since my experience with Evelyn and producing the original 200, I knew I could do it.
Javier at So Harlem in Manhattan.
Notice the main mannequin wearing a GlamKin!
I committed to hiring them in the beginning of August of 2023 and the second I gave them a check I turned around and booked my first big show in October called the Great Food Expo in Edison,NJ.
I needed a goal to work towards!
Between August and October, I worked ceaselessly creating marketing and packaging materials, ordering banners, tables, shelving, mannequins, prepping my trimmings and logos, and everything else I would need to have a product to sell and a great booth to sell from! I wanted to look like I had been doing this for years, yet I was barely out of the gate.
I attracted a lot of people to the booth with all the glam. The main mannequin wore the original blouse that inspired the product and the table mannequins were spinning on turntables!
I organized photo shoots for the website at a local restaurant called The Goat owned by world-famous David Burke. My friend and boudoir photographer Andreea B. Ballen came all the way from Brooklyn to shoot the gorgeous photos for the website. My models were friends and family and one great client of mine! My amazing daughter Brittany wound up designing the website because, besides me, she was the only one who truly understood my vision. The website is everything I dreamed it would be. In my opinion, it represents the brand as a high-end product. Now I have to bring awareness to its existence!
My models were friends, family and clients
Professionally made inventory started flowing in at the end of September of 2023. I officially launched the product on October 11th with a party at Couture D Rose Boutique in Hazlet, whose brave owner Alexia took a chance on me and now sells the GlamKins in her beautiful storefront.
Since the show and all its amazingly positive feedback, I feel evermore energized in increasing awareness about this amazing new product. I think everybody who eats while wearing clothes needs to own one. But that is my opinion!
I'd like to say the rest is history but I'm still making it. So Harlem and I produced the GlamKins, ManKins, and the Bistro Collection that are available on the website right now. But So Harlem is an incubator. They are not equipped to produce the quantities I hope to need in the future. But during the Great Food Expo, I met another manufacturer located in Passaic NJ, and am already working to see if he can produce the quantity and quality I'll need.
I truly hope so, because it is my one true desire to keep this product Made in America!
There was an amazing moment at the show. A lovely woman came up to the table, looked at the product, looked at my framed patent, and then at me with a tear in her eye and said "Oh my God, I wanted to invent this!" At that moment I KNEW that I was on the right path! I felt sorry for her because it reminded me of that anxious feeling I had years ago. And I would have been equally upset if someone beat me to it. My gut was saying if I didn't do something about it, someone else would.
The enthusiasm at the show was overwhelming. The product was received with open arms.
Now, although it probably took you about 5 minutes to read this blog, it feels like a lifetime since I came up with the vision all those years ago. But I'm so happy that I took those bajillion micro steps to be where I am right now, albeit shy of a few dollars! I'm excited about what the future may hold. I don't know how this story ends, but I'm going to keep pursuing this until Glamkin is as commonplace as the traditional lap napkin, with a bit more glam!!
I have a plaque in my studio that reminds me how I got here-
Please take a moment and visit my beautiful website at www.GlamKins.com and see what all the fuss is about.
Share your thoughts.
