In search of a product that was both reminiscent as well as functional Stacy Reid, founder and creator of TINte Cosmetics, took that mesmerizing concept from childhood into adulthood. “I loved beauty, I loved lipgloss, ….I was obsessed with the newest hottest lines that would come out. That was always a passion of mine since I was a little girl, and I used to have these flavored lip glosses, and I was crazy about them.”

Make-Up or Break-Up

Stacy tells Interviewher.com as to how her Company came to be. Living in Los Angeles, Stacy came to Miami on a business trip with her then current job as a Sr. Acount Executive at Lucky Brand Jeans. On a night out on the town at Mynt Lounge in Miami Beach, she met her now husband, “I was actually putting on lip gloss because I was that obsessed.” Continuing their relationship long distance, “we dated for a while, and he asks me, ‘what do you want to do where we can be together?’ ….I had this idea of actually bringing back my very first lip gloss that came in a vintage slider tin.”

“If I brought those [vintage slider tin lip gloss] back, everyone would remember them because they were so popular when I was growing up. There was a missing element [in the market], a fun element….fun memories and simpler times.” Mustering up her inspiration from childhood, and the drive to be on the same coastline as her future partner, she birthed TINte Cosmetics.

Beauty in 1-2-3!

Stacy lets InterviewHer.com in on what main steps she took to get where she wanted to be. “I wasn’t in beauty at all, that industry was totally new [to me], although fashion and beauty kind of go hand in hand, the beauty industry was really different for me when I first started, so I had a big learning curve there.”

• Step One:

“The first step was that I attended a trade show. I figured out what I wanted and what I didn’t want my Company to be. So that first trade show I went to kind of clarified everything for me, it solidified what direction I wanted to take our Company.”

• Step Two:

“The second thing I did, was coming up with my colors, my ideas, my designs, my packaging, my logo, everything like that, and getting that trademarked…so that when we’re ready to go, everything was squared away.”

• Step Three:

“The third thing is that I had to secure some financing as well. I was lucky to have start-up money of my own, and also, I was I was able to work with the SBA, [Small Business Administration] to get a loan for women who own their small businesses.”

Stacy admits “Honestly, I thought I could do it for a certain amount, and I needed quadruple the amount to get it done, because everything we did was custom, and that was a little bit more expensive to get up and running. You have to get everything in line. Have your vision, present it to a bank, get funding, and go from there. From concept to launch, everything took about one year.”

What’s Your Flavor?

“I would come up with the colors I wanted, the ingredients I wanted, and then you definitely team up with a lab. They have more insight on the raw materials, and things like that. There is a lot of testing with our initial launch. I wanted everything to be perfect. The color, the taste, everything had to be perfect.”

Being that the entire line of TINte Cosmetics was born from the drive to be with one another, founders Stacy and her husband Matthew had to include a lip balm called Mynt Kiss in homage to their serendipitous meeting place.

Flavored Lip Shines: Multi-moisturizing and nourishing properties enriched with Shea butter, this lip shine boasts fun flavors such as Coconut, Pink Lemonade, Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Haute Chocolate, Peachie Sheen (no relation to Charlie), Cake, and Double Bubble.

Flavored Lip Colors: Your childhood lip balm, in tin form. These nostalgic flavors like BlackBerry Jam, Cream Soda, and Peppermint, come in vintage slider tins that will offer your lips color and coverage you’re sure to enjoy. All glosses and lip colors are paraben free (yay, Stacy!)

Match Book Collection: Remember stealing your mom’s sample eyeshadow and lip color kit with all of the different colors of the rainbow? Steal no more. These compact booklets come with two eye shadow colors (a base and contour shade), a cream eyeliner, blush, two lip glosses and two brushes. With shimmering face pearls and a bath and line to come, stay up to date with TINte.

Parting Kiss of Advice

“At the very beginning, we got into all of the stores that we wanted to, except Fred Segal. I had my eye on it since before we launched, I had to be there. That was my destination for TINte, and so I worked with them a couple of months, and then they said ‘oh, we’re going to hold off, we’re going to hold off’, and to me, I was devastated. But you just keep going on. Six months later, they came back to me and said ‘yes, we’re ready.” So things do turn around for you, if you just keep going and you don’t let anything take you off your main goal and your main vision of what you see your company being, or where you see your company going, you just have to keep going no matter what happens….keep your eye on the prize.”

Written by: Fumi Takashina

TINTE COSMETICS

www.TinteCosmetics.com

Pilates, is Pilates, is Pilates, Right?

Wrong. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Jeannine took her sixteen years of physical fitness experience and amped her

Meet the founder of Pilates One: Jeannine Bergman

specially tailored combination of pilates, cardio, weights, and kickboxing up to another level. Studying martial arts for ten years, specializing in Savate (French martial art/kickboxing), “I injured and wore out my hip socket, I couldn’t kick anymore…someone mentioned pilates, and I laughed.” She eventually gave in, and began training in Pilates, and after three months, “I began to see results”, the rest is history.

Pilates One offers an array of classes that incorporates a pilates fusion. Fusing kickboxing and pilates to create a mixture of cardio, resistance training, strength, and lengthening.

Jeannine tells her clients, “It’s Pilates One, because you only have one body, so you might as well take care of it.”

Getting Lean with Jeannine

Circuit Pilates: Aids in weight loss, toning, strengthening, and elongating the body. One Body Evolution is a style (pilates, cardio, and weights) developed by Jeannine that will aid in achieving the desired results.  This class consists of 20% cardio, and 80% resistance training.

Kickbox Pilates: Delivers a pack of a punch with its 25 minutes of kickboxing cardio burn and 30 minutes of pilates.

Classical Reformer: Basic, fundamental pilates, focusing on toning and stretching of the muscles.

“Every class that we do, we always tap into every muscle group…every muscle will get worked out…You leave the class feeling complete.”

Bridal Bootcamp Package: Are you a June bride? Jump into this program since its tailored for brides-to-be looking to whip into shape for the big day.

Baby Mama Pilates: Prenatal, postnatal, any natal, this class will be for you if you are a soon to be mother. Focusing on breathing techniques, stretching, and toning, with gentle Pilates movements to make your pregnancy as smooth as possible.

Home-Sweet-Studio

“My first studio, was my apartment.”

In 2008, Jeannine risked and invested her money into signing an  expensive apartment lease to pursue her dream. “My mom said ‘you’re crazy, you can’t afford that apartment’ I said, don’t worry about it, if I’m going to take a risk, I’m going to get a really beautiful place, so that people could feel like this is not like my home, so I turned it into this insane little spot.” Realizing that leasing a commercial space would be even riskier, she tested the Miami waters before taking the plunge.

While living in LA for eleven years, Jeannine privately trained and with A-list celebrities such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Wahlberg, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Ozzy Osbourne, Pharrell Williams and the likes. As a Miami native, she returned to south Florida to start her own company where her clients could come to her, as opposed to her traveling with them.

“I knew no one in Miami, besides my best friend.” Starting up a company is hard work alone, but starting up a company that relies on word-of-mouth referrals, with limited contacts, is even harder.

“I got one girl, I got two girls coming, three girls, four, five, seven girls a day, that started coming to my apartment. I remember the Association asked one day ‘what are you guys doing up there? These girls come out really sweaty!’ …That’s when I knew I had to move to a commercial space.”

Present Pose

“My first [leased commercial space] was about 500 square feet, and I shared it with a friend she’s a belly dancer…after about four-five months I outgrew the space, and then I moved into this current space. I was sharing a space that was not expensive at all, and then I made a times three jump, in here,…so nervous all by myself. I’m just going to do it, I’m just going to close my nose, and jump into the ocean. I’m going to just go for it. And I’m going to be fine. I’ve always been fine, why am I not going to be fine now?”

Pilates for Hotties

You can’t mention Miami without a shout-out to the Heat, both weather wise and Miami’s local basketball team. When Interviewher.com inquired what local celebrities have visited the studio, Jeannine says “Lebron James, I trained him for a few months, and Mario Chalmers, he came for like a month and a half straight. One time I had Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade [in the studio]…it was really nice….I studied a game, and I realized how much their ankles get a beating, and how tight their shoulders are.” Jeannine has the ability to tailor any program to focus on specific target areas.

Zen Wisdom

“Start little by little…just go for it, if you really believe it, don’t hold back. Just go. Don’t start too big. Test it out, it’ll bring your anxiety level down. You might lose a few thousand, but hey, a few thousand beats a few hundred thousand. I understand the anxiety because I had a lot of it in the beginning.”

In closing, Jeannine says, “Never lose the fear, you should always have a little bit of fear. It makes you work that much harder. It makes you not get so comfortable in the business, it always makes you look and see what you need to do, to make it better and give to your clients a little bit more than what’s expected.”

Written by: Fumi Takashina

PILATES ONE

www.PilatesOne.com

Nine years later, she received an email from the Director of Mrs. Florida asking her to compete again.  After discussing with her husband and taking some time to think it over, Shannon decided to get back into the world of Mrs. USA.  This time around, she wasn’t looking for money to pay for college, but a chance to tell her story.

Her Purpose

Three years ago Shannon was diagnosed with Celiac’s disease, a digestive condition that is triggered by foods containing gluten.  Shannon has had to radically change her diet, and has adopted a healthier lifestyle along the way.  Figuring out what was wrong with her, she tells interviewher.com, was not easy.  “Before I was diagnosed, I had to go to four different doctors who told me everything was fine.”  She suspected it may be Celiac’s disease, but had a difficult time getting anyone to listen to her.  “If you feel like something’s wrong,” she advises, be persistant…Don’t worry about someone thinking you’re crazy.”

“My passion for it has only grown since I’ve won the title.”  Shannon has dedicated her time as Mrs. United States 2011 to raise awareness for the disease, and promote testing.  She has taken time to meet with teenage girls recently diagnosed and and enjoys being a role model.  It’s not easy, she acknowledges, “I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it at 14.”

Winning

What does it take to win Mrs. United States? asks interviewher.com.  Shannon explains that she is naturally a competitive person, so she knows when she wants to win.  “There’s a lot of sacrifices that you have to make,” explains Shannon. “You’re not going to win if you’re not going work for it.”  When she entered her second round of competing, she was on a mission.  “I knew it was my second chance,” she says.  Fortunately, she had the support of her husband, who shares her competitive spirit, and was willing to make the sacrifices with her.  “I couldn’t even go out for my birthday because I didn’t want to eat cake…I had an end goal in mind and I wanted to get there…You have to know what you want, and I was there to win.”

It also helps to be a positive person.  “I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason,” Shannon says, citing this belief as helping her get through a lot of hard times. “ I’m a bit of a control freak,” Shannon adds, admitting she knows she can’t control everything, ‘but I can control my outlook on life.”

What’s next?

Shannon will end her reign as Mrs. United States in August of 2012, although, she explains, she will always be Mrs. United States 2011.  She will crown the next girl, and hopefully, she tells interviewher.com, stay in the public eye.  Shannon expresses an interest in television, as a means to continue to spread the word about Celiac’s disease, she will be a feature columnist in a Gluten free magazine.  She is also considering writing a book.

Shannon is available for appearances and hosting worldwide. For more information please email Abbi Johnson at Abbi@SugarbombPR.com.

Written by: Robin Jacobs

MRS. UNITED STATES

www.ShannonFord.com

FACTS: GAGA Pure Platinum® Cosmetics, the eternally fashion-forward, avant-garde beauty line created in 2000 by second generation cosmetics purveyors, Cristina Samuels & Jennifer Isaac, presents its highly anticipated, 3-free re-formulated Nail Cosmetics. The GAGA Pure Platinum® Nail Cosmetic collection is infused with GEMLUSTTM Jewels, a proprietary mélange of precious natural gemstones from the earth including ruby, coral, jade, pearl, amethyst, and tourmaline that drench nails in fortified luxury. These fine and precious stones, prized for centuries for their power and allure, deliver beneficial radiance that one can only expect from GAGA Pure Platinum®.

A FEW WORDS FROM CRISTINA SAMUELS: “My intention was to convey a personal experience in creating and presenting beneficial beauty like a piece of fine jewelry – from the inside out.” said Cristina Samuels

THE PRESENTATION: Each cosmetic creation is presented like fine jewelry in GAGA Pure Platinum‟s signature black box and platinum satin ribbon.

THE GIVEAWAY!

Three lucky ladies will win the Nail Cosmetic we’re all going GAGA over!

Color: White Hot Shock

Why it’s so hot: It blends with the light and offers golden and red multi-prismatic sparkle.

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Click on the following links and become a FB fan: GAGA Pure Platinum & Interviewher.com
2. Click on the following to follow us on Twitter: GAGA Pure Platinum & Interviewher.com
3. You must be a member of Interviewher’s social network and connect with GAGA Pure Platinum! To sign up, just scroll up on this page and click on “Log In” or just follow this link, it’s free!
4. Once you have done the above, just write a little something about this giveaway on THE BUZZ page of Interviewher’s social network.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED THE WEEK OF APRIL 23rd!  STAY TUNED!!!…

MAY THE BEST LADIES WIN!!!

Angela’s most recent accomplishment was her motivational book, “Play Big.” “Play Big” explains the principles Angela has adopted in her own life to take risks and make her life her own, she candidly refers to the book as “My manifesto of how I live my life…and how I rolled the dice and I wake up everyday thrilled to be doing what I do.” She targets women in her age group or anyone who has suffered that famous “Should’ve, could’ve would’ve,” regret. And she has had a huge response. Angela’s main audience, is generally women ages 25 to 55, and she wants to inspire these women to be bigger and stronger. She tells interviewher.com that her readers and followers will frequently come up to her and say, “because of your book I’m playing big and taking risks,” adding that she loves to be quoted and tagged on facebook.com or twitter.com. “I feel like I’m leading my tribe!” she says with pride.

Angela has taken a big share of her own risks, post-divorce, by leaving her job in finance and opening her own indoor cycling studio, and eventually merging with Flywheel sports. This is where Angela got her background in motivating, “I’m on stage with a microphone for an hour ten times a week,” she jokes, “I’ll tell you what, I’m not a fitness expert, I’m a motivational speaker!”

Blogging was a result of Play Big, and Angela uses her daily life as inspiration for her blogs. Using humor she chronicles her love life as she navigates through the ups and downs of dating in the suburbs. She acknowledges that choosing to make her life so public was a risk, but fortunately for her followers, she doesn’t mind poking a little bit of fun at herself and giving the dirty truth.

Angela knows that people aren’t perfect, and that’s okay, “people want real!” She tells interviewher.com, and between her nitty gritty blogs and self professed rants, she has a raw talent for being ‘real’.

What advice does Angela have for aspiring authors? Do your research, she stresses, and use your gut! Angela explains that while she had always enjoyed writing, she had stopped writing for a large part of her adult years. The book came to her very suddenly, she explains. In fact, the whole process of the writing, she says, only took about eight weeks. She spent time researching publishers and editors to help her book become what she wanted. If you want to get into writing, she tells interviewher.com, you have to take the first step. Use your intuition, and don’t be afraid to Play Big!

Written by: Robin Jacobs

ESSENTIALLY ANGELA

www.EssentiallyAngela.com

Melissa Dawn AKA Mermaid Melissa!

Growing up by the beach in St. Augustine, Florida, Melissa had an instant infatuation with marine animals. At the age of fifteen, she had been living in Orlando and began to work at Universal Studios. Her dream job was to work with the animals! She was assigned as a cage cleaner and later became an animal trainer. Her intense love for animals grew with every passing day and had never gone unnoticed.

During the time that Melissa was working with animals, she discovered a passion for the entertainment field. She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting and modeling career. It was there she realized that her true calling was with the animals. She moved back to Orlando, Florida, where she became a diver. Melissa learned how to hold her breath for four minutes- extremely rare for a human being! This then sparked the inspiration for combining her two passions in life and to begin performing underwater.

Mermaid Melissa was born and transformed into the modern day Splash. “I came from a line of inventors,” she told InterviewHer.com, “The sky is the limit.” Melissa has since traveled the world entertaining and educating her audience of deep sea lovers.

Photo by: Jessica Yakamna at www.DropJawPhotography.com

She entertains at children’s parties, where she brings along her robotic dolphin friends to give them the full aquatic experience. The audience becomes so enthralled in her performance that they believe that she is truly a mermaid. So much so that Nancy Thibault, a children’s author, insisted on writing a book about her journey. “Bubble Heart Kisses- A Mermaid’s Tale” is the first children’s book telling the story of a real live mermaid.

“One way in dealing with imitation is believing in your own self worth and know there’s only one of you and the skills that you do.” Melissa tells InterviewHer.com, “It will never be more than imitation or copied but it makes you challenge yourself to get creative and think of something new.” Melissa believes that this is a constant motivation to do better and set the bar higher for herself.

The many rejections that this mermaid faced has given her the motivation and dedication to get her where she is today. “The negativity never stopped me from doing what I love,” Melissa dishes to InterviewHer.com, “If anything, it has allowed for the positivity in my life to outshine it.”

If you would like to catch a glimpse of this elegant mermaid, be sure to check out her YouTube channel: MelissaDawnOnline or you can visit her website: www.mermaidmelissa.com. Want to make a big splash at your next event or party? Be sure to check our www.hireamermaid.com for more information.

Written by: Monika Paez

Edited by: Blair Cassuto

MERMAID MELISSA

www.HireAmermaid.com

Twenty years ago Sabra Ricci took a leap of faith by moving to Hawaii to pursue a career as a chef. That decision along with her healthy delectable menus and outstanding service brought her the success she has today as a private chef who has worked with numerous celebrities including Orlando Bloom, Cher and Julia Roberts. But no matter how much she has achieved through her work, Ricci told Interviewher.com that other factors such as family and building relationships helped her attain success.

Ricci’s passion for cooking began as a child. She learned how to cook from her grandfather. “In our big Italian family, my grandfather was the main cook. He did every Sunday dinner,” Ricci explained, “I spent a lot of time with him and he was really my inspiration in cooking.”

The renowned chef attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco where she was one of very few women. Following her schooling she worked in San Francisco and Napa Valley. Ricci was offered a job at a Four Seasons resort on a private island just off of Maui. Moving away from family with a young daughter to Hawaii was what she referred to as a “leap of faith” that turned out to be the first step to success. “It was a job I admired. As a result of that I ended up falling in love with the island and decided to relocate to Maui,” Ricci explained. Soon she began working at a yoga retreat on the island where she prepared dietary menus including gluten free and vegan. “I knew I wanted to work with health and nutrition and I wanted to help people,” she said.

Ricci began getting calls from travel agents who wanted her services as a private chef for some celebrities who vacationed in Maui. In 1997 she worked with her first celebrity client, Courtney Cox, just as the TV show Friends was becoming popular. Cox’s agent began recommending Ricci to other clients and her career evolved from there.

At the time freelancing as a chef was uncommon. “I’m sort of a pioneer in that area,” she said, “Being independent, resourceful, and always curious. I think that’s one of the keys to a successful life to be curious, be constantly learning, and doing new things.”

The biggest challenge Ricci faced in her years a chef was when her daughter left home for college. “It was always me and her,” she said. Making the adjustment to not having her daughter around was difficult, but the change also allowed her to develop a relationship with Ferenc, her husband of four years. “I think you really have to have a balance. Work is really important, but having a personal life is important also. That’s something women should really pay attention to because at the end of your life you don’t just think abut the great job. You will think about the people in your life who made it special,” Ricci explained.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Click to buy book!

Ricci and her husband run Cookin Productions based in Maui. They travel and offer services such as catering and preparing menus for events ranging from intimate to gala dinners for 200 guests. Ricci’s newest accomplishment Lobsters for Leo, Cookies for Capricorn: An Astrology Lover’s Cookbook hit bookstores at the beginning of January. The entertaining and informative book combines Ricci’s love for cooking and interest in astrology. It contains recipes and recommendations for each astrological sign, such as brain boosting dishes Aries and stress-reducing foods for Virgos who are known to be perfectionists. Ricci has been featured in many magazines and continues to do guest appearances on TV segments. For Ricci, it is not just about being successful as a chef, she has also been able to form relationships with her clients and have an impact on people.

The next big thing Ricci plans to work on is a foundation for young women, especially those who experience struggles such as teen pregnancy. “I just really want to start giving back in that way, like mentoring young women and helping them believe that they can do anything,” Ricci explained, “you can do anything, you just have to know what you want. Follow your dream. Follow your star.”

Written by: Erica Mink

CHEF SABRA RICCI

www.SabraRicci.com

Chapter One – How it Began

“I was a freelance TV producer and then the recession hit,” Monika tells InterviewHer.com. “Suddenly, I wasn’t being called to produce stories any more. It was less expensive for an organization to send their own reporters than to hire freelance.”

“I was struggling to find a name for the company and my husband suggested using the initials of the women in our family,” Monika says. “The company is called LaMour and incorporates the initials of my step-daughter, my mother, and myself.”

“Some of the pendants are original pieces from Bali and Thailand and the pricing varies,” Monika tells InterviewHer.com. “Bracelets range from $25-$60 and necklaces range from $80-$100.”

Chapter Two – Better by Beading

“I started to indulge in my hobby of making jewelry,” Monika explains. “Then more and more people started liking it and wanting to buy it. Some of my friends suggest items they would like to see and I name the collections or pieces after them. Then, a year and a half ago, I decided to make it my business.”

“My materials – the leather, beads – are all blessed by Buddhist monks. I liked the idea that each piece I create gives every person who wears it health and happiness.  A portion of the money I make from my sales goes to the Lotus House, a charity which provides shelter for homeless women.”

Chapter Three – Lessons Learned

“I really had a hard time embracing this change,” Monika recalls. “I was like, ‘I can’t believe I am doing this now. I went to University; I was a journalist.’ Then no one was calling. I couldn’t believe this was what I was doing, so I was scared, but now I am alright. It was good for my mind to do the jewelry. To create things, these beautiful things, it makes me proud.”

“I learned to never give up,” Monika tells InterviewHer.com. “You have to go with what is thrown on your plate and don’t push it. I would tell other women entrepreneurs that the worst thing you can do is to push it. Go with your gut feelings.”

Chapter Four – LaMour and More

You can find LaMour jewelry online, at the Palms Hotel in Miami Beach, and the Isla Boutique in mid-town.  But that is just the beginning of the story. We all can’t wait to hear where this story of love, life and beauty goes next. With Monika weaving the tale and the jewelry, it’s sure to be a masterpiece.

Written by: Sherry Liantonio

LAMOUR JEWELRY

www.LaMoUrJewelry.net

Randee Wechsler, owner of Atlas Party Rental

Atlas party Rental is a family owned rental store opening its doors in 1984, becoming one of the most sought after rental companies in South Florida.  Owner, Randee Wechsler, makes sure to always stay on top of the latest trends. She has an art and love for her clients and the business, although this wasn’t always her initial plan of action.

As Randee stated to Interviewher.com, “the business started on a whim”. Her parents decided to move down to Florida so they can retire, however, this did not last for long. Randee’s father woke up one day and said, “He was bored.” Inspired by his best friend’s rental company in NY, he decided to open one up in Florida. Here there was no competition at the time. They decided to create a “nitch for themselves” in the North Broward area which was booming in 1984.

In 1998  Randee’s  father decided to retire. At the time, Randee was living in New York streaming up the event planning business, while her husband was in finance real-estate. Wanting to keep the biz in the family; Randee and her husband decided to move down to Florida, where they immediately took over.

“We took it into the 21^st Century”, Wechsler said. They are clearly doing a remarkable job. The website is extremely classy and up-to-date. One of the first rental company sites where customers can use a Shopping Cart to place the items they want; making them a contemporary, internet-friendly, rental company.

Atlas is your “one stop shop” for all your party rental needs. Everything from kitchen fryers and dishes, to tables and linens can be found here. “We can put down an entire dance floor”, as Randee said to Interviewher.com.

What’s their secret formula to having such success in the industry? Personalization. Every client gets the personalized touch they are looking for when planning their special day, making these clients come back each and every time. Randee makes sure to always be available to her clients at all times, and will even make personnel visits if requested. Atlas Party Rental’s goal is to never disappoint their clients. Customer service is their main priority.

Not being a stranger to the economical recession in 2008, Randee and her staff have had to learn to deal with new ways to keep the company afloat and understand what works and what doesn’t for them. Having to downsize the company and take certain risks was one of the scariest moments the company has seen; however they made sure to never steer far from their priority which is Customer Service. Overcoming these and many more obstacles has, made this company what it is today.

“So what’s next for Atlas Rental Company?” asks Interviewher.com. They are thinking of expanding to other parts of Florida. “It’s a slow and careful growth”, Randee says. Surely they are headed in the right path.

If you’d like more information on Atlas Rental Company and their unique rental equipment please go to www.AtlasPartyRental.com and check it out!

As a special treat to Interviewher.com, Randee was kind enough to sponsor the rentals for the “Ultimate Holiday Girls Night Out” event. A huge thank you to Randee and her staff for their outstanding service.

Written by: Monika Paez

ATLAS PARTY RENTAL

www.AtlasPartyRental.com

Julie Gallegos

They contain several elastic loops, a large insulated pocket as well as enclosed pockets for storage and can even expand or fold out to lay flat. Founder Julie Gallegos began WhatchyaGot Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah with a vision. She told Interviewher.com that as her business has grown and gained popularity, she has realized that the bag she designed is more versatile then she could have ever imagined.

The idea to create this multipurpose bag came about soon after Gallegos’ father was diagnosed with cancer in 2003. She noticed that her father would leave family events early because he was unable to carry all of the medications and supplies he needed. “I just thought to myself what can I do to make this a comfortable convenient situation for my father and other people like him,” Gallegos explained. She searched the Internet for medical bags with insulated pockets and easy access, but was not satisfied with what she found. “I took it upon myself. I thought I’m going to design a bag that I envision to be functional and convenient at the same time so that they can have their most personal things with them to carry in an easy and comfortable manner,” she said.

After telling her father about her idea, Gallegos began designing the bag. She found an old piece of carry on luggage, went to the fabric store, sewed and pinned, and began contacting people. She read some books and began researching different manufacturers and where she could have prototypes made. She decided to trademark, copyright, and promote her business’s brand and name. “That would set me a part like all the other big brands in the market. So, that’s what I chose to do,” she said.

Although Gallegos previously owned businesses and has had an entrepreneurial spirit since the age of ten, she experienced several challenges when she opened WhatchyaGot Inc. in October of 2009 and launched the website a year later. “It was a tough process to find out different manufacturers and people who do prototypes. It was a lot of trial and error in the beginning,” Gallegos explained. The biggest challenge was doing things in a cost effective manner. She researched and experimented with different manufacturers in China and took it upon herself to pitch, contact companies and do trade shows. “I’ve had a lot of good feedback and experience from that. I’ve learned so much along the way about pitching a product and what comes from it,” Gallegos said. Opening a business is never easy, but Gallegos advises others to preserve and not give up. “Trust, it will come to you, just don’t give up.”

Along with designing the bags, Gallegos is very passionate about giving back. A portion of the proceeds from WhatchyaGot bags is donated to programs, organizations, survivors and their families. She also enjoys holding events for individuals and families going through a time of struggle and giving away bags at cancer infusion centers. “My whole mission is to provide a quality bag that has style and is affordable, regardless of a person’s income or social status.”

The bag Gallegos initially envisioned was for people who were experiencing chronic illness; however, she receives several phone calls from happy customers about how versatile the WhatchyaGot bags are and how much they have changed people’s lives. WhatchyaGot bags are TSA compliant and have received recognition for their use in traveling. USA Travel Magazine said, “It’s nice to know that someone has finally created a travel bag that considers a traveller’s needs, and the WhatchyaGot bags do this and more to help keep us organized on the road!”

WhatchyaGot bags have been featured in several newspapers, magazines, and TV news segments.  Gallegos continues to contact companies about selling her bags in hospital gift shops and airports. She recently received an exciting offer from Bed Bath & Beyond to have the bags sold on their website. Gallegos is happy with where WhatchyaGot Inc. is going.“ People are contacting me every day and using the bag in many different ways. I’m just really happy that it has so many features and benefits.”

Written by: Erica Mink

WHATCHYAGOT BAGS

www.WhatchyaGotBags.com