Lisa Lane – Women are making strides in entrepreneurship

Feeling under-appreciated as an employee, a nonexistent work-life balance, financial struggles, getting out of bad relationships – these are the most common triggers that push women to become entrepreneurs. Tell us about your trigger?

My trigger didn’t really come from any bad experience. It came to me in an Ah-Ha moment. I always had an entrepreneurial thirst but wasn’t actively pursuing anything at the time. I was standing in my tub when the Ah-Ha moment hit. It was then that I knew that I had a mass market idea on my hands. I realized that if my idea was as good as I thought it could be, I could give up my part time job and have a business of my own. That is when I decided to research it and pursue it.

How did you come up with your business idea?

I was filling a bucket over and over to bathe the dogs and clean the showers. It was messy and time consuming. I thought, “There’s got to be a better way!” That was my aha moment… right there in the tub. The Rinseroo was born when I decided that it was time to “kick the bucket”.

Have you had support from someone, even if just encouragement? Who was that and how did it help you?

Definitely! It was one of my lifelong college best friends, Carolyn Favorito, Esq. We met our freshman year while attending the University of Delaware. Lucky for me, she also happens to be my patent attorney!

When others told me that they didn’t think that I could get a patent, she told me that I could and encouraged me to pursue it. I hired her and she fought for my patent as if it were her own. If it wasn’t for her, I may have given up. She was my biggest cheerleader and motivator.

Female entrepreneurs are often underestimated and overlooked. Have you ever felt at a disadvantage?

Honestly, no. Thankfully, I feel that we women are really making headway in the field of entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to inventing. We are often the ones who come up with the solutions to everyday problems and I think that many buyers and consumers understand that. Shows such as Shark Tank have featured many successful women inventors and entrepreneurs and I think that the public has taken notice and we have rightfully earned their respect.

Some say it’s hard work, others say it’s talent and resourcefulness that play a crucial role for success in entrepreneurship? Which traits have been detrimental for your success so far? And why?

Thankfully, I don’t think that I have too many detrimental traits. There is a part of me that would like to just take a long vacation and stay away for awhile but I think that I will wait until the time is right to act on that impulse

What excites you the most about being an entrepreneur?

I love working on my dream and working for myself. When your own reputation and success is on the line, it’s amazing how far you can push yourself and how innately motivated you can become. Being motivated and having a purpose and a goal can really make a person feel good and that is what I love about what I am doing.

Share with us some of the worst business advice you’ve ever received?

I got a lot of great advice from others who had been in my shoes at one point. I found that most inventors are proud of their accomplishments and are very willing to share their insight without charging for it.

My engineer was also very helpful. He had years of experience and his advice really helped with my trajectory.

Sadly, there are also a lot of so-called “invention help” companies out there who like to prey on inventors. They will drain your pocketbook quickly if you let them. If you really dig, you will find that their motives are mostly their own. They have often done very little to help make dreams become realities. Thankfully I was made aware of their bad business practices ahead of time and knew to steer away and am happy that I didn’t take their bait.

You’ve got a high stake investment opportunity. Pitch your business in 150 words.

We are the makers of the Rinseroo brand. We started with an idea that we knew could help millions make shower cleaning and dog bathing fast and easy. Since launching, we have become a top seller online and are now scaling into brick and mortar stores nationwide and internationally. We are also creating line extensions in the bath space and are growing this into something big!

What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs?

I would always encourage an aspiring entrepreneur to pursue whatever it is that makes them happy but don’t jump in and do something without doing your homework first. If you do your homework and find that your idea isn’t what you dreamed it might be, be prepared to accept that and walk away. Not every idea is worth pursuing but every idea is worth investigating.

What are your goals for the upcoming year?

My main goal is to continue to provide excellent customer service to our customers and grow the Rinseroo brand. Consumer feedback is key to our success and growth. I can make things better based on their suggestions, gain new customers when they refer friends and sell again to them when that great new line extension comes along. Never underestimate the power of your customers.

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