It took Lisa Lloyd only 13 months to get a licensing deal for her new invention idea.
Lisa, a 23 year old single mom, was making only $13,000 a year selling ad space when she had a great idea. She always had to keep her hair looking nice because of her high profile job and other women would compliment her on her up-do’s.
She decided to act on her idea for the hair-styling tool “The French Twister” which helps women wear their hair up in the french twist hair style.
She began with absolutely no money. She started by using things she found around her house and ended up making a prototype out of a wire clothes hanger. From there she started calling manufacturers to get a plastic prototype made. It was not an easy job and it took a lot of testing to get her product just right. She found a local plastics molding shop by going to her library.
When it came time to manufacture her product she sold her used car for $500 and she used the money from her tax return to pay for it. With 500 units made, she went out on foot to salons to introduce her new invention idea. Clients loved them!
She went to the store to find hair-styling products, picked up a box made by Scunci, got their phone number and contacted them.
Because she had done her homework and had sufficient market research to show that her product was a good one, Scunci agreed to sign a licensing deal with her.
Photo by Lloyd Marketing Group, Inc..
Sheila McGoldrick on November 4th, 2008 at 6:24 am
THis is so WONDERFUL! I am so happy to hear another mom-inventor who has made it with little to start with. I was in the same boat and CANNOT wait to receive that huge check! :) WAY TO GO!
CoolProducts on November 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Incredible story! It makes me very happy to hear that she’s found success. She took the necessary risks and stood by her product, and look whats come out of it! Congrats!
cassy on November 8th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Wow, a very inspiring story! Its nice to know that a single mom like her have made this kind of idea in which it brings her success.
Congrats Lisa!!!
Jaclyn on November 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I agree with Cassy…this is such an inspiring story, and it definitely show’s the dedication that this women had. i mean…to sell her only transportation while being a single mother to market her product and get it out to salon’s…that take’s dedication and a lot of gut’s and courage! Great job to her!
thecocktailmom on November 12th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I just love this story and can’t wait to start my business selling baby clothing again. I think that I’m a serial mompreneur but I can’t help it. I love fashion, food, and family.
Go figure. So if I can make living serving those 3 things… cocktails for me!