azcentral.com:
Skis? Check. Boots? Check. Goggles? Check.
Gloves? Arrrgh, back to the parking lot.
Julie Hall, an Ahwatukee Foothills Army veteran, skier and mom, was fed up with dropped mittens, missing goggles and the effort it took to lug her family’s skis from the car trunk to the slopes.
The frustration turned Hall into an entrepreneur.In 2007, after three years of experimenting with prototype ski equipment carriers, Hall launched Koala Snow Sports LLC out of her Ahwatukee living room.
“I’m a parent, that is why I started this business,” Hall said.
“I’ve hauled ski equipment without the straps, and it is a real pain. It is just unbelievable trying to carry everything without dropping it.”
Hall’s company designs, makes and markets colorful nylon straps and clips that allow skiers to carry their equipment to the slopes hands free.
Koala functions with business support from an accountant, photographer and public relations specialist who all work in Ahwatukee.
The manufacturing is done at Spectrum Products Inc., a west Phoenix commercial sewing company. Only one component of one product comes from China. The rest is American-made.
Logo from Koala Snow Sports.