When she renovated her home, she finally had a proper mudroom…..but still lacrosse, field hockey , and ice hockey sticks magically multiplied and ended up on the floor. Kim Genzburg needed a solution so she built one. Taking a small wooden table, she drilled holes in the top and painted it. “It was a skinny table that fit behind a door. The kids could drop their sticks in and get to them easily.” 
When friends came over and saw the cool idea, they wanted their own. Kim realized she had come up with something that didn’t exist and began to research the possibility of manufacturing her product and selling it. “I really knew nothing about manufacturing but I did have background in furniture sales but no manufacturing so I talked to everyone I knew. People were no nice and so helpful.”
Realizing she would need a plastic that wouldn’t crack, fade, warp or stain, Kim spent a year finding the right plastics company that could build a prototype of what she envisioned. “I wanted pieces that would easily snap together to support the “grab and go” design idea and I wanted multiple bright colors to match interiors or team colors.”
Kim also wanted to her newly named Stick Storage unit to be made in America, not only to support US manufacturing but to be able to touch and feel the product and know what needed to be tweaked. “I found a small company that I could work with in NY. The owner was able to delivery my Stick Storage in seven colors.” From idea to an actual product took a year and she had to order a minimum of 50 in each color.
Getting discouraged along the way, Kim says she almost shelved the idea thinking, “Can I really do this by myself? Will it sell? Can I build a company on a single idea?” But she loves to challenge herself and says, “Creating a successful business out of thin air is definitely a challenge.”
It was scary for her to place the first order. Kim and her husband asked all of their friends what they thought of the idea and only got positive feedback.” Friends with backgrounds in business management and venture funding gave Kim a great and speedy education in business development. She also found a mentor at the national federally funded group call Score, which supports start ups. Kim paired with a mentor who had a background in plastics and he helped guide her with product development.
The rubber will hit the road this spring as Kim takes her product on the road. Using direct sales at area lacrosse tournament is part of her sales plan. Kim has sales reps in other parts of the country – other moms of course. “It’s the perfect job for a mom who has to attend a 3 day tournament anyway.”
Teaming up with a large lacrosse retailer, they act as a warehouse and distribution center. Kim is lucky to have solved this piece of the puzzle. With a trademark in hand and a patent pending, Kim is on her way to having the whole puzzle solved. “I’ve always had a million ideas, but this one – I’ve followed through on.”
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Contact: [email protected], www.stickstorage.com
VentureMom Tip
Gather an education from everyone you know.
