BCR Leading Ladies: Interview With Cathinka Chandler, Inventor of Kush Support

(www.bizchicksrule.com) — Today, we’re talking with Cathinka Chandler, inventor of Kush Support and CEO of Kush Co.

Kristen @ BCR: Tell me about your company and the Kush product. When was the company founded? How long did it take you to get rolling?

Cathinka @ Kush: Kush Support is a sleep accessory that supports the weight of a woman’s breasts while she sleeps on her side. Kush Support is an outstanding product for any woman with breast implants as it helps alleviate the lower neck/upper back pain they have when they wake up. It’s also a great product for women with natural breasts Cup size C or larger (also if you’re pregnant or nursing). Kush Co. is partnered with Lamaze International as of December 2008 which we’re very proud of. Kush Co. was founded in early 2003. The process of coming up with the idea and moving forward with availability of product was about 2 years and beginning of 2008 the product became available. A few weeks ago we were invited to participate in the Emmy Award Gift Bags which we did. We sent product and coupons to the celebs with breast implants.

Kristen @ BCR: What prompted you to start Kush Co.?

Cathinka @ Kush: Kush Support was created out of necessity. I woke up with wrinkles in the cleavage area and it took my husband and myself a few days to figure out where it came from. It was a mystery until the lightbulb went off in my head and realized it’s from sleeping on my side and my breasts laying on top of each other. I looked in the market and there were only restrictive products available such as bras and I knew there could be a better solution. This whole process is challenging yet exciting!

Kristen @ BCR: How was it starting up a new company on your own?

Cathinka @ Kush: Starting up the business was easy. My husband is a trial lawyer and gives great advice plus we hired really great people along the way to assist us. I did have business experience prior. Engineers were hired to create many prototypes for testing and met with a plastic surgeon to assist with the design. We hired a patent lawyer to apply for the patent and trademarks. Two marketing companies were hired to help get the product out there and educate the consumer, [and a] website was created.

Kristen @ BCR: You have a, shall we say, unique product. What’s the weirdest feedback you’ve gotten?

Cathinka @ Kush: Many women tell us that their partner or husband is intrigued by the product and it sparks interest in the bedroom.

Kristen @ BCR: What’s a typical day like for you?

Cathinka @ Kush: Wide open – Wake up at 6:30 – 7:00AM and hit the ground running until at minimum 7:00 PM. Quite frequently I’m still working at 9:00 or 10:00 PM. Service is an important part of our business so we spend a lot of time taking care of any and all requests. Marketing and PR meetings are frequent. Weekly podcasts, blogging, attending tradeshows, meeting with buyers, working with European contacts as distributors, daily office meetings, visits to the warehouse etc… is all part of my weekly routine.

Kristen @ BCR: What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started? What kind of mistakes did you make and how did you move forward?

Cathinka @ Kush: The length of time to get manufacturing molds created. We were under the impression it would take 45-60 days yet it took almost 150 days. We did choose to work with USA manufacturers (they’re terrific) which we’re proud of. [As to mistakes,] Jim and I created the original logo and tagline for Kush Support. We quickly realized we needed a professional marketing company to rcreate the look and everything that goes with it. They did a great job and kept some of our ideas and added many new ones.

Kristen @ BCR: What advice do you have for other women who want to do their own thing?

Cathinka @ Kush: If you believe enough in what you want to do and have this undivided urge to move forward with an idea, pursue it! Take it at the pace you’re comfortable with but stick with it. We can create anything we want in this world, we live in a fantastic place.

Check out Cathinka’s Kush Support, and enter to win your own Kush (deadline: Thursday, October 16, 11:59 p.m. ET).

Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King

(image courtesy of Kush)

Tags: womens business blog, women CEOs, interview, Q&A, cathinka chandler, kush, supports like a dream, breast, boob, support, womens health, beauty, biz chicks rule, kristen king