Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Flynn
Julie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Thirteen years ago I was living in a charming flat in London with two little boys and found myself constantly cleaning the loo, because my little boys weren’t exactly straight shooters. Due to the nature of the shape and size of a toilet, one’s face must be very close to it in order to reach behind it. I was in this unfortunate position when I began wondering to myself, what mistakes I had made in my life that led me to this point. I had a college degree, my then-husband worked for one of the largest hedge funds in the world, I lived in central London, and yet, my face was so near a toilet that I was gagging on a regular basis. My available solutions at the time were to:
Pay a cleaning lady 20 pounds an hour to clean it once or twice a week, immediately after which, my darling sons would inevitably negate all her work. I also couldn’t afford this option.
Spend multiple hours each month cleaning on my hands and knees, and continuing to gag in repulsion, which I had no desire for or time to do.
Train the young ones to sit down to pee, however they protested that this is what girls do and they were men. I bought all the tricks to train them to aim better and clean after themselves, to no benefit whatsoever.
The final and most typical option was to be embarrassed when guests visited and to otherwise walk swiftly past this room in denial that it smelled like a monkey exhibit.
Then a few years ago, my life fell apart and I became a single mom. I spent two years grieving, learning, and healing, as I sought safety for my children and myself.
I now raise my 4 children full time and have taken my role as provider very seriously. If they want to go to college or get married, that’s on me. If we want to live in a safe neighborhood near reputable schools, that’s on me. If they want presents for Christmas, to go anywhere, sign up for classes, etc., it’s all on me. This was a major shift in mentality as I’d been the stay at home mom for 13 years. I had not spent that time building a career or professional network. I did not qualify for anything other than an entry level job. This is unfortunately a common circumstance for many women who chose traditional roles and trusted their husbands to manage their finances and actions.
I began self educating. I read business books at night and listened to countless entrepreneurial podcasts while washing dishes and folding laundry. I attended networking events and got all the advice I could. After vetting the options, my history, and my ideas, I landed on eCommerce so I could be flexible from home, and revisited my idea from 15 years prior. I decided to bring the company Loo La La to life, which helps little kids keep their bathrooms cleaner so their adults don’t have to. I have many more ideas for new products that solve typical bathroom messes kids make. I have filed 2 patents on my toilet adapter for little boys, called the Otter Topper, and attained my trademarks. I have tested prototypes and fine tuned my DFM. I ordered the tooling and opened for business last winter. I am funding this myself and would like to grow organically and consistently to avoid supply issues. I have now sold over 1,000 Otter Toppers and will be featured on Amazon’s new TV show called Buy It Now, which will air this fall. I have just placed an order for blue and green Otter Toppers to add to the collection and am beginning to expand to offer more products.
Truly, building this business has made me so happy. As my life seemed to be burning down around me, I could retreat from that to work on my goals, empowering myself and building a better future for my family.
I believe in myself and the difference this and future products can make to bring peace, hygiene and more time to exhausted parents doing their best to raise new humans. We need all the help we can get!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My business incubation circumstances were less than ideal. I was freshly divorced and starting a new life as I raise my 4 children alone. I felt that I had some quick catching up to do to become the new provider, and decided to bring one of my ideas to life. While I was designing and creating the Otter Topper and Loo La La brand, I had to go into hiding with my children for our safety multiple times, go through protective order hearings, and navigate the court system. I did not know how this product was going to come together, but I kept taking the next little step forward. I put on a brave face and got to work creating something of my own, while on my own. I feel like an underdog in the business scene, but I can honestly say that nobody hustles harder than a woman trying to provide for and protect her children
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a degree in Photography, and worked in commerical photography in New York City and London. While in New York I worked on shoots for brands like Vogue, Martha Stewart, Anthropologie, Cole Haan, and more. In London I worked in a fashion house and learned that they don’t really know who Martha Stewart is, while they’re horrified that most Americans don’t know who Kylie Minogue is. Once I started having children, I began making studio style portraits from home, still with a fashion flare and a lot of heart. I still do these shoots one day each month.
www.julieflynnphotography.com
What were you like growing up?
I was quiet and creative, doodling all around the edges of my papers at school. I remember feeling school stamping the wild and free creativity out of me, and aching the loss. I was slower to warm up socially, but could make anyone laugh.
Pricing:
- Otter Topper is $47.95
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shoploolala.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoploolala/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Loo-Introduces-Adapter-Training-Bathroom/dp/B0CP8CZPMD/
