Today we’d like to introduce you to Dannielle Isabelle.
Hi Dannielle, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in Southern California, there was never a time of year you couldn’t enjoy the great outdoors. I spent my childhood playing in the dirt (literally) camping, and riding ATCs, quads, and sand rails; then came the UTV. Our “winter months” meant spending time off-roading on the plentiful BLM Lands in the desert in places like Glamis and Ocotillo Wells. And while the days are mostly temperate and sunny, the nights can sure bring biting cold air that will chill you to your core, especially when you’re in an open-wheel vehicle. Ugg boots and Jackets are paramount for desert gear, but what about your legs? For years I’d see parents swaddle their young ones in the back seats of the sand rail or UTV with blankets, heck I’ve done this a million times with my own. One night we were out riding, and it started to rain. The blankets got wet and muddy and the freezing air always found its way through the fabric or anywhere it wasn’t properly tucked. Most of the time it blows in the wind anyway and certainly ruins the fun. Forget trying to put a blanket full of silt in your washer machine, that will destroy your washer for sure (been there, done that). Blankets essentially became single-use items (or in my case, my dog’s bed). The only thing that distracted me from the bitter cold that night was coming up with the perfect solution. Something completely windproof, water and abrasion-resistant fabric, and something that you can actually hose off and hang dry. By the time we got back to camp, the concept was fully realized. While sitting around the campfire that night, telling everyone about my idea, of course, why not go ahead and make it fire retardant as well. I mean, how many times does anyone kick back around a campfire worried about flying embers? And why we are at it, why not call it a KickSac, because you can kick back with a KickSac™. When I got back home, I found a seamstress and hired her to stitch up my 1st prototype, then the second, third, and fourth… and we have been friends ever since. As for testing my product, each season when our friends and family came together for our annual desert camping trips, I’d outfit my peeps with new and improved KickSac™ prototypes for rigorous testing and honest feedback (feedback only your loved ones can get away with). Thus, the KickSac™ was born (patent pending).
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Money is always an obstacle, right? When I came up with the idea of KickSac™ it was a hobby. In order to make it a product, I would save portions of my paycheck to buy materials over a period of time until I acquired enough to go into production. I put a portion of each sale back into my product and am building from there. At some point, I may consider fundraising platforms, but for now, the profits from selling at EXPOS allow me to remain self-funded. While I am VERY excited about my KickSac™ and am getting tremendous feedback and rave reviews, I have to be thoughtful when considering my next step; which would be running KickSac™ full-time, full steam ahead.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I spent the early parts of my adult life in a cubicle, climbing the “corporate ladder” before leaving that behind and moving to Colorado in 2015. My husband, who has worked in the automotive business since 1996, he and I started our own auto body shop in 2016, built up a reputable business, and were awarded the #1 auto body shop in Englewood in 2022. KickSac is our passion product as it literally coincides with our adventurous, outdoor lifestyle. We enjoy traveling to various off-road and camping EXPOS and are really excited to share the KickSac™ with the public. People are immediately drawn to my product because it is a “first of its kind” and something “we all need”. Whether you enjoy outdoor spectator sports, jeeping with your doors off, fishing, or just sitting on the porch, it’s something everyone can appreciate. I honestly LOVE hearing my customer’s stories of when they could have used a KickSac™ or whom they know really needs one. It’s my small gesture to the world that really impacts lives. I help people enjoy life outdoors, comfortably. That literally warms my heart and is exactly why I do this.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I’ve always lived by the model “recycle, repurpose, reuse” and live a modest lifestyle. I am ultra-mindful of my carbon footprint and do my due diligence of not producing further waste to the environment when feasible. I am not a big spender on things, rather, spend my money on experiences and making memories. But I have no problem paying more for quality products that serve specific purposes so long as the Company producing the product stands for something impactful rather than just making huge profits. I really appreciate companies that are cognizant of their impact on society and our planet. It’s wonderful to see more big Corporations taking steps to minimize waste in the form of recyclable packaging, repurposing fabrics, and just being better stewards of the space we occupy.
Every aspect of the KickSac™ was deliberate for this very reason. First, it was important for me to find local contract sewing that centered on creating durable, quality pieces through sustainable practices. I hired a local, Certified B Corp company that recycles fabric remnants. Second, my poly mailers are designed to hold 1-3 KickSacs (to reduce packaging) and are 100% recyclable. The KickSac™ was designed with minimal components, and quality fabrics, that yield the most impact on its durability, functionality, and longevity. I believe I have achieved that and hope more manufacturers and corporations continue with this intention.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KickSac.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kicksac
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kicksac
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ3lM_g1sOXk2g4HtwNPEg
