From Mortgage Loans to Pet Poop Solutions: Sandy Stinson’s Entrepreneurial Journey
- From Mortgage Loans to Pet Poop Solutions: Sandy Stinson’s Entrepreneurial Journey Devin Thorpe 25:32
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Devin: What do you see as your superpower?
Sandy: Probably more than anything else, it’s empathy. It’s understanding what people are—how their lives are different—and trying to come up with products that will make them or come up with just living a life that will help ease the burden of others.
In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Sandy Stinson, the President of GoodWag, Inc. Sandy’s journey from mortgage loan officer to pet product entrepreneur is a fascinating story of risk-taking and empathy. She shared how her personal need for an easier way to handle pet waste led her to create GoodWag’s signature product, the “PooPail.”
Sandy’s background as an entrepreneur shines through in her tenacity. “When I came up with the idea for GoodWag, I didn’t hesitate. It’s like, if I want this, maybe other people do too,” she explained. Her initial crowdfunding campaign was a resounding success, with $500,000 in sales within 30 days. However, navigating production hurdles during the COVID-19 pandemic was far from smooth. Despite delays and supply chain issues, she persevered, eventually manufacturing the PooPail in the United States.
Today, Sandy is taking GoodWag to new heights through a regulation crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. “There’s what, 65 million households in America that have dogs? And nobody likes to pick up dog poop. I’ve decided to make that my focus,” she noted. With additional products in development, Sandy’s vision extends beyond just solving a messy problem—she’s aiming to be the go-to company for pet waste solutions.
For those interested in supporting her innovative endeavor, Sandy’s StartEngine campaign is currently live. You can check out her crowdfunding effort at s4g.biz/goodwag.
tl;dr:
* Introduction to Sandy Stinson: Sandy Stinson, President of GoodWag, shares her journey as an entrepreneur, highlighting her background as a mortgage loan officer and her natural inclination towards risk-taking.
* GoodWag’s Product Story: The origin of GoodWag began with the creation of the “poop pail,” a solution for dog waste disposal developed out of personal need. Sandy tested the product’s market viability through a crowdfunding campaign in March 2021, raising $500,000 in 30 days.
* Challenges in Manufacturing: Sandy discusses her struggles with manufacturing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain issues and setbacks with manufacturers. Despite delays, she overcame obstacles to successfully bring her product to market.
* Sales and Expansion: Since launching the product on their website in late 2022, GoodWag has sold over a million dollars worth of poop pails. The company is currently exploring new products and has launched a regulation crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine to support its growth.
* Empathy as a Superpower: Sandy identifies empathy as her superpower, using it to understand and solve customer problems, both in her previous mortgage career and in her current business. She emphasizes the importance of listening to customer feedback to improve products and services.
How to Develop Empathy As a Superpower
In today’s episode, Sandy Stinson described her superpower as empathy—the ability to understand and appreciate how others’ lives differ from her own. She emphasized how empathy drives her to create products and live a life that eases the burdens of others. For Sandy, empathy isn’t just a personal trait; it’s a guiding principle in her business practices, helping her connect with customers and design solutions that truly address their needs.
Sandy recounted her time as a mortgage loan officer, explaining how empathy was key in serving her clients. Unlike others who focused solely on sales, Sandy took the time to ensure clients fully understood their loans. She used worksheets and wrote upside down to walk them through complex details, emphasizing, “You’re not leaving here until you understand everything.” This patient, empathetic approach led to her clients being well-prepared for their financial commitments, resulting in fewer foreclosures among her customers.
Tips for Developing Empathy:
* Know Your Weaknesses: Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses and understand that not everyone shares the same abilities or background.
* Resist Judgment: Recognize that people are doing the best they can with their skills and experiences. Avoid making assumptions about others’ capabilities.
* Be Patient: When communicating, especially in complex situations, take the time to ensure others fully understand. Reiterate and simplify as needed.
* Listen Actively: Incorporate feedback into your actions. Sandy redesigned her product, the poop pail, based on customer feedback, demonstrating the importance of listening to others’ needs.
By following Sandy’s example and advice, you can make empathy a skill. With practice and effort, it can become a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Sandy Stinson (she/her):
President, GoodWag, Inc.
About GoodWag, Inc.: GoodWag wants to become the go-to company when your dog goes #2. We tap into the $147 billion pet industry (US only for 2023) in the largely underserved area of pet waste. Our initial products are SmartPoopy Walking Bags and the PooPail, the world’s first 2-in-1 system for picking up and storing backyard pet waste. Both PooPail Liner Bags and SmartPoopy Walking Bags are home compostable and biodegradable. Why preserve dog poo in plastic forever? We want to grow the company with three new products and expand our sales footprint.
Website: GoodWag.com
X/Twitter Handle: @poopail_club
Company Facebook Page: fb.com/ThePooPail
Instagram Handle: @the.poopai
Other URL: s4g.biz/goodwag
Biographical Information: Sandy Stinson created the PooPail out of necessity. She took the company from idea to successful business. With 15,000 units sold only through the GoodWag website, which went live on Black Friday, 2022.
Personal Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009206707398
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sandy-stinson-a8669461/
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