Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Robertson.
Erin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was living in Los Angeles and getting ready to go out on a first date. As I got out of the shower and started getting ready, I could not stop sweating — not because I was about to go on a first date, but because my tiny A/C unit was broken AND it was the beginning of summer. I had a lot working against me. I tried everything: I tucked wash cloths under my breasts, I tried dumping baby powder all over me, I even put a t-shirt on and tucked it under my boobs. But the wash cloths looked ridiculous, the baby powder made me look more like dough, and the t-shirt was making me sweat even more. While I was blow-drying my hair, I just kept thinking: “There HAS to be a better way to keep the beads of sweat from dripping down my stomach.” Sound familiar?
I went on my date, and the entire time all I could think about was how to solve this problem. I couldn’t be the only person to have boob-sweat issues while getting ready. There had to be something on the market to fix this. So, I went home and got online, looking for an answer. But all I could find were maxi-pad-looking things that you stick in your bra. I didn’t want to wear a bra while I was getting ready or just lounging around the house. I wanted my “girls” to be free! That night, I was lying in my bed thinking about all the different ways I could solve this problem… and then it hit me. I sat up with excitement!! “I’VE GOT IT!!”
While working many and varied odd jobs to keep myself afloat and pay my bills, I began designing my prototype. I made a pattern by taping four pieces of printer paper together. I enrolled myself at the University of YouTube, where I taught myself how to sew. After I tore up every last towel in my apartment, I finally had my prototype.
I started handing the towels out to my friends to get some feedback. To my wonderful surprise, what I thought was just a solution to boob sweat turned out to help other women in so many different ways. A friend of mine got rashes under her breasts due to moisture buildup; using the towel kept her breasts dry, and her rashes completely disappeared. I knew I was onto something; now I just had to figure out how to get it out to the WORLD.
Two events helped propel my product onto the international scene. The first event was my debut at the LA Women’s Expo, a debut that almost didn’t happen. I will never forget the night before this expo I panicked and thought, “What am I doing? Everyone is going to laugh at me.” So I actually looked up the cancellation policy and realized it would cost me more money to back out. I was too broke to back out, and I just had to face the music. And boy, am I glad I did. I sold 24 towels that day, and I will never forget that feeling of pride. I did it! Following this event, an article was written about the Ta-Ta Towel on BabyCenter.com. The next thing I knew, a flood of magazines and internet coverage followed. A year later, the second event took place when I walked through the doors of Shark Tank to introduce my Ta-Ta Towels to the Sharks. And the rest, as they say, is history. My business has been growing every year since. One of the characteristics of my company of which I am most proud is that I have been able to source and manufacture here in Los Angeles using small family-owned and operated businesses all over the LA area.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Launching my own successful company was wrought with obstacles and setbacks, from the basics of having to learn to sew to the more complicated areas of setting up manufacturing, navigating legal issues, and obtaining patents. But my biggest obstacle to overcome was learning to believe in myself and to trust in my faith. I knew I had something here, but I had to learn to ignore my moments of self-doubt and the naysayers, to overcome my fears of failure, and to always remind myself to press forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We make women with large breasts feel fresh and confident in their Ta-Ta Towels. It’s a towel for your breasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tatatowels.com
- Instagram: tatatowels
- Facebook: tatatowels
Image Credits:
SchlickArt for the headshot picture.
