Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Naso.
Hi Erin, 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?
Give a mom a problem and she’ll solve it.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs and growing up was generally surrounded by people with an entrepreneurial spirit. That perspective made an impact on me at a young age and allowed me to see more than one way to approach a challenge and fix a problem.
It was from this perspective that I invented The Hanger Valet – an outfit organizer that hangs over an outfit on a hanger and has zippered pockets to keep all the accessories, jewelry, socks, and undergarments needed for an outfit.
When my kids were in Kindergarten and Preschool (now 13 and 10), I knew our mornings had to be the highest form of organized to get everyone to school and work on time with the least amount of stress and meltdowns. Planning outfits ahead was key for keeping the morning running smoothly, not just for my kids but for myself as well.
My kids recognized outfits when they were hung rather than when folded. And I was able to get ready faster when I knew my outfit was picked, ironed, and included all accessories. I knew I wasn’t the only busy mom with this problem and set out to create what was missing in the marketplace.
My background is in PR and Marketing, not in inventions, design, or manufacturing. The learning curve was steep and lots of mistakes were made. But because it was such a new world to me, I had no fear to try things and make those mistakes. The drive was overwhelming to see this product through from concept to finished product. I never wanted to leave this earth wondering “what would have happened if I would have followed that idea through.”
Today The Hanger Valet is used for well beyond what I had ever anticipated. Besides for helping people get organized and ready for the day ahead, customers have also purchased our products to help seniors in assisted living facilities to get dressed independently, to help organize outfits for people that are color blind, for dance recitals and competitive cheer competitions, for weekend travel, for people with Special Needs, for organizing scout, police and military uniforms and more applications.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I bootstrapped all aspects of the business from my PR and Marketing freelance work. It took a few years longer to launch but not having to take outside investor or significant loans felt like an achievement and that I could build this business on my terms. We were set to launch in March 2020 but paused until April. At the time it seemed like an eternity but we knew it was the right thing to do with so much instability in our daily lives.
There are highs and lows – sometimes in the same hour – when owning a business. One of our biggest highs was being recognized by Real Simple as a Clever Item early in our launch. But the low came shortly after when we sold out and our original manufacturer did not have the capacity to produce as quickly as we needed.
Now, just over two years since launch, we have sold out of stock more than three times. Yet the same manufacturing hurdles remain. As a business committed to manufacturing in America – and with women-owned businesses whenever possible – the path is very challenging made worse by the current labor shortage.
Many days it feels like we are reinventing the wheel each time we go into production. But producing here with businesses that we know are paying their workers a livable wage is just part of our “why” and is what keeps us picking up one stone after stone to find a fix.
Moms solve problems all day, every day. So, whether it is how to get dinner on the table before the activities start for the night or how to run a successful fundraising campaign for the school, or how to jump a manufacturing hurdle, it is wise to never bet against a mom on a mission. We are always going to get it done.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the Inventor and Founder of The Hanger Valet, an outfit organizer that hangs over an outfit on a hanger and has zippered pockets to keep accessories, jewelry, socks, undergarments, and anything else with an outfit.
Currently, our product line offers two sizes – an adult and children’s size (best for kids between 2 and 10). We are developing other lifestyle products that will make staying organized at home or while away easier and that dovetail with our original products.
I have pinch-me moments with each sale (I really do a happy dance when packing each order along with a handwritten note) and when I get feedback on the variety of ways that The Hanger Valet has helped in ways big and small. To date, we have customers from 45 states plus Canada and the UK.
Beyond who it helps on the backend, I’m also incredibly proud that we have stayed committed to manufacturing in the United States and so far with exclusively women-owned manufacturing businesses. This is often a difficult road and a more expensive path. But at the core it is our “why” and is worth it in the end.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m a creative person that is eternally curious. I tend to express most of my creativity with food whether that is writing about it, cooking for small and large dinner parties (I once made a St. Patrick’s Day dinner for 85 friends), working on food photography, or discovering new restaurants or specialty food markets while home in Cleveland or while traveling.
For a short period of time, I had considered going to school to become a chef but soon realized I would be missing the party if I was always behind the scenes. I’ve been invited to cook with chefs for fun but remain a little intimidated of getting on the line and most certainly putting the kitchen in the weeds.
Instead, I concentrate on making food with love for those I love out of my home kitchen.
Pricing:
- Adult Hanger Valet – $42
- Adult Hanger Valet 5 Pack – $210
- Child Hanger Valet – $35
- Child Hanger Valet 5 Pack – $150
Contact Info:
- Website: thehangervalet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehangervalet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehangervalet
Image Credits
Caitlin Antje
