Katie Matteson and Rachel Foulger, Blush-Your Topless Undershirt
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Name: Katie Matteson and Rachel Foulger
Hometown:
Katie — Fairbanks, Alaska
Rachel — Mesa, Arizona
Current Residency:
Katie — Sacramento California
Rachel — Orem, Utah
Educational Background:
Katie — in progress, BA General Studies
Rachel — BA of science, graphic design degree
Professional Background:
Katie — I’ve worked in the health field for several years. I’m a certified phlebotomist and was a supervisor of an x-ray department. I’ve worked with seniors, trouble teens and a few network marketing companies. I am currently a student at Brigham Young University, a Junior/almost senior with only 3 semesters left. My major is Fitness and wellness but since I’m due to have a baby in early December I will be changing my degree to a Bachelor of General Studies so that I can finish at my own pace correspondence.
Rachel — I have worked for several different graphic design companies including the Gap Inc working in their online devision. i currently work as a visual merchandiser and design/set up retail stores internationally.
What you wanted to be when you grew up:
Katie — Honestly (sounds cliche) I’ve always wanted to just be a mom. As a professional career I’ve always loved health and have just wanted to know more about the body and how it works so that I can help other people and help my family be better people. In knowing that I thought it would be fun to be a nurse but never wanted to be a “working mom”
Rachel — I either wanted to major in speech pathology and work with the deaf, or deliver babies. If I had the talent…I would sing and dance on broadway 
.
What are you?
Katie — Mom/Entrepreneur/Wife/Student
Rachel — graphic designer/business owner
Brief summary of your startup:
Rachel called me one day and said, “hey Katie, lets invent something and sell it.” So we got together and brainstormed and decided we wanted to do a maternity line. We wanted to start simple and so I mentioned that when I was pregnant all I wanted was a band that went across my belly to cover the gap between my shirts and my pants and to be tight, not tent down like shirts do at the end of pregnancy. In talking to people about our idea it became apparent that people who weren’t pregnant wanted to buy our product also and so we decided to make this multi-functional product available to ALL women which was great because we discovered that our “invention” had already been invented but was only targeting pregnant and/or nursing mothers. So we made ours as cute and fashionable as we could and still retain the functions sought by the pregnant and nursing mothers and here we are…….
www.toplessundershirt.com
What inspired you?
A friend of ours started a business much the same way; Took an idea and ran as fast as she could with it and was having so much fun building her business. Both of us have entrepreneur minds and we wanted to do something also and thought that with time (a few years) we could have a business that runs itself with a little work from us instead of a job.
How long have you been in Business?
coming up on 4 months (Spring 2007), we launched at the Baby Day Expo on March 2nd in Sandy Utah.
How did you fund it?
We were creatively desperate is what we like to say. Nobody would give us a loan but I had a business credit line that we transfered over and then Rachel re-financed her car that was paid off. When you have an idea that you know will work you do what you have to do.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or mentor)?
We use each other a lot and when we can’t come to a conclusion we branch out to our friends and family. Both of us have great men in our lives that give us great support. Also our friends who have started their own business’ have been a huge help.
Do you belong to any business organization or networking groups?
No
Current business challenge:
Growing our business larger and Organization
Manufacturing costs
What are you doing about it?
We have done trade shows to gain retailers and customers but are still working on other venues also. Any help in this area would be great.
Getting a fulfillment company so that we can spend more time getting retailers and less time fulfilling orders and have their system to integrate with.
Looking at manufacturing soon in China.
Favorite motivational quote?
Katie — Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. –Wolfgang von Goethe
Rachel — And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.
Family:
Katie — Husband Sean , son Dominic 5 and one in the oven half baked!
Rachel — oldest of 4 children/single
If so, how do you balance family and business?
Katie — I’ve set aside certain times where I work on business. I have one hour or so (sometimes more) in the morning while my son is doing his chores (brush teeth, make bed, get dressed, eat vitamin etc. It takes him an hour because he plays in between but if he wants to turn on the TV for 45 minutes he has to get it all done. Without fail it usually takes him an hour but he does it and its fine by me when he takes longer) to do things that i can only do during the day like make phone calls to business’. Then its me and my son all day while dad is at work. This is time with my son and I rarely do business. Then at night my husband takes time with him and I get to do business some more if I need or we all do something together. After Dominic goes to bed is when I do my research/planning, etc. I have found that if I plan my business around my family it is a lot more enjoyable and I look forward to the time when I get to work on business. I also find that I’m more productive during those times because I know I only have a certain window.
Having a supportive husband has been one of my greatest blessings without that, the above “schedule” would be impossible.
Rachel — Being a single girl, I can find the time easeily to fit most things in my schedule. Its normally a struggle just to balance all areas in life…social, recreational, personal time.
Favorite Book:
Katie — for business? The E-Myth Revisited         for pleasure? My Sister’s Keeper
Rachel — Twilight
What do you do to relax?
Katie –I try to relax a least once a day for at least a half hour continuously so whether its in the bathtub or just on my bed I fit it in. I also go to a playgroup once a week for 2 hours where I get to talk to other moms while my son plays at the park. Both of these things seem to relax me and help me balance the rest of my week.
Rachel — I like to read or watch movies in the evening to wind down.
What do you want to change most about our world?
Katie — The power of positive thinking. I don’t think enough people believe in themselves and I think, in general, people tell themselves they can’t do things. It seems that many get stuck saying things like “I’m horrible at remembering names” or “my life is so stressful” or “I always get zits” and how I would love to help people realize that if we only speak differently about who we are, we could be someone better and create a different and better us. It just starts with changing the story we tell ourselves.
Rachel — Judgement. We are judged in every aspect of our lives. Whether its work, appearance, social status, racism…etc. We are constantly under eyes. I think if we took just this one thing away, there would be a lot more peace and acceptance of others.
What are you most proud of?
Katie — My family. I love my little family and we have so much fun together. I’m proud that my son can read, that he can ride his bike without training wheels and swim all at the age of 5 and that he’s so excited to be a big brother. I’m proud that my husband has a great job and that he is a leader at work and home. I’m proud that I am able to be a mother/wife/friend to both of them and continue to bring more into the world. I’m very proud of my family.
Rachel — My achievements. I feel lucky to have already traveled so much of the world, start my own business, work in a field that I love. I am fortunate that I have gotten to experience so many of these things which jsut opens the doors to so much else…
What advice would you like to offer other startup princess’?
Katie — With a business partner it can be pretty tricky (right Rachel?) because we don’t always agree on everything. We’ve even had some semi-heated conversations. I’ve found that if I don’t take business things personal (which is very easy to do as a woman) and don’t let my emotions get in the way (which is very easy to do as a woman) that it is much easier to get through the times when we don’t see eye to eye and every time we’ve hit an obstacle in our business road we’ve been able to figure it out. Being open, not letting our emotions control any part of business, being honest are key in business.
Rachel — Go for it. There will be so many obstacles that you have to face. It is a lot of money and it is risky. But go for it. Even if this business didn’t work out for you, you are learning what it takes for the next business idea.
Favorite magic wand (tool/resource)?
Katie –Wireless internet. I love being able to work wherever in the house I want and take it on the road with me.
Rachel — I would have to agree with Katie on that one…
Would you be interested in mentoring another woman entrepreneur?
Absolutely
What would you feel comfortable mentoring in?
Katie — getting started, trade show advice, balancing work and family
Rachel — marketing, design, and advice with my experience in getting started
