Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Smith.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been a dreamer, since a kid. You know? I was that one running the lemonade stand, or selling stuff from my playhouse to the neighborhood kids. I love coming up with ideas, but to implement them is another thing. The idea for COOL caboose came the summer of 2014. That was a crazy summer; having my third child (June 12). At the time my oldest, Chase was 3, my middle son Cannon was 1 1/2 and my third….a GIRL, Channing was born.
I faced the problem of getting outside during the warm/hot months with both my boys. I use to take huge frozen ice packs and wrap them in kitchen towels and stick them around the babies during walks. They were super bulky and hard, always end up being soaked from the condensation but besides a fan that only blew warm air, nothing else was on the market that worked well.
Fast forward to Channing….It was a July day and both boys were restless being stuck inside all day so against my better judgement I headed out. Channing in a stroller and the boys ahead of me on their little bikes. I don’t think we made it 3 houses down before I yelled to the boys to turn around because the baby was already overheating.
Later that month I headed back to my Hometown, Trenton, MI to spend some time with my father and step mom, and started talking to them about this problem and what possible solutions I had. Later that day, my step mom Debbie had a new sewing machine and Dad and I were tearing out the liner of an old 31 cooler. Through trial and error I came up with the fact I knew I needed a soft pliable cold pack to keep the babies comfortable. But there was still the problem of the condensation. I placed the cold pack in the liner but then it wasn’t cold enough, but without the liner the cold pack thawed too quickly and would condensate. We headed back to TX with a semi working prototype.
A few days later a trip to Costco is what inspired me for the second half of COOL caboose. I saw a cooling gel pillow! After more testing with the cooling gel and some research on that technology I realized cooling gel only stayed 2-3 degrees cooler than the ambient air. That is why they work great in the air condition house! But if I paired the cooling gel and the cold packs together….BINGO! So I used my little prototype all summer long, even a couple of friends borrowed it and loved it and told me I needed to make them one…and that is where it began.
It was a part time gig because having three kids 3 and under was consuming most of my time. It took me the next year and half to figure out manufacturing, testing, labeling, websites, packaging and so on. I received my first shipment late last summer (July 2017) and tried to hit the ground running but realized very quickly that I needed proper marketing. I spent the better part of the rest of 2017 and early 2018 ramping up for this summer and it’s been an awesome, exhausting, fun, self-doubting at times, lesson learning time!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been anything but smooth. Product development is not something I was familiar with nor everything that comes with it, like how to manufacture, testing requirements, labeling laws, creating a website, packaging, patent and trademarks laws and marketing. Not to mention I was home with three very young children and we moved during that time as well. I would say other than coming up with the idea itself, it was all a struggle. But super rewarding and worth it.
Please tell us about Mile a Minute Mom.
My company, Mile a Minute Mom only has the one product COOL caboose. I have only really reached out locally to sell my product, although I have shipped all over the US. It is crazy trying to create a Brand and get known to be the expert in that field. I love my product and it works so the moms and caregivers who have bought it have all positive comments. There is truly nothing on the market that compares to my product. There are liners that breath but don’t actually cool, there are giant ice packs intended to keep car seats cool but warn not to place your child on them and there are other cooling gel pads but the properties of cooling gel do not stay cold outside an air conditioned environment.
COOL caboose is a breathable liner that promotes air flow and protects expensive seats from blow outs and spills, it also can be used as a place holder in a car seat to keep buckles cool while you are out running errands. But mine is different than my competition because it can be sat on and used in a stroller. It fits in between safety buckles and provides a comfortable and safe seat that helps keep babies and toddlers cool.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
My biggest mistake was not having a plan to market. I thought I could just start posting pics on social media and it would take off. First off I am horrible at social media and there truly is an art to marketing on it. Every platform is different and you have to learn these platforms and be consistent on them. I would have found someone in the beginning to help me with that. I would say having a plan to market is the most important part of the whole journey.
Pricing:
- COOL caboose is a complete system in itself includes the outer washable shell, two cooling gel pouches with 2 freezable cold packs. It also comes with two additional freezable cold packs for long days out and a carrying/storage tote. $60
Contact Info:
- Address: 5987 Indian Blanket Drive
Frisco TX, 75034 - Website: www.coolcaboose.com
- Phone: 2149012388
- Email: mileaminutemom@gmail.com
- Instagram: coolcaboose
- Facebook: coolcaboose
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
