Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Lundqvist and Karen Petersen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a proud mom of three and live in Encinitas, Ca. I have been happily married for 20 years, and my husband is Swedish. We lived in Sweden for 1.5 years back in the late 90’s and pre-kids. This was when I discovered a cleaning cloth that was better than anything I ever used. When we moved back to the USA – I missed it! Every summer, we would go visit my husband’s family and I would always bring some clothes home to last me until the next summer. My family and friends would ask me to get them some, too!
Fast forward to 2007…
I met a group of great moms at the preschool that my kids attended. And one of them, Karen Petersen, my business partner today was just as passionate about this product as I was. We began to source the product, and we ended up with a manufacturer in Germany. We created our brand Skoy and had the idea to print designs on the cloth to make it more FUN. The first product we started with was the Skoy Cloth and the word Skoj is a Swedish word that means “just for fun.”
Now, in 2018…
We are still hard at work, and we have developed a Skoy product line. We sell four products (Skoy Cloth, Skoy Scrub, Skoy Towel, and Skoy Holder) wholesale to retailers nationwide.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It really has been a relatively smooth road. We started this company – just the two of us -, and we have grown this company very organically. Skoy Enterprises has been in business for ten years, and we continue to grow every year! We have never borrowed money, and best of all we work every day with our best friend!
When we started out, we started with a passion – not trying to make a million dollars overnight.
We have had struggles with having to learn every aspect of the business from accounting to inventory management, international dealings, vendor protocols, and customer relations. We have made mistakes and learned from them. That is all in a days work.
The advice we can give to young women who are thinking of starting a business is to love what you do!
We have made a lot of connections and friendships in the industry. We travel, we have fun, and we make money!
Please tell us about Skoy Enterprises, LLC.
Skoy Enterprises, LLC’s main business is to sell wholesale to retailers. We are in the housewares industry and specialize in kitchen products. Our brand is Skoy, which is a Swedish word that means “just for fun.” We started this business really for fun, and this has now turned into us putting fun into the kitchen. We sell a Skoy Cloth, that is a 100% biodegradable cleaning cloth that takes the place of sponges, paper towels, and rags. They come in fun colors and lots of different designs. The Skoy Scrub is a fantastic scrubber that takes the place of traditional scouring pads. It is long-lasting, trendy, and easily cleaned. The Skoy Towel is unlike any other towel. It is 100% recycled polyester and super absorbent – great for glassware and everyday drying needs. The Skoy Holder is a magnetic stainless steel sink holder – a perfect dwelling for the Skoy Cloth and Skoy Scrub. We actually have our first patent on the Skoy Holder.
All our products have the environment in mind. And all of our packagings is made with recycled paper and is plastic-free. They are packed by people with disabilities at the Arc of San Diego.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
We have a fantastic digital marketing group, Digital Marketing Integrated, that has been doing all our social media. We are having great success with Facebook and Instagram. And they are also working closely with mom bloggers and influencers to help spread the Skoy word!
Pricing:
- The Skoy Cloth – 4 pack – $6.99
- The Skoy Scrub – 2 pack – $5.99
- The Skoy Towel – single – $12.99
- The Skoy Holder – single – $19.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 129 Hummingbird Hill, Encinitas, CA 92024
- Website: www.skoycloth.com
- Phone: 800-990-4757
- Email: info@skoycloth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skoyproducts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skoycloth/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/skoycloth
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChK1q7b7-Ye1RJ10fgajKRg
Image Credit:
John Reidy
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