{ Entrepreneur Q & A } Featuring Johanna from @Safeesreflector #IRDfeature
Johanna from Safees
just Spilled it to
In R Dream
As today’s guest poster in R
Entrepreneur Feature!
Come meet the hard working mama who is increasing visibility in the dark & is
keeping families seen! Stay tuned for In R Dream’s up coming review of Safees!
keeping families seen! Stay tuned for In R Dream’s up coming review of Safees!
Tell us a bit about yourself,
hobbies, interests, family, kids, husband, wife, pets, and your home life.
hobbies, interests, family, kids, husband, wife, pets, and your home life.
I live
with my husband and son, who is 2.5, in San Francisco. My son is funny, caring,
cute and a very, very active. My husband too:). We are originally from Sweden,
but got a chance to move to the US about 5 years ago and we are so happy to
live here, we love it! Our son was born in San Francisco. We love traveling and
we have driven across the US three times and seen about 30 states. So we still
have some states left:) We kind of know now which our favorite states are and
we have tried all kinds of food and met some incredible, fun and sweet people.
When we are not working we travel, try to at well, taste nice wine, read books
but mostly just hang out with our son as much as possible!
with my husband and son, who is 2.5, in San Francisco. My son is funny, caring,
cute and a very, very active. My husband too:). We are originally from Sweden,
but got a chance to move to the US about 5 years ago and we are so happy to
live here, we love it! Our son was born in San Francisco. We love traveling and
we have driven across the US three times and seen about 30 states. So we still
have some states left:) We kind of know now which our favorite states are and
we have tried all kinds of food and met some incredible, fun and sweet people.
When we are not working we travel, try to at well, taste nice wine, read books
but mostly just hang out with our son as much as possible!
Your 20 second sales pitch? AKA
elevator pitch…sell us!
elevator pitch…sell us!
Safees are children’s pedestrian traffic
safety reflectors, proven to increase visibility in the dark and to reduce the
risk of traffic accidents.
safety reflectors, proven to increase visibility in the dark and to reduce the
risk of traffic accidents.
On average, a pedestrian is killed in traffic every 120 minutes.
Almost two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities occur when the light condition is
either dark or dark with street lights. Accidents happen mainly because
visibility is severely impaired in the dark, even with streetlights. Simply
by attaching a Safees to your child’s clothing you can increase his or her visibility
by 500% and reduce their risk of getting hurt in an accident up to ten times.
Safees are cute, colorful and fun reflectors that are easy to use and
inexpensive to purchase and they can save lives! Safees – Be seen, Be safe!
Almost two-thirds of pedestrian fatalities occur when the light condition is
either dark or dark with street lights. Accidents happen mainly because
visibility is severely impaired in the dark, even with streetlights. Simply
by attaching a Safees to your child’s clothing you can increase his or her visibility
by 500% and reduce their risk of getting hurt in an accident up to ten times.
Safees are cute, colorful and fun reflectors that are easy to use and
inexpensive to purchase and they can save lives! Safees – Be seen, Be safe!
What inspired you start your
business? / How did you come up with the concept of your business?
business? / How did you come up with the concept of your business?
When I had my son a few years ago I had some
problems, I had Preeclampsia and I ballooned! I was pretty big especially since
I was on bed rest for the last few months of the pregnancy. After he was born I
decided to walk it off, but in San Francisco traffic is crazy and cars simply wouldn’t
stop at crossings and I was frankly scared to push the stroller ahead of me.
problems, I had Preeclampsia and I ballooned! I was pretty big especially since
I was on bed rest for the last few months of the pregnancy. After he was born I
decided to walk it off, but in San Francisco traffic is crazy and cars simply wouldn’t
stop at crossings and I was frankly scared to push the stroller ahead of me.
Growing up in Sweden, where it is almost dark
for a long parts of the year and gets dark early afternoon in the winter, I
always wore pedestrian safety reflectors to alert cars to my presence on the
street. Almost all kids wore them and still do. So I tried to find quality reflectors
to attach to my son’s stroller and myself in the US but I couldn’t find any.
Not all reflectors are equally good, and not all reflect light well enough to
be seen: the best ones are hard prism reflectors. Not finding any reflectors
that live up to the high quality found in Scandinavian hard prism reflectors,
Safees was born. I initially did lots of research on traffic safety, what
works, what doesn’t and I checked out tons of manufacturers and compared
reflectors finally deciding on the manufacturer that actually invented
pedestrian safety reflectors and who really know their stuff.
for a long parts of the year and gets dark early afternoon in the winter, I
always wore pedestrian safety reflectors to alert cars to my presence on the
street. Almost all kids wore them and still do. So I tried to find quality reflectors
to attach to my son’s stroller and myself in the US but I couldn’t find any.
Not all reflectors are equally good, and not all reflect light well enough to
be seen: the best ones are hard prism reflectors. Not finding any reflectors
that live up to the high quality found in Scandinavian hard prism reflectors,
Safees was born. I initially did lots of research on traffic safety, what
works, what doesn’t and I checked out tons of manufacturers and compared
reflectors finally deciding on the manufacturer that actually invented
pedestrian safety reflectors and who really know their stuff.
Honestly, I am on a mission to increase
traffic Safety for children in the US and reduce traffic accidents and
fatalities. Something as simple as wearing a reflector will de facto reduce
your risk of being hit by a car and potentially being injured for life or even
killed. It is such an easy precaution and if just one kid can be saved, it is
worth it.
traffic Safety for children in the US and reduce traffic accidents and
fatalities. Something as simple as wearing a reflector will de facto reduce
your risk of being hit by a car and potentially being injured for life or even
killed. It is such an easy precaution and if just one kid can be saved, it is
worth it.
What is your balancing secret in
managing a business and family?
managing a business and family?
My husband is great and he also runs a start
up, so we work together helping each other and we understand when one of us
needs more time.
up, so we work together helping each other and we understand when one of us
needs more time.
I have become much more focused since I had my
son and I work less time but get as much done, just by making sure I am
efficient. So no more surfing the net or wasting time. When I work I am
completely focused and I get things done much faster and I am 100% organized
and I have lists and priorities so I am always on top of things. But there is
still more work to be done, than time….
son and I work less time but get as much done, just by making sure I am
efficient. So no more surfing the net or wasting time. When I work I am
completely focused and I get things done much faster and I am 100% organized
and I have lists and priorities so I am always on top of things. But there is
still more work to be done, than time….
What is the best advice you can
give to working moms, juggling it all?
give to working moms, juggling it all?
Just try not to be so hard on yourself and
make sure your partner does his share; they are your kids and your family both,
so 50/50, right?! (I still haven’t seen a single family who actually lives by
that, but hey, it’s a goal!)
make sure your partner does his share; they are your kids and your family both,
so 50/50, right?! (I still haven’t seen a single family who actually lives by
that, but hey, it’s a goal!)
Do you find working from home
challenging? Or its is a breeze?
challenging? Or its is a breeze?
Having my son here as well. I would rather be
with him than work, still I also love working, so it is difficult focusing
completely on one or the other.
with him than work, still I also love working, so it is difficult focusing
completely on one or the other.
If you have kids at home, how do
you keep them entertained so you can get crossing off your list?
you keep them entertained so you can get crossing off your list?
I don’t! I work around his naps and at night.
As he gets older I notice him getting better at playing by himself though, so
that gives me some time.
As he gets older I notice him getting better at playing by himself though, so
that gives me some time.
What have been some of your
major successes in business?
major successes in business?
So far I think getting Safees the attention it
deserves. It is the company I am most passionate about because Safees is a
product that has a higher purpose. I am not trying to simply sell something
‘cute’ or ‘fun’. Safees can help save lives AND be fun. I believe so very
passionately in Safees and what Safees can help accomplish in terms of traffic
safety in North America and I am so extremely excited about Safees future.
deserves. It is the company I am most passionate about because Safees is a
product that has a higher purpose. I am not trying to simply sell something
‘cute’ or ‘fun’. Safees can help save lives AND be fun. I believe so very
passionately in Safees and what Safees can help accomplish in terms of traffic
safety in North America and I am so extremely excited about Safees future.
What have been some of your
major challenges in business?
major challenges in business?
Starting a business is extremely stressful.
Extremely. And everything is up to you. You must get it done. you must make it
work and you must get every detail done and think of everything. No one will do
it for you. In normal jobs people do what they do best and there are positions
for everything, but starting up the entrepreneur is everything: designer,
marketer, PR person, salesperson, legal, IT, etc.
Extremely. And everything is up to you. You must get it done. you must make it
work and you must get every detail done and think of everything. No one will do
it for you. In normal jobs people do what they do best and there are positions
for everything, but starting up the entrepreneur is everything: designer,
marketer, PR person, salesperson, legal, IT, etc.
You must find the money and get the deals done
so you can pay people who work with you. That is stressful. It is just not
possible to take sick days and ignore work for a few days because there is no
one else to do it. So trying to not stress too much, trying to find something
resembling a balance is difficult.
so you can pay people who work with you. That is stressful. It is just not
possible to take sick days and ignore work for a few days because there is no
one else to do it. So trying to not stress too much, trying to find something
resembling a balance is difficult.
If there was one piece of advice
you could give about running a successful business, what would it be?
you could give about running a successful business, what would it be?
Trust your instincts and don’t think
specialists always know bust most of all just work hard.
specialists always know bust most of all just work hard.
Do you have a favourite business
tool and/or resource that helps make your day easier?
tool and/or resource that helps make your day easier?
All things google: Gmail, google drive, google
maps….
maps….
What is next for your business?
Any secrets you want to share?
Any secrets you want to share?
We will be attending the ABCKids Expo in
Kentucky in October and we have meetings booked with several buyers so we hope
to see Safees in stores near us all soon!
Kentucky in October and we have meetings booked with several buyers so we hope
to see Safees in stores near us all soon!
5 years from now, what is your
vision?
vision?
All kids in North America will wear Safees,
all families will know how they can stay safe in traffic.
all families will know how they can stay safe in traffic.
What did you do in your past
work life?
work life?
I started out researching and write business
plans for Venture capitalists and also as a journalist but I have also launched
several businesses. Before Safees I started the Clever Travel Companion.
plans for Venture capitalists and also as a journalist but I have also launched
several businesses. Before Safees I started the Clever Travel Companion.
R you living your dream?
In some regards, yes!
Who r u really?
Just one person.
What one word describes u?
Resilient.
If u could be anything what
would u be?
would u be?
A super smart scientist finding the cure for
one bad disease after another.
one bad disease after another.
How do you unwind after a long
day?
day?
Dinner with my husband, some nice Cabernet and
good food!
good food!
Do you have a motivational
quote, you would love to share?
quote, you would love to share?
Just do it.
What’s one product you use daily
that you couldn’t live without?
that you couldn’t live without?
Coca cola light
Beach or Snow, where would the
prefect vacation spot be?
prefect vacation spot be?
Snow!
Looking back to your high school
days, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?
days, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?
You are smart, competent and pretty, please
believe it now already and focus on things that matter!
believe it now already and focus on things that matter!
At this time in your life, are
you where you thought you would be?
you where you thought you would be?
No! I though I would be a diplomat…but I am
living in a new country!
living in a new country!
What in life brings you
happiness?
happiness?
My son, my husband, great books, beautiful
architecture, beautiful nature.
architecture, beautiful nature.
Give us a sneak peek, what would
be on your to-do list today?
be on your to-do list today?
Book hotels for Expo in Kentucky, book hotels
for Expo in NY, grocery shopping, bake cookies with my son. Catch up on some
work. (It’s Saturday)
for Expo in NY, grocery shopping, bake cookies with my son. Catch up on some
work. (It’s Saturday)
What do you day dream about?
Not having anything at all on my to do list
and relaxing in a chair, on a porch with a book.
and relaxing in a chair, on a porch with a book.
Country or City girl?
Both, country for horses and walking, city for
shopping and walking.
shopping and walking.
What is your favourite song on
the radio?
the radio?
Anything Beatles or Bowie
Wine, Beer, Martine, what’s your
drink choice?
drink choice?
Red wine
Be sure to join the conversation with Safees…
Shop on-line: http://www.safees.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SafeesReflector
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Safeesreflector
Thanks for reading In R Dream, email me you could be our next feature! myfamluvstoys @ Gmail.com