In our brand spotlight, we feature Abound brands your customers are sure to love. This week we sat down with Amanda Runkle, co-owner of Me Mother Earth. Me Mother Earth sells eco-friendly products which help to eliminate plastic waste, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been in business for two years. Shop them here.
Abound: Why did you decide to start this business? Why this business and not a different one?
Amanda: We noticed that plastic waste is becoming a huge problem everywhere we go, especially in our resident city and we wanted to take action and do something about it. We started this company with our straw & spork kit because we wanted to make it easy and convenient for anyone to make a simple daily swap to better the environment.
Since then, we have expanded to more and more plastic-free products that we all use everyday. We are passionate about the environment, live as sustainably as we can, and are learning more and more. We want to share that passion with others and encourage individuals to make the same changes for a cleaner and better future for everyone.
Abound: How did you make your first prototype? What changes have you made to your product since then?
Amanda: Our first straw kit had a completely different design. It also came with a spork but they were two separate pieces you had to carry around. Instead, we developed a cute pouch to encompass 2 more versatile straws, 2 cleaning brushes and the spork all in one convenient, pocket-sized kit.
Abound: How do you make your product? Yourself? A manufacturer? What’s your process like?
Amanda: We get our products manufactured responsibly in China by established manufacturers with fair employment practices and green business certifications.
Abound: What’s your day to day like? Do you have any favorite and least favorite parts?
Amanda: We are a 2-person team and wear many different hats. Some days are focused on creating content and ads and others are fulfilling orders and taking inventory. We are constantly testing and developing new products while also exhibiting at a variety of events and pop-up markets.
Abound: What was your initial investment? How did you get the money?
Amanda: We currently invest almost all of our profits back into the business and are self-funded via our savings.
Abound: Where was the first place you started selling your product?
Amanda: Amazon.com and local vendor markets in Las Vegas, NV.
Abound: Where do you sell your product now?
Amanda: Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, Amazon.aus, Etsy, Shopify, a variety of special events and markets in California, Arizona, Nevada, and via wholesale accounts.
Abound: Where would you love to sell your products in the future?
Amanda: We are beginning to participate in more events out of state and would love to continue to have more boutique and indie retailers carry our products as well.
Abound: Do you have a favorite product? If so, which one?
Amanda: Our Collapsible Straw & Spork Kit.
Abound: What’s your marketing like? Is social media an important part of your business? If so, how?
Amanda: We use a variety of ads on Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Bing, etc. Social media is a very important part of our business.
Abound: What are some of the most frustrating challenges and/or moments you’ve had with Me Mother Earth?
Amanda: Trying to balance and become experts in a variety of fields (graphic design, product development, social media, Shopify and website design, Amazon, wholesale and sales, etc.) Additionally, we have big dreams and small pockets… haha!
Abound: What are some of your greatest achievements and victories you’ve had with Me Mother Earth?
Amanda: Our greatest achievement has been finding that we are so incredibly passionate about what we are doing and even though we work a lot, it doesn’t feel that way.
Abound: What advice do you have for people who want to sell a product?
Amanda: Choose something that you feel good about selling!
Abound: Is there any business advice or quotes you’ve heard that you think about often?
Amanda: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” -Jane Goodall
Abound: What’s your favorite thing about being a business owner?
Amanda: Working towards something we’re actually passionate about and the freedom to work at it whenever we choose.
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