A local woman specializing in positive affirmation and socks is hoping to snag a winning spot in a global competition aimed at helping build up small businesses.
Laura Schmidt says she used her belief in the power of positive thinking to start her business – Notes to Self, LLC. The company puts positive phrases or words on a pair of socks.
The Prairie Village mom of three says the idea came to her during a trip to with her family on New Year’s Day 2011. She was thinking about positive affirmations with her feet on the dash of the car when she decided to put those affirmations on socks.
“I’ve always loved positive affirmations and I put sticky notes on my bathroom mirror my whole life that said things like ‘I am confident,’” she said.
Later that summer, Schmidt’s daughter wore those words on the first prototype pair of socks to volleyball practice. Since then, the business has sold hundreds of thousands of inspirational socks.
But it’s not all business, Schmidt says they focus on giving back to the community too.
“One of the most important things to us is giving back,” she said. “We donate socks to homeless shelters, women’s shelters and other under underprivileged people. So far we’ve donated over 40,000 pairs of socks.”
According to the website, the socks also help out other small businesses by being made exclusively in the U.S.A.
Now, Schmidt hopes to expand that business further and to learn how from the best in the industry.
Shopify’s Build a BIGGER Business competition kicked off in March and ends on July 31.
The competition brings together businesses from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The winners will get the chance to ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange and nab $1 million in advertising to help boost business.
On top of that, they’ll go on a getaway to Fiji to learn from entrepreneur and business strategist Tony Robbins.
Schmidt is hoping the community can lend a helping hand in making her dream to win a reality. In the process, they’ll be entered into a competition of their own.
Through July 31, any ‘likes’ on Facebook, ‘follows’ on Twitter or online orders made will be an entry for a chance to win 52 pairs of socks with positive affirmations on them.
On top of that, orders over 25 pairs of socks will be matched and sent to the customer’s preferred charity.
Winners of the Build a BIGGER Business competition will be announced sometime in August.
It’s an opportunity Schmidt hopes will help spread words of positivity.
“Our mission is to share the socks and positive messages to as many people as possible because we believe the words can impact their lives positively,” she said.
For more information on Notes to Self Socks, and to get the latest on the competition, visit their website and Facebook page.
