Susan Elwer launched Spoonful to create apparel with inspiring messages and they donate 50% to non-profits
The idea for Hands & Feet started when I met a 4-year-old boy who had gone without lunch for the first three months of school. The fact is he is 1 in 6 kids in the United States who face hunger every day. I was one of those kids growing up on welfare in a single parent household. I knew had to be part of the solution. A couple of years prior to meeting this 4-year-old boy I had a vision to create apparel with inspiring messages to change the conversation. In 2017 I connected my vision with my purpose by launching Hands & Feet. We create apparel with inspiring messages and donate 50% of the profits to non-profit organizations who are working to end childhood hunger in the United States.
What are your favorite business tools and/or resources and why?
We utilize Instagram and Facebook as marketing tools for our business. When posting and writing blog posts, I use Grammarly, a free and subscription-based writing tool, to ensure my writing is clear, concise and error-free. Another tool I use weekly is Canva, a graphic design tool. It's incredibly easy to use. I use it to create posts for Instagram, infographics, line sheets, and print materials for Hands & Feet.
What is a good article or book you have read recently? Why did you like it so much? What’s one important lesson you learned?
I recently read Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. The authenticity with which she writes each chapter really resonated with me. For example, she starts each chapter with the lies we women tell ourselves. I appreciated how candid she was in sharing her struggles and doubts, while at the same time not letting them stop her from her dream to create a hugely successful media company. One of the most significant takeaways from the book is that I have complete and utter control over how I'm going to live my life. I get to choose how I'm going to show up each day. I get to decide how to react after I hear the word no. I get to choose how hard I want to work to achieve my goals. There is something so powerful and encouraging about this message.
How do you generate new ideas to stay relevant on the market?
Is it important to innovate in your space? My inspiration for the messages on our apparel comes from a variety of resources: books, podcasts, messages at church, songs, and current trends. A specific example is the women’s empowerment movement. I’m currently working on a message to inspire women. I’ve learned to have an open mind and heart when looking for inspiration.
What are your short/long term goals?
Building brand awareness is a short and long-term goal and is one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced since launching in August 2017. Another short-term goal is to connect with a coach/business mentor to help me navigate being an entrepreneur – something I never thought I would be. Lastly, we have a goal to expand our retail footprint outside of Minnesota.