SOURCE: Canvas Rebel
Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Ascolese
Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey started when I was nine years old, experimenting with changing things around my house that were not working for me. As I got a little bit older and was able to go out independently and play handball, I got very good at it. When you’re good at something, you can’t let anything get in your way of being your best at it. In my case, my shoelace came apart when I played my favorite game. So at a very young age, I created a way for my shoelaces to stay tied so they would not come loose while I was playing handball. From then on, I would create other items from hair accessories to jewelry. Friends in school noticed what I was wearing and liked my style. I would ask if I could make the same thing for them. So I would create a similar design from a hair accessory to neckwear and start charging people for what I was making for them.
I never realized I was inventing anything until I got older. I had my first child when I was young, and I was very embarrassed to nurse in front of anybody. Years later, I created a product called the Bosom Buddy Breast-Feeding Cape. The Breast-Feeding Cape allowed me to nurse my child privately under my garment. I knew that there was a need for this product as I knew I wasn’t the only one who was embarrassed or uncomfortable to nurse in front of other people. I decided to manufacture and sell this product. When I got out there and searched for a manufacturer and found one to make my Bosom Buddy it all started getting real! It’s crazy! I found a local manufacturer and manufactured about 2500 units, and then I hit the ground running! I started selling my Bosom Buddy to anyone who would buy it. It really lit a fire under me when I sold every one of them! Due to the incredible feedback I received, I knew there was a need for the products I was inventing. From that point forward, I knew I had a talent in the area of innovation, entrepreneurship, skills, and creativity. From there, I just kept creating products. Some of which were not sold, but I just used them around my home for my children and my family.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are many ups and downs in any industry, many obstacles, and many challenges. However, it’s all about how we address issues that are before us. We can fold under pressure or walk through it and learn how to face new challenges, and I call them growing experiences! The challenges I see today more than ever is the lack of communication. There are less and less people who provide phone communication with care and time. We are all very busy trying to get to the next thing, and proper business communication etiquette is lacking.
So to answer your question, for me the most challenging part is getting responses that I need in my business to keep projects moving. I work with manufacturers across the world, and our time differences are quite significant so receiving communication from the manufacturers in a timely fashion can be challenging. I also work with buyers from national television to retail stores, pushing to get products on shelves branded and marketed in a timely fashion. So when there is a gap in communication from a buyer or from a client, this causes a breach in the flow of momentum.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Inventing A to Z?
I am the CEO and founder of my business, Inventing A to Z. Inventing A to Z is a product development company where we help people who have ideas develop those ideas from a napkin idea all the way to the market place and everything in between. In other words, if someone comes to me with an invention idea and only has it drawn on a napkin, I help them to build that idea into a tangible product from a prototype to a working, functioning product that can be sold in retail stores, on their websites, on social media, on national television, and perhaps, even to Shark Tank with proper preparation, focus, and drive. My focus and attention in my business is always to see every person I work with to succeed! I am a hand holder so I see to it that every project I touch moves forward. My website is www.inventingatoz.com.
In addition to my product development company I am also the founder of a nonprofit organization called the Association of Women Inventors And Entrepreneurs or AOWIE. At AOWIE, we hold annual conferences that are musically inspired and very uplifting. We have wonderful speakers who share their journeys with our guests. In addition to that, we have entertainment, networking, food, and most importantly, community. My conference is coming up on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025. We will host a wonderful array of great performers, celebrity speakers, and vendors. Every year we have a two-minute elevator pitch competition. However, this year, we are opening our doors to talent from every genre from music to art to innovation. It is a conference like you have never seen before. It is all-inclusive when it comes to networking and kindness! Please be sure to join us. The information can be found on my website www.aowie.com.
What should we know? I am now a proud author of my first book! The name of my book is “The Inventress’s Guide To Inventing The Right Way, All Or Nothing, Now Or Never”. I am super proud of my book and that I took the time to put pen to paper and actually accomplish this! I have taken 35 years of my business experience and compiled it into an 85-page guide book chock-full of incredibly important elements it takes to develop a product. I also included positive affirmations after every chapter so the reader can stay uplifted and inspired along their journey. At the back of the book, there is even a place to journal. I am a big proponent when it comes to journaling your journey.
I am so unbelievably proud of what I have achieved with this book. It is truly the amalgamation of everything I have learned in my decades-long career in inventing. My book can be found on my website inventingatoz.com as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold. The reason I subtitled my book The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing “All Or Nothing Now Or Never,” is to encourage people to go after their goals and dreams now. That being said, I have also launched my first Lullaby book called My Favorite Book Of Lullabies, dedicated to my children and grandchildren. The book has all original songs that I wrote and sang to my children and now to my three wonderful granddaughters, Olivia, Iyla and Ivy. There are QR codes in the book so that you can hear my vocals as well as just the instrumental version. I have to give thanks to God first and foremost for allowing me to do this for my children, grandchildren and hopefully the world! A giant thank you to the magnificent musician Brandon Williams who is able to beautifully orchestrated my music and to Michael Duhaylungsod who helped me create the wonderful graphics. The name of my book is “My Favorite Book of Lullabies” which is also now available in Barnes & Noble stores, Amazon, and everywhere books are sold! The website is www.myfavoritebookoflullabies.com. You can also find it on my website www.inventingatoz.com/books/ These books make great gifts, not just for the holiday, but year round!
I’m known for not giving up on anything I put my hands on and heart into. I see things through to the very end with focus and intention. I am known for my creativity, taking a simple idea, and turning into a product or business.
I am a communicator, I return phone calls and emails, and I deeply care about my clients like they are family. When I make a promise, I keep it. I’ve always valued honesty and integrity in my business.
When people use my service, they get top-shelf attention. All of my clients feel like they are the only ones I’m working with, and that’s important to me. I will take their product from that napkin idea I spoke about all the way to the marketplace, holding their hand the entire way! I provide them with all of the steps necessary to succeed!
I am not just transactional; I am about caring for people, and I choose to value the people I work with. I open doors for people into places that they may not necessarily be able to do on their own. I walked through the doors of QVC, HSN, and into retail stores without fear of picking up the phone or sending an email. I also have my own television shopping network called Inventor Spotlight TV to help business owners and product owners showcase their brands. Inventor Spotlight TV is a musically-inspired network that gives people the freedom and confidence to share their brands proudly. The website is inventorsspotlighttv.com.
I also have a podcast called The Inventress’s Podcast. All inventors, entrepreneurs, and creators are welcome. Please go to my YouTube channel and subscribe. I am passionate about meeting innovators and lifting others higher.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the lessons I’ve learned in business is not to be completely vulnerable because some people will take advantage of you. I’m a person who wears my kindness on my sleeve, and sometimes kindness can be misconstrued as weakness. Therefore, I’m very clear about how serious I am about business and about how strong I am. I do not let anyone step on my feet or walk over me, and I say that with a smile on my face.
Pricing:
- I have various pricing options on my website when it comes to membership. However, I always speak to anyone prior to asking them to sign up for anything. Regarding my consultations, I work on a sliding scale depending upon what the client needs. I do not agree with the one-size-fits-all model. Every individual needs personalized care, and that’s how I run my business.