SOURCE: SwagHerOnline
In today’s interview, we’re joined by Lisa Ascolese, a renowned inventor and entrepreneur known as “The Inventress.” Lisa is a remarkable Black female inventor whose passion for creating innovative solutions has led her to develop a variety of products, from home organizers to travel accessories and even a lullaby book. Her journey as an inventor began at the young age of nine, and she has since turned her creativity into a thriving business. Lisa is the founder of Inventing A to Z, a product development company that helps aspiring inventors navigate the process of turning their ideas into reality. She also hosts The Inventress Podcast and runs Inventors Spotlight TV, a platform designed to help entrepreneurs showcase and sell their products. Lisa’s commitment to empowering others is evident in her work with the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs (AOWIE), and her upcoming book, “The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing The Right Way!: All Or Nothing Now Or Never!”
In this conversation, Lisa will share her journey as an inventor, the inspiration behind her platforms, and the valuable lessons she has learned along the way. Let’s dive in!
Fancy: How did you become an inventor? What’s the first thing you invented?
Lisa: First and foremost, thank you for your interest in interviewing me. It is my pleasure to share my story with you.
I don’t think anyone who is creative becomes an inventor; they are born that way—at least, I know I was born to create and invent daily, along with having FAITH! I have been developing products since I can remember, specifically since I was nine years old. Like millions of others, I have a brain that creates solutions for day-to-day problems.
The difference between myself and most is that they may not know how to get started or who to trust.
Regarding my first product, the best example I can give you is one of my first solutions as a child for my shoelaces that came untied—I created something to keep them tied. I lived in Brooklyn, and we had plenty of handball courts, which was my favorite game. Anybody out there who plays handball knows they can’t have shoelaces that untie because that would just mess up their game. So, I created shoelaces that stayed in one place.
As a child, I created everything from hair accessories to jewelry to home organizers. As an adult, my first product that was sold publicly was a breastfeeding cape called the Bosom Buddy. I was very young when I was nursing my first child, and I was very embarrassed to feed in public, and that’s why I came up with the bosom buddy. The Bosom Buddy was designed so a mom nursing her child could do it publicly while being discreetly covered without embarrassment.
The Inventions
Since that time, I have created hundreds of other products and have many patents, trademarks, and copyrights. My products range from luggage identifiers to home organizers, hair accessories, hanger covers, and much, much more.
The luggage identifier is called Lugeze Bows. Lugeze Bows are designed in four fabulous colors and shaped like a bow that you tie around your luggage handle, making it easy to spot your luggage. The website is www.lugezebows.com.
The Bun-Tie is a hair accessory that was designed to put your hair up in a bun and create several different styles. The Bun-Tie was sold on QVC television and modeled by my daughters, Brittany and Giana.
Then there’s The Perfect Pockets Organizer. It is an organizer designed to keep all your plastic lids in one place. I created a three-piece canvas set to keep my large spoons, container lids, and cookbooks in one place where I knew I could find them easily. I kept all my plastic lids in shoeboxes to keep them organized. I realized that the rest would fly out when I took one out. In an eight-hour day, I designed this organizer as a three-piece set to keep everything organized, including large spoons, lids, magazines, and other kitchen essentials. This product was a big hit for me because it was sold on QVC and HSN, two of the world’s largest shopping networks, by God’s grace.
I feel blessed and proud to say that I have sold many of my own products on QVC, as well as other people’s products! Another big one for me was my holiday organizer called The Wrap And Store Organizer. This organizer was designed to keep wrapping paper, scissors, pencils, pens, and cards all in one organized place. This product also sold well on QVC! Then, to my surprise, I was able to sell my Inventing A to Z CD on QVC after it was proven to sell in over 500 Barnes & Noble stores.
That’s how products are invented! Necessity is the mother of intention!
Sidebar: I can’t do this interview without mentioning my first lullaby book I just launched! My lullaby book is called My Favorite Book of Lullabies. I used to sing all of these songs to my children and now sing them to my grandchildren, Olivia, Iyla, and Ivy. So, I decided to write all of my songs and have music created to go with it. It is now being sold at Barnes & Noble, on Amazon, and in addition to Ingram, everywhere books are sold. My site is www.myfavoritebookoflullabyes.com.
Please feel free to visit my website, www.inventingatoz.com, for more information on how to purchase both books.
Fancy: Your work as “The Inventress” spans product development, education, and empowerment. What inspired you to create platforms like your CD, Inventing A to Z, and Inventors Spotlight TV, and how do they help inventors turn their ideas into successful products?
Lisa: Inventing A to Z is my day-to-day business, where I help inventors and entrepreneurs develop products from a napkin idea to the marketplace. I created this company to help inventors who wouldn’t necessarily know how to find the right inventing path on their own.
I was one of those people many years ago. When I asked for help, where I looked for it, it was not available. So, I promised that once I knew and understood the path of invention and entrepreneurship, I would make it my business to help other people succeed in this space.
All I needed was to kick a door down and let everyone else in who needed help. Inventing is a very challenging world, which is why so few do it. That’s why I make myself available to help frustrated inventors—because I was once one.
Now, it is a dream come true for me to be able to help so many people in this way.
Inventors Spotlight TV is a platform that I use to help inventors and entrepreneurs showcase, promote, and sell their products on a television platform, very much like QVC and HSN. The website is www.inventorsspotlighttv.com.
The Association Of Women Inventors And Entrepreneurs
Fancy: The AOWIE Women’s Empowerment Conference brings together some of the most inspiring minds in entrepreneurship and invention. What is your vision for this annual event, and how has it impacted the community of female entrepreneurs and inventors?
Lisa: The Association Of Women Inventors And Entrepreneurs (AOWIE) is a nonprofit, music-inspired organization that had to happen! Many years ago, when I decided to go full force with it, I spoke at many different conferences and attended others as well.
When I looked at those conferences, I felt there could be some things done differently. I felt there needed to be more interaction and more feedback. When I went to these events and spoke at them, I felt I was the only one engaging with people who entered my room.
Our conferences have been a thriving place for many women—not just those who attend but also those who provide a platform to share their insights and journeys with others. It has been such a loving, kind, and giving space for many communities. My goal is to see it grow bigger and continue to share the genuine, welcoming space it has been for more than 11 years!
The Inventress’s Guide
Fancy: Your new book, “The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing The Right Way! : All Or Nothing Now Or Never!” offers a roadmap for aspiring inventors. What is one key lesson from the book that you hope readers will take to heart as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys?
Lisa: My book is a love letter to inventors and entrepreneurs to help them get started in the right direction and stay the course.
My goal is to help all of those inventors out there who need help. I have provided several pages of positive affirmations in the book so readers stay excited and motivated. I have also provided a
place to journal their journey in the back of the book so they can keep notes and see their progress.
My advice is: Follow your dreams and stay positive! Dreams can and do come true.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Lisa, Lisa?
Lisa: My swagher is that I am not afraid to be my authentic self—the humble me that God has given me. There is only one you; be your authentic self!
Fancy: Where can readers connect with you?
Lisa: Please feel free to call me, email me, and follow me on all social media platforms. Also, connect and subscribe to my YouTube channel Lisa Ascolese and Inventors Spotlight TV.
I have a podcast called The Inventress Podcast. On the podcast, I am fortunate to have conversations with celebrities who are performers, entertainers, singers, artists, authors, and inventors. I also have the opportunity to speak with my own clients publicly, giving them the chance to tell their stories.
Visit www.inventingatoz.com for more information and to connect with me!