Monday Manufacturing Motivation – with the Alaska MEP & SWOOP

Curt Anderson 0:00
Four, five or eight. Damon, happy Monday, brother. How are you? Hey,

Virginia Lynn Peterson 0:05
Kurt, how are you today?

Curt Anderson 0:07
I’m doing man. If I was any better, it’d be Monday. I’ll wait. It is Monday. So it’s been Monday motivation, our favorite day of the week. Thank God. It’s Monday, man. We won’t talk about the Seattle Seahawks, the mariners, you’re going to get into the playoffs. So God bless you there. Right.

Virginia Lynn Peterson 0:23
Hopefully, if we don’t lose our way out of it.

Curt Anderson 0:25
Okay, so did you have a good weekend?

Virginia Lynn Peterson 0:28
That was awesome. Really. I mean, in the northwest, I don’t know if it’s like that in Alaska now. But we have the beautiful, most beautiful weather I think we’ve had in yours

Curt Anderson 0:37
is yours. Beautiful fall. So hey, so you know, David gets to hang out in Seattle every week, but we decided to go just rate them and we’re just going up the road today. Right? It’s like right up the street, literally, to the great State of Alaska. Man. I have two amazing friends that I want to introduce. I have Virginia Lynn Lynn. We’re going by Lynn today. Lynne. Happy Monday. How are you my friend?

Unknown Speaker 1:00
Hello. So great to be here.

Curt Anderson 1:02
Oh, it man. We are going to have such a good time. So bright and early. And then we’re sliding over to my dear friend Sammy Jo. man we met in hurt we hung out in person last week. Oh, I’m so like on cloud nine. sighs did you make it home? Okay.

Sami Jo Lewis 1:19
I did. I did. And yeah, super excited to be here. And it was of course wonderful to meet you. Last week. It was we had

Curt Anderson 1:25
such a good time. We’re hanging out every day. Damon crew stories Amy Jo back me up on this. They so there’s this big room. I’m hanging on to this room and I look across the room. I see Dr. Elissa Rodriguez, the director of the Alaska MEP. I see Amy Jo come walking in the room. I go running I like I like I was kind of like trying to like hide. I was like given one of you. I go running around and I come I dialed up to Alyssa and to Sammy Jo, and like I give them both big hair. Big, big bear hugs. I’m like literally tearing up hugging the

Sami Jo Lewis 1:57
knife or what? No, that’s definitely true. As soon as we walked in, Kurt was the first person to come running up to us.

Curt Anderson 2:07
That’s awesome. So I’m so today we’re with Sammy Joe, who’s with the Alaska MEP. That’s a manufacturing extension partnership. We’re gonna take a deep dive there. They just had their annual conference last week in Sami Joe and I had the honor and privilege of being there hanging out. But man, we’re shining a bright light on a manufacturer, a true manufacturer in the great state of Alaska. Lin, for you know what, I’m going to kick things off with my first question for you. You’re an adventurer, you’re actually an East Coast gal who’s kind of wandered the country and ended up in Alaska. So we’re going to take a deep dive into your story. My first question for you being such an adventurer, a nurse by trade and adventure at heart, and now an entrepreneurial now not proneural by spirit, right? Who was your hero growing up as a little girl growing up? Who was your was your hero? That just as just sparked this wonderful life that you’re living?

Unknown Speaker 3:05
Oh, geez, um, that is a tough question. But I You know what I’d have to say it’s probably my grandmother. That’s probably the first thing that comes to mind. And that’s what I’m gonna run with. And I’ll tell you I think back to her, she, you know, like growing up was like the first like, when not probably the first woman to go to college, but she went to college. She was a basketball player she just recently got was put into a Hall of Fame at her university. So it was just kind of this like woman who always kind of seen before her times and always out there pushing herself and doing things. And I think I just always maybe connected with that.

Curt Anderson 3:54
That is awesome. What a great role model wouldn’t inspiration, playing hoops for college back in the day. She’s a Hall of Famer, that is absolutely awesome. So in what’s grandma’s name?

Unknown Speaker 4:05
Virginia,

Curt Anderson 4:06
Virginia. Oh, all right. We’re dedicating the program today to gram of Virginia. God bless her for inspiring us, Sammy Jo, I’m coming at you with the same question. You are you’re working for the Alaska Manufacturing Extension Partnership, but you are working tirelessly helping manufacturers like our dear friend Lynn here, who was your hero as a little girl growing up in Alaska?

Sami Jo Lewis 4:34
Ah, that’s a good question. I’d have to say probably have to say probably my dad. My mom was incredible too. It’s like that they both were just so inspirational to me. My dad has just been such a workhorse just I mean, all growing up just like go go go. I mean, he worked the same job 70 And and was able to retire at 51 and he was just such an incredible provider and just non stop you working. So I think that he’s definitely who I’d look up to. When it comes to career wise. My dad. Nice.

Curt Anderson 5:05
That is awesome. And we talked about my dad and we went out to dinner the other night. So Damon, we were at Michael Jordan Steakhouse. How’s that one? Yeah. We were at Michael Jordan Steakhouse. I had dinner with Sammy Joe and Dr. Alyssa, from the last game up, and you’re sharing wonderful stories about mom and dad. And so I feel like what? What’s dad’s name?

Sami Jo Lewis 5:25
I’m Bob. All right.

Curt Anderson 5:27
So we’re getting shout out to Bob. Shout out to Virginia. So I, then I’m coming back to you now. So give everybody you have a fascinating story. What a great background. I believe born on the East Coast, if I’m not mistaken, maybe Maryland ish. If I’m close on that, and you’ve kind of one wandered around, you have a great career again, nurse by trade, entrepreneurial, free spirit by heart. Let’s talk about your background and how just go into your career a little bit if you could, please. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 5:54
Yeah, I mean, I think going into my career is a whole separate podcast are kind of really long career path. So we’ll kind of cut to like maybe the last decade, how’s that so, um, I have been a nurse now for just about 15 years, I did public health prior to that epidemiology work. So this whole pandemic, I actually found, like, truly interesting, because so many of those things that I had learned and had worked with, it was actually really cool to see statistically and how viruses spread. So um, but jump forward, I ended that career and became a nurse started in the NICU, move to a pediatric emergency department into the emergency department. And now I’m actually just left the emergency department into another department called cardiovascular observation. So um, during my time, as a nurse, I kind of struggled to find a bra to wear. And I know T men, that doesn’t seem like a huge thing, but going to work for 12 hours in a busy department, which all of my you know, I know, holding babies doesn’t seem like a lot, but there’s a lot of like, up and down and moving and stretching and pushing. And it’s almost like exercise in its own way. I just didn’t have very many bras that I love to wear. And that’s not to say I didn’t have some, but I would like you know, when I worked a long stretch, if I was working four shifts in a row, I would literally lay out my scrubs for four days straight, and I would put a bra on top, and I would do one, two, and then I would never have three, four. So I just found that my bralettes were never supportive enough that either like my Sorry, I’m gonna just say it because we’re talking bras here, but my boobs would hurt at the end of the day, or my shoulders kind of hurt. And then when I wore a sports bra, I just felt like I was hypoxic, like I couldn’t breathe by the end of this shift. But by the time I walked in through my front door after the end of 12 hours, I just wanted to yank that thing off. So I just felt that there was like a need. Um, the other thing I also found with my bras is, is almost all of them were a solid color, or like a floral. So there weren’t a whole lot of like people doing patterns and like kind of uplifting and kind of put it on and let’s seize the day sort of things. So I have a little bit of a sewing background. I’ve always been kind of crafty. So I said, You know what, I’m gonna take a stab at this. So I made a bra. And I always kind of say I got lucky by the parts that I chose. The fabrics that I picked, just kind of worked. So I wore it and I was like, Whoa, this is actually pretty amazing. Made a few more gave them to some friends word of mouth, we just started to grow. And then finally it got big enough where I was like, hey, like I think that this is this is the thing. I’m so I call it my side hustle. So you know, met with MVP met with SBDC through a website and kind of started going from there. So being an entrepreneur was never on the list, but you know, here I am.

Curt Anderson 9:12
Well, here we are. And I’m going to give a shout out hey, we’ve got friends in the crowd here. So if you guys you know click on the little side, so linen sameach. If you want to see comments, click on the comments or to the right, we’ve got Katie, Katie, happy Monday. Hope you had an amazing weekend. Have a great conversation here. right up your alley, my dear friend, Diane. So Diane is with tax Amy Jo. We met some of her colleagues last week you met Teressa by chance. And you met Janney so a couple of her colleagues, and I think you’ve met Robin and Whitney when he’s out there today. But he’s our guest next week Whitney and of course Trish, turn your pain into purpose. Exactly. So, you know, I want that. I want to ask you one more question. I’m gonna slide over to Sammy Joe, because anybody out there that we want to talk about the MVP, of course, but you know, you’re an adventurer, you’re like, man, I was out mountain biking yesterday. I know you’re a hiker, mountain climber. Talk a little bit about how that adventurous side of you has really converted into the entrepreneurial side.

Unknown Speaker 10:07
Well, I think, um, it’s just been like inspiration, right? I mean, that’s like, my happy place is to be outside. I like love long days out. I love being in the mountains, you know, here in Alaska, you know, there’s been a full rainy summer, but that just doesn’t stop us. And so, I mean, I think it’s this, you know, climb a mountain ski, the steep line, and not that everything has to be hard. But I find like, I found like motivation and encouragement. It’s like, if I can get to the top of this mountain, then I can build a business. And I know that just seems like parallels. But it’s challenging. Like, it’s challenging to be on my new like, I just started a mountain biking this summer. So every time I jump on there, I think about these bank turns and how I can take them faster, how I kind of take them better. And those same exact principles apply. And me being an entrepreneur, like I’m a nurse by trade, I’ve never in my life, taken a business class. And it’s like, here I am. And I just feel like, boy, if I can figure this out, like anybody can figure it out. But I just feel that all those principles in me being outside and, you know, using I’ll use the word smart, right? Like, can I go faster? Or am I going to get hurt? Should I slow down? All those sorts of things apply? Exactly into growing this business? Yeah,

Curt Anderson 11:31
I absolutely love this. And Damon, what’s great about Lynn, and Lynn is, you know, I know you’re being modest about you know, sharing your story. But I believe you lived in Arizona, you’ve lived in maybe Colorado, but you shared in what was fascinating, you’re always seeking, like adventure, peace of mind. And I tell you, what you are the master of what I admire most is I find like you’re great at finding balance of the important things in life. And so like travel adventure, you know, your your partner, everything that you’re doing in life, those were the priorities, and it was almost like career now, not necessarily secondary, but that your career followed your heart is my course on that.

Unknown Speaker 12:08
Yeah, you now that I mean, to me, my whole life. I’ve loved having a career, and I’ve had many different careers. But it’s also like, my passions, and that’s kind of what I have always really followed. I mean, I just think that life is way too short. Um, you know, to be not doing what you love. And I think it’s, you know, just you have to be willing to take a chance. It’s like that the quote, if you if you don’t try something, nothing good or bad is ever going to happen to you. And that’s kind of how I’ve tried to like live my life.

Curt Anderson 12:45
Yeah, I absolutely love that. And Sammy Jo, and we were out to dinner. I know we were talking about, again, mom and dad and Dr. Alyssa were talking about inspiration and great quotes and like, you know, what inspired us through our careers? Sure, you know, our connection here today. You said, Lynne just mentioned, hey, I reached out to the SBDC. That’s a small business development center. And of course, she said the MEP. You’re with the Alaska MEP Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Can you share for anybody out there? What is the MEP and what’s going on in Alaska?

Sami Jo Lewis 13:14
Yeah, absolutely. Thanks, Kurt. So we’re super excited to connect with Lynn and swoop. So the MVP is part of a national network. So that’s where we have the honor of meeting Kurt in person when we were able to meet up last week at the best practice conference in Chicago. But the MVP exists in Alaska to advance manufacturers and advanced manufacturing sector. And so we do that through offering various services. We’ve, of course, worked with you and Damon and offering some awesome e commerce classes. That was kind of our main priority when we first kind of started and COVID kind of hit and people were not online. And so we were able to kind of partner with Kurt in your team and start offering some great ecommerce classes and really helping manufacturers get online if they were only in a shop and people were no longer visiting. We also offer a different lean supply chain ISO certifications, really various things. We’re working with some product developments for some other manufacturers, and so we’re really here just to be a resource for manufacturers and help them achieve their goals.

Curt Anderson 14:21
Yeah, that’s fantastic. And we’re, you’re a small team in Alaska, but you guys pack a powerful punch. So when so you know, let’s let’s talk about your company now. Okay, now, there was a song that came out maybe in the 90s like swoop there it is. Do I have that right? Remember that Damon let’s get ready.

We’re going there. Oh come on.

Unknown Speaker 14:50
We’ve used that as a tagline.

Curt Anderson 14:53
So I then let’s go in. What I absolutely love adventure. You’re talking you know, hey, you know just relentless. You only live once you have a pain, you have a challenge, you decide to turn it into a business model, your side hustle and now you’re up to you have multiple employees, how many employees you have high, five employees now, like this is no longer a side hustle, you’ve got some momentum. You’ve turned this into a business talk, like, let’s go in, you know, like, say somebody’s out there like, Man, I am so inspired by Lin. I have a dream, I have a pain that I’d love to turn into an entrepreneurial opportunity. Walk us through when you went from idea. Where did you come up with the name swoop? Let’s kind of like walk in then when you reach out the MVP walk through those early days. What was that process like?

Unknown Speaker 15:39
So, um, the business first started as always be swooping. And that was kind of a joke from a long time ago, we used to just have this thing where we’d go like, always be swooping. And we were like, literally like flapping our wings, like we were a bird. So we started the company, as always be smoothing. But then we just found that it was just a little bit too long. So we shortened it to swoop. And we’ve been running running with that. Um, and so you know, made that first bra, I started making more, and I was doing this like all by myself. So just hand sewing, hand sewing, hand sewing. And I’ll never forget the day I went from calling the business, a side hustle to a small business. And that kind of came from a girl, her name was Buffy. And she ordered a bra. And I made her the bra and packed it up, I shipped it to her. And then two weeks later, Buffy ordered four more bras. And I thought to myself, Oh my gosh, like one who is this girl, Buffy. It’s like, No, I mean, because you remember a name like Buffy, it’s just kind of an odd name. And then I was like, Oh my gosh, this girl, Buffy, who I’ve never met now owns five of my bras. And then that was the day I hired my first employee. And that was when I was like, whoa, this no longer is a side hustle. This is definitely a small business, right. So prior to that happening, I had reached out to the MEP, and I’ll be honest, my first interaction with the MP MEP my head, I think I hung up the phone and I was just like, oh my god, what is happening? It was just, you know, I just wasn’t girl with this idea. And then they through all of these ideas. It’s like, well, have you thought about manufacturing? Have you thought about overseas manufacturing? Have you thought about what your five year plan is? What’s your mission and vision, all of these like, you know, kind of basic sort of things that I had never thought about or even had, like, knew even what those words meant. Um, and I did find it a little overwhelming, but it also was like, whoa, okay, like, if we’re going to do this, I need to make a tick list of all of these different things, they just asked me and make sure I started checking these boxes. So I started working with the Small Business Development Center, of course, kind of stayed in with MEP. Um, you know, they’ve just been a great like resource and a lot of hand holding for me. And now we are just about to start year for January at the end of year three, the start at your for for us, we are still handmaking. But we also felt with our handmaking. And our price point where our price point was is a little bit higher. Obviously, it’s a lot more resources and a lot more work to make handmade. And we’ve had such a following, we decided to go ahead and do an overseas manufacturing to be able to lower that price point. So we can offer two different sorts of structures in our business model where we have Alaska handmade with lots of different prints and then we have a small amount of the same bra that we think works amazing at a little discounted price. So that way everybody can afford our product.

Curt Anderson 19:01
Perfect. And what’s fantastic so we’re looking over your shoulder you have a an abundance of product right there right behind you, right. So what I and I remember some we had a good time so we do we learned I went through training together. We had lots of fun lots of laughs I think reserved drafts or what were some of the prints that you had that that

Unknown Speaker 19:24
we have. We do try to do, they’re not all Alaskan, but we have a Muscat spreads, I’m Sam and friends. Um gold stars. Like I said, every all of our bras are a print. We only have one solid one and it’s a gold bling bling. We just kind of think undergarments. You know you pay a lot of money for these that they actually should be seen and I know that’s everybody’s different comfort. But the idea is is that when you’re putting it on in the morning, it makes you want to charge for the day and we just started putting affirmations in our underwear. So when you pull your underwear down, it says I am a goddess or I am unstoppable. And it’s just every pair of underwear comes with some sort of random affirmation to help you today.

Curt Anderson 20:11
That very cool. That is so awesome here. And hey, we had a couple of

Virginia Lynn Peterson 20:14
patterns are awesome and patterns are awesome. I just flicked onto your website for a second the patterns are it’s like you said it makes it it just makes you feel good. Yeah. Yeah, that’s awesome.

Curt Anderson 20:24
And our dear friend Diane buyer, Diane, happy Monday turned in a side hustle, no business, moving from inspiration to business company, man, that is just phenomenal. So you know, speaking of, you know, let’s, let’s, let’s go on a little road trip here. Let’s, let’s check out the website. How’s that? So I’m going to share I’m going to share and let’s see, Share Screen Share Screen. Can you guys see this? How’s that? Yep. Okay, so when take us on a little tour, I love it. It’s, you know, it’s funky talk about your website here?

Unknown Speaker 21:05
Well, really, I do the business for the photoshoots. Because they’re just so much fun. Probably not the best model of business model. But honestly, if we could do photo shoots every single day, I would. So you know, one of the things we have gotten a lot of feedback from and that we have just loved and has been, like, genuinely important to me is not using real models. Everybody that we’ve used, really is just a friend of mine. And then I asked them to, you know, get naked and Alaska and run around in the cold and they’re like, Sure, no problem. And I’m like, Okay, so, um, you know, that’s kind of all of our shots. We try to keep it that way. And I think we’ve done a really good job. My photographer Christa Kendrick, she’s just been amazing. And she has, you know, again, like women owned everybody who works for us or women. i It’s been awesome watching her grow and her photography work. I remember when I asked her I was like, hey, Krista, I need a photographer. And she’s like, I’m not your woman. I don’t know how to take those photos. And I was like, Yes, you are. We’re gonna figure it out. And boy, has she just, you know, nailed it. Oh, and that’s awesome. You clicked on this is if you had to ask me right now what I’m most excited about. I’m going to tell you it’s this page right there. I am Alaska. So this is one of the things I love most. And it’s dear to my heart. When I first started this company. You know, it kind of came with this idea of like, women empowerment, women inspiration and like being here in Alaska. And Kurt, you’ve just said it’s like it’s so different up here. And you know, hopefully a lot of you here have like, had the opportunity to come and visit but um, you know, it’s just a different place. It’s sunny all summer, it’s dark all winter, we have cold temperatures, it’s you know, it gets raining. So what we really wanted to do was highlight women in Alaska. And so this is Alaska. We’ve been doing these one on one personal interviews with local Alaskans. And it’s just been wonderful. I take Christina photographer with me, we do a little mini interview, I have a third person that’s helping me help write the bios for these and we usually try to do something quality. So whether it’s like we go mountain biking, or we like we meet for coffee, or we just go walk around their backyard just to get to know these people a little bit better. And it has just been so wonderful to me to be able to share these with everybody out there.

Curt Anderson 23:42
Absolutely brilliant. When I couldn’t love this more. I mean, like, check this out. And you know, you and I, we talked about like getting to understand that ideal buyer, we you know, we we you know that persona. We talked about like that soulmate. And you know, you’ve done such an amazing job, you know, you when you came back and you spit out like multiple ideal buyers, those nurses, you know, their demographic, you know, their challenges. And now here you’re getting to know these folks intimately. This is just absolutely brilliant. I love it.

Unknown Speaker 24:13
Yeah, yeah. It’s, it’s been incredible. And we’ve gotten a lot of, you know, um, just amazing feedback. And like I said, it’s just, for me to be able to share a little bit of Alaska through these people’s eyes. It’s just been when I work on those posts, it’s like, I just get teary eyed. It’s just so cool to like, hear their story. See what they’re passionate about. It’s been really neat,

Curt Anderson 24:38
right? I love it. You know, here’s ski guide, educator, coach. I am Alaska. And here she is and just, you know, going, oh my god, this is so good. And Alright, so anybody out there you have got to connect with Lin. You’ve got all your socials right here. You’ve got Facebook, you’ve got Instagram. It’s where swoope.com and Listen, I know you’re on LinkedIn, not super active, but you’re on LinkedIn. So we certainly can connect with you there. And I just I absolutely love this. This is fantastic. So ultimately, what really what, what inspired you to even to start this? How did like, I mean, there’s a lot of work a lot of energy a lot of time, what, what inspired you to just take, you know, turn this idea here, and have this be your directive.

Unknown Speaker 25:26
Um, what so, you know, finding a bra to wear did I can’t remember I told the story. So finding a bra to wear to work was that hard part, right. So that just kind of came. And it’s just kind of grown. I think, working with you guys working with MEP working with the Small Business Development Center, you guys have been so encouraging and motivating to me and kind of hand holding. And I just loved it like growing this business, it was never on my bucket list. It was never on my radar to start a business. And it has just been so fun to create in a different sort of way. The employees I have I at this point in time, I tried to be hands off on the sewing, although all the products that we sell at this time, I mean, I can so but you know, just try to put my time in other places and to try to help grow, you know, looping back to the MVP and asking me what my five year plan is, I still don’t know why I really will sit down and figure out what that is. But in the meantime, it’s just been so much fun to watch the business, you will take off to like where it is. And so I’m gonna just kind of keep dabbling, and just seeing where to go.

Curt Anderson 26:45
Right. I love it. And look at these testimonials. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I have another one. I have to tell you this the most comfortable bra I’ve ever owned. You’ve ruined me this, you know, I love this product. So this is fantastic. So Sammy, Joe, let me come over to you. So I’ve got the Alaska MEP. You guys can see this now. Yep. Talk a little bit about what, uh, you know, so here, you know, Lynn is just a great success story, you know, especially partnering with the MVP, you know, Lynn’s brought her talent, her skills to you know, as a woman in manufacturing. What let’s take let’s go back a little bit of time on you, you’re starting off your career, what attracted you to manufacturing? And to bring your passion, your skills to the MEP in Alaska?

Sami Jo Lewis 27:29
Oh, that’s a great question. Um, I think I, I have a passion for I knew I wanted to do something I got my background is communications. So I knew I love talking, I did a lot in the food industry and some sales. And I’m like, Man, I just need a job where we’re on constantly working and talking to people, I just, I can’t just be someone that just sits behind us and like, right, like, I need to be out there. And talking to people and seeing how I can best serve them. That’s kind of what I’ve always done. And that’s what I really liked doing. And I think getting into this job, my favorite part of it is really working with the manufacturers and the small business. I mean, I feel like Alaska and obviously I’m biased for unraised Alaska, but I really do feel like Alaska does such a great job with like coming together and seeing all these new businesses and small businesses and startups come out and and start selling their product. And it’s just really cool to be kind of a part of it and see it happen and see if we can at least play a small role of helping them meet their goals and find success.

Curt Anderson 28:34
Absolutely. Amy Jo for folks, you know, Alaska has such an allure. And you know, like for those of us in the lower 48 Everybody wants to go to Alaska, of course. What’s what’s going on in manufacturing, talk about like, what types of industries obviously, you know, we know seafood is is big, but talk about some of the different industries that you see working with your manufacturers.

Sami Jo Lewis 28:55
Yeah, absolutely. So um, you mentioned the big one, seafood processing is probably the biggest one and we have a really big food manufacturing sector and Alaska, we have tons of craft breweries and Kombucha is kind of popping up all over the place and different coffees roasting that are also all over Alaska. So that’s really neat. Some of the others though, are small, I mean, we have a few clothing manufacturers and different craft goods like jewelry, earring making those type of things there’s definitely a sector there and then there’s also a sector in aerospace and both so it’s kind of all over the place but food the food sector is definitely the most dominant I’d say in the state right now.

Curt Anderson 29:43
Perfect and so what I’m going to do, I’m going to stop sharing I’m going to come back to you guys Alright, so this was this was just amazing. Then what we want to come back to you you know, you could you could manufacture your product anywhere and again, you know, you’re you’re a transplant to Alaska, what really sealed the deal for you To start things in Alaska, I know you’ve talked about, like how you started your entrepreneurial journey, but you can, you could have started. You can start your product elsewhere, or what have you what inspired you to start in Alaska? Just that’s where you work?

Unknown Speaker 30:15
Well, that was that was a big part of it. But I also think, you know, I’m also a believer when things come your way that that’s the right time to run with it. So, meaning I do think my end goal at some point in time is to live in a campervan. And so run the business out of a camper van. So, you know, maybe that truly is my five year goal. But I think it’s like one being here. I think one it was just me, like, I was ready to have something like this fall into my life. And I think to like, the third thing is really all the people who fell into my life, you know, I don’t think like I would be where I am without the help of MEP and like MEP led me to Kurt who have like taken like multiple classes with, you know, it’s like been like, kind of like, everything’s aligned for me here. And I think that’s like what keeps me here. And honestly, like, on a personal level, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I mean, at some point in time, I’ll probably Snowbird but like right now. This place is so inspirational and so motivating. And it’s really hard to want to be anywhere else and do this anywhere else.

Curt Anderson 31:26
I absolutely love it. Do you? Can you mind reaching behind you? Can we see a couple of your items of clothes. And you know, it wasn’t giraffes. It was the goat bra number you and I had I’ve talked about

Sami Jo Lewis 31:40
the goats are the best. I just gotta go tunic from her. Right.

Unknown Speaker 31:47
Like we kind of said, we started with the bras started with the bras and then I was looking at I don’t have a pair of underwear. But you know, we kind of like listen to what people said. And people wanted matchy matchy. So we started doing underwear. And then after the underwear, I think I was like, Go big or go home. I’m not really sure that must have been like I ran up the big mountain and I was like, Okay, we’re going big. And so we added after that we added shorts, which if you can see it’s a little dinosaur print. And then pants go with it. And then our latest thing has been the these tunics with side pockets. And super soft. We stuck with the bras are lined with the material called modal. And this is like the sweatshirt version of that. So again, it’s just feel super soft against your skin. Functional. I kind of use the word loungewear is kind of what we’ve kind of termed it. But in my mind, it’s all about the Osprey, right? So it’s like, especially here in Alaska, after we ski after we mountain bike after we go on a hike because you have to be active up here. Like you’re not going to make it if you don’t, you know kind of push yourself in the outdoors. And so what is it that you want to put on when you get back to the car? What is it that you want to put on when you like walk into your front door. And that’s what we kind of want our clothes to be about. So I think about that Andre and now we’re drinking a beer and we’re eating our cheese and crackers and I’m in my tunic and I’m super soft and cozy. And I got my big oversized hood when I put it on at the car. And you know I’m ready to go. So yeah,

Curt Anderson 33:35
that is awesome. Right? Cool. So as a as a as a dumb guy, you know. So Damon now we know exactly where our Christmas gifts are going to go for our wives right here. We’re doing our scrappiness. But you know, why? Why do the major companies why were they just unable to get it? Like how, you know, I love like being a nimble, flexible agile entrepreneur that you are, you’ve been able to put out a product that people are typing love, love, love. Best Product I’ve ever worn. You know, how did how did Lin in Alaska figure this out in the major big companies just don’t get it?

Unknown Speaker 34:11
You know, I think um, you know, you kind of started this whole conversation with like, who inspired me growing up, it’s kind of along those same lines, right? Like, by no means has the last three years of my life and easy. You know, I mean, and it’s you. I think somewhere in there. You said I was balanced and why do you think I’m balanced? Because like, I’m definitely like, oh, he thinks I’m balanced? Well, yeah, I must have

Curt Anderson 34:38
told me at it.

Unknown Speaker 34:42
Because there’s definitely been like it said, some meltdowns revolving around that. But um, no, it’s kind of like sticking with it. I mean, all of this has been a huge, huge, huge learning lesson for me. And it’s almost like every day I wake up and I think about the day before and I to say to myself, what worked yesterday, what didn’t work? And then the other big question is, is, what is that number one most important thing I have to get done today? So I think it is really easy. I mean, I have don’t laugh, but I mean, I must have 20 pages of to do list. And sometimes I look at those lists, and I go, every single thing on here is important. What is that one thing? And so I think, by no means am I perfect at it, but I like to think I’m getting better at it. And so it’s like, always just identifying, can I get this, this and this done. So that’ll put me two steps ahead for next week. And then I can loop back around. So it’s always, you know, two steps forward, one, step back two, step forward, one step back, and then just, you know, like, the learning lessons and not beating yourself up too much about it. So that’s kind of where I’ve been.

Curt Anderson 35:56
For you guys that are new to the show, Damon. Yeah, we Lynn We call those the moment of silence. Moments right there, that just everybody out there just kind of soak that in, you know, we’ve we’ve got a bunch of entrepreneurs out here, we’ve got indoor, she loves matchy matchy. We’ve got Diane, I just think I found some Christmas gifts, in Whitney Of course, real life woman experience. And so then you are just such an amazing, incredible inspiration. This is so, so good. We’re savoring every moment of this, as you mentioned, so an entrepreneur out there, you know, it is it’s a roller coaster. And you know, one day you’re up one day you’re down next minute, you’re up next minute, you’re down. I mean, literally by hour by hour, you’re you know, hopefully we’re just you’re getting off the runway, five employees, you’re getting momentum, you’re you’re building, you’re dedicated to your company. What I love is you raise your hand, you’re like, I need help you reach out to the MEP. Did that take humility? Curiosity? What is it about you as an entrepreneur, because a lot of people are like, I’m gonna figure this out, I’m gonna figure it out on my own, or I’m in a silo, there is nobody out there that is going to help me. You raise your hand and you’ve created a nice network, a nice support system, it takes a village to raise a business, you’re creating that village around you. What did it take for that first step to reach out to see me Joe and the team at Alaska?

Unknown Speaker 37:22
Oh, you know, that call did not come lightly. I’ll be honest. And like I kind of mentioned, it was like that first call, like, I hung up the phone. And I was just like, my mind was blown. Like, I mean, literally not kidding. Like, I didn’t know what half the words were. And I’m like, writing like frantically Okay, look up, look this up. Like, I don’t even know what any of those things mean. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Like, you know, coming from that phone being overwhelmed, but it just gave me perspective. And at that time, I wasn’t sure. I mean, I literally like hung up the phone, or I think one of the last things I said, it’s like, okay, let’s timeout for a second. Like, I need to actually figure out where I want this company to go before we get very involved. But I think it’s also like, knowing what your options are, right? So I mean, I didn’t grow where I was today. I mean, I could very well, like, just keep this as my son side hustle and make 10 bras a week and sell the 10 bras. But I think in there I think when I pitched my idea to the MEP, and as well as the SBDC, both of them, you know, I just got a lot of positive feedback. And I think it just really encouraged me to move forward. So, you know, and at this point, as you guys can attest, like I’ve been involved with MEP quite a few times and different sorts of, you know, just kind of they still hand holding and still encouraging me and yeah, I you know, I just love this relationship. And I love all the collaborations they’ve sent my way.

Curt Anderson 38:55
Absolutely cool. Diane says networks are so important. We are so much better. We’re so much stronger together. Diane and I are different. Whitney says so true. Sammy Jove again, and we’re going to start winding down here for manufacturers out there that are there listening to Lynn, they are super fired up. They’re inspired in whether you have a manufacturer has been around for 100 years or 100 days, that MEP can absolutely help that manufacturer. What are some of the things that what advice do you have for manufacturer out there? Is there going to reach out to you for the first time. Any advice? Any thoughts that you’d want to want to share that first step?

Sami Jo Lewis 39:32
No, absolutely. We thoroughly have loved working with Lynn. I got the opportunity to meet her now at a few craft shows. And she’s just such a joy to be around and building those connections, something that I really love and I was super happy that she reached out I mean, I wouldn’t have got to meet this super cool person if she didn’t reach out and now I’m just a huge supporter of swoop and I own server tunics and bras so that was great for me. But I think that just some advice I mean reach out, I think, like you had mentioned, the last game up is a small team. There’s, there’s two of us. And then we have our wonderful intern, Peyton with us. So she’s with us part time. So really a staff of two and a half, three at some point. But we’re really here to advocate for Alaska manufacturers and help strengthen the manufacturing sector. And so I really hope that they will reach out and we’re kind of honing in or different processes and skills as we grow. We’ve been around for about three years now. And just learning different tips and tricks. Okay, we have to speak their language, we don’t want to come off right in the beginning, and oh, my gosh, my way we need to like learn, like how do we speak their language and connect, so they keep reaching out? Because we just want to be that resource for the manufacturers where if they can’t figure it out, they need help. Okay, come to us. And if we can’t do it, we are so well connected through NIST in the national network that we could find somebody to help you with that problem. So please come to us and help us let let it be solved. So I guess that’d be my biggest advice is just to reach out and talk to us. We’re super open to just hop on a phone call or a zoom chat, or now, we’re super excited to be able to go and meet them in person and go and walk their facility and their shop and just meet them give some advice and help them solve their solve their challenges and reach their goals.

Curt Anderson 41:21
Yeah, I love that Sammy Jo. And like you mentioned, though, you’re a small team of two, two and a half, maybe three, you know, you have a great deep bench of third party resources that you have Daymond I have had the honor and privilege of working with you and your team, our dear friend what’s lien Greer works closely with you, Allison afford. I know, Phil, I’ve met a number of your other resource partners. And so you have a nice deep bench of subject matter experts that you pull in keeping your costs low for you know, to keep your overhead low, and then just bring in these hired guns to help folks like Lynn and other manufacturers win the day and get through. So alright guys, as we wind down, I’m going to live my last question for you. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? Are you ready for those? So we kick things off, we have grandma, Virginia is your hero. And boy, I am Alaska guys. Again, you have to go to Lin’s website, where swoope.com We want you wearing swoop, of course, but go to where swoope.com as Diane mentioned, Christmas Gifts Galore. We just We just took care of all your Christmas shopping. Thank you. You’re welcome. Very much. All right. So then as you move forward, and maybe we won’t ask you where you’re gonna be five years, we won’t go there. But what’s your inspiration? Like? Where do you see, you paint us a picture where swooped going? Not necessarily five years from now, but just paint a picture like, where are we going from here?

Unknown Speaker 42:43
Um, you know, I think my big goal, right, this second is, is to tap into the whole sale and to things a little bit more. And the idea would be tap into the wholesale, get people to know who we are, because that’s part of it. How does you know how do you spread the word, but then have them loop back around to our, you know, online website, where then they can kind of choose between a handmade and Alaska garment versus something that’s a little bit similar, but manufactured, because I do think like, one of the biggest things for me is, is to offering a price point that everybody can afford. And so I think that’s like what will kind of continue to do when you want to buy that like special garment for that special person. And you want this they handmade attached to it. Versus like, Oh, I love their products. And I just want a couple more. And here’s one a little bit more affordable. So I think that’s like my biggest thing right now.

Curt Anderson 43:43
Well, very exciting. I know you’ve got a big trade show coming up. And so you know, trying to infiltrate, get more nurses out there jumping on his bandwagon, getting much more of those testimonials ranting and raving on how amazing Swoope is, and how they can be comfortable, you know, and God bless all of these nurses, and especially human, what you’ve done for our basic for our country, taking care of all of us through COVID extremely challenging times. And boy, we salute everybody in the healthcare world that you know, for, you know, it was very easy for me hanging out my basement with all these nurses that were going out on the frontlines for the past two years. And so we slew all the nurses out there. And what a great job that you’re doing putting wonderful, incredible product out women in manufacturing. Boy, if this is an inspiration, I don’t know what is Sammy Jo, any last words any anything? We’re where do we see the last game EP going from here? What are your aspirations moving forward?

Sami Jo Lewis 44:37
Great. No, I think we’re growing. We’re getting out more out there and we’re able to really hone in our practices I really exciting thing that I just cannot wait for. And since we kind of started right at the you know, right when COVID and the whole world kind of shut down. We’re so excited to be able to meet with more manufacturers in person and make those connections and really strengthen that really relationship. We’re having our first in person event on the Kenai Peninsula manufacturing roadshow. It’ll be October 27. We’re on the Kenai Peninsula in Soldotna. But it’s open for all manufacturers that they are able to make the drive. So we’re just super excited to have our first in person event connect with manufacturers offer some best practice sessions and trainings and just kind of connect and let them know that we are a resource for them. So I’m super excited that that will be coming up. And hopefully that’ll lead to more events and more road shows in the future.

Curt Anderson 45:34
Well, that is awesome. I know. You’ve invited me to come in and I’m trying to figure out how to get there. I would love to so we’ll figure that out. Maybe I was coming over and see my Amon and then we’ll get out here and it’s easy to jump up the road and hit so perfect. Don’t tempt me. You’re getting you guys. Man we get to hang out with Lynn in person. I don’t know. I don’t know if my pacemaker could handle that. I have to get one put in first. But anyway, okay. as we wind down we have one more comment in here from our dear friend Diane. I’m going to pull that up women and manufacturing LinkedIn community and network make it an awesome week, my friends. Thank you appreciate you, Lynn. We appreciate you more than No. So everybody out there today. Thank you. Thank you. God bless you everybody is such an inspiration out there. And we just love bringing incredible amazing wonderful guests like Sammy Joe from Alaska MEP and Lynn at swoop. Then I’m going to give your last or any any words of inspiration for everybody out there. How about last last thoughts? Any words of wisdom?

Unknown Speaker 46:43
Your bra doesn’t have to suck? You just need a bigger one

Virginia Lynn Peterson 46:49
hey go moment of silence to me

Curt Anderson 46:53
that those words have never been spoken on this program.

Virginia Lynn Peterson 46:59
Yes so

Curt Anderson 47:00
confident saying that one. dropped the mic moment Damon How about recap your parting thoughts? What do you this this program today was just my

Virginia Lynn Peterson 47:08
yeah it’s it’s so cool to see someone you know you had a you had a need. And just like I think Diane said earlier on the comments you know you’ve turned pain and positive and you’ve created something and developed a niche developed a product a product line and really been able to do it it’s super cool to see this. And it should be an inspiration for people that are looking you know what is my idea good enough. You never know unless you try and and there’s always an opportunity to improve something to the level like you have and take it take it take it in an erection that is that is effective and solves solves a problem for people that that is just works works.

Curt Anderson 47:54
Making a difference. You’re making a difference. Lin Sammy Jo, you’re making a difference. So guys, if you’re a manufacturer out there, contact your local and E P they are there for your help your support. We wish everybody an amazing week you can find Damon on faces of business on Tuesdays and Thursdays six o’clock Eastern three o’clock Pacific. You can find us back here on Friday, same time, same panel. And we’re going to be talking with Tiffany STOVL, the director of the Kansas Kansas MEP Manufacturing Extension Partnership. So we’re going from Alaska all the way down to Kansas as we came in, no road trip for us. So guys, we’re going to close out the program. We wish everybody amazing week. Lynn, Sammy Jo, hang out with us for one second and guys have an amazing rest of your Monday. All right.