Today we’d like to introduce you to Deboarh Mcincrow
Hi Deboarh, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all began when I ruined my beloved pillow on a journey with my husband and “said” pillow did not return home and I was devastated with the loss. After I returned home without my pillow, I said to myself “there just has to be a better way to travel with your pillow!” Needless to say, I found absolutely nothing on the market that even resembled anything I was looking for and I slammed down the laptop and fermented about this for about a month. Each and everyday I couldn’t drop the idea that there was nothing on the market, wondering why someone hadn’t done anything about this issue and boiling over the fact that I just couldn’t buy something. One morning I woke up, the lightbulb went on and I said to myself “I’m going to create a fashionable way to travel with your pillow.” Fast forward to today… I travel around the southeast selling PillowSaks in person, at festivals, events, farmers market & shows; I am in just over 30 retail establishments and sell on my website. I have tried out for Shark Tank a few times. I’ve made it through to the second round of Shark Tank twice and been cut twice; you know what they say about the squeaky wheel 🙂 I just launch on Faire and am pondering attending my first trade show.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like all good things worth working towards, there are trials and tribulations along the way that have to be dealt with; however, you either quit or climb over those roadblocks. As I’m not one to quit at anything I start, I make the best of what’s around and trudged through the rough patches. Let me tell you about one sure mishap that had me in tears… It was early on in PillowSak history that I began getting returns because the strap reinforcement was breaking; to say I was devastated was an understatement. I was mad, disappointed in myself and devastated that my product wasn’t holding up. I got in the shower the night of my first returned and cried. During that sob session I said to myself… Debby, your are not Mercedes Benz, you haven’t had a break failure; you either throw in the towel or fix it. I pulled myself out of my woe is me cycle and got to work to fix the strap issue. Today I can look back on that hiccup and smile knowing that it made me stronger and more resilient for the future.
We’ve been impressed with PillowSak, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
PillowSak launched in July of 2022 and it quickly became apparent that we had proof of pillow protection concept. We filed for a design and utility patent and kept the steamroller moving in a positive direction; PillowSak filed for a trademark which is now regisitered. I am the founder and now one of the makers of PillowSak. At the get go I was the CEO of everything that had todo with PillowSak, fast forward to today, I have 7 part-time employees (mostly women), a bookkeeper, an accountant, a website coordinator and a well needed lawyer. I am known for my tenacity, positive energy and willingness to go the extra mile for my customers who span coast-to-coast. When I reflect on my PillowSak journey I am most proud of the entity PillowSak has become and the array of customers who love the product, keep coming back for more and bring their friends and family with them to share the love of PillowSak. PillowSak is an amazing product that protects your pillow while traveling and there is nothing on the market like it. My number one competition comes from a garbage bag, which I say is no competition at all!
What are your plans for the future?
PillowSak’s plans for the future are the sky is the limit. I know I will continue to work night and day to ensure success, grow our retail store presence, diligently travel from state-to-state to spread the word and walk through any and all lucrative doors that open. All the while being aware of the importance of taking care of your workforce, learning and developing as a leader and reaching for the stars. It’s go big or go home for PillowSak and I have no intention of going home in the slightest; I will, however, continue to show up at casting calls for Shark Tank and look forward to walking through the Shark Tank doors all in due time.
Pricing:
- Travel size PillowSak: $39.99
- Standard/queen/soft king PillowSak: $42.99
- Firm king PillowSak: 45.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.PillowSak.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/.theoriginalpillowsak
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/.theoriginalpillowsak
