Your Call Is Very Important To Us

September 12, 2017/in Running a Business, Saved Straps, Shari, The Store

We’ve had some pretty wild adventures in customer service since we opened 3 years ago. Sometimes we feel we never know what is going to happen next so we are very lucky that most of our customers are wonderful. Last week, we received some spontaneous praise before a customer tried the product:

Murphy’s Law: Find out what I have needed all my bra wearing life at 71 years old

Since I know how well it works, I know she’s going to be happy with our product once she receives it. She even promised to spread the word to her fellow “top-heavy grandmas”. We’re grateful to every one of you that shares your opinion of The Strap Saver. (assuming it’s good, of course! Just kidding, mostly. If you have negative feedback, we hope you’ll tell us so that we can make improvements.)

We’ve had customers let us know that their experience was less than stellar, as well. Andrea let us know that The Strap Saver wasn’t working for her. The conversation lead to the introduction of a new version of the product. It serves another segment of the strap-wearing public and we love it. The 1” Black Extra-Strength Strap Saver is one of our top sellers.

There have been some other, harder to solve mishaps. We have one package sent priority that has been bouncing around Canada since the middle of July. We’re not sure where it is currently. Once we realized it was lost, we refunded the priority shipping immediately and re-sent her order regular mail. If the first package ever arrives (I have my doubts), it’s hers to keep. I’ll also file a claim with the post office in another week. (the joys of owning a business, endless paperwork!)

Our first goal with customers who contact us with an issue is to troubleshoot. Typically, the problem is installation and we’ve found ways to help. We’ve exchanged photos, talked on the phone and offered video chats. So far, no one has taken us up on that!

The Strap Saver doesn’t always work for the intended application. Sometimes the straps are too thick or the customer doesn’t like how it looks. In those cases, the customer returns the product and we issue them a refund. It’s not our favorite end to the story, and luckily it’s a very small amount, but our #1 goal is to make the customer happy. Maybe The Strap Saver didn’t work for them, but we know it’s a quality product, so hopefully they will buy it or recommend it to a friend in a different scenario.

Luckily, when problems do arise, most of our customers are understanding. I think it’s because we operate by the golden rule¹. I think about how I would want a company to treat me and act accordingly. We ship 90% of orders the next day. We try to respond to all questions and concerns within 24 hours (often less). I think we’ve received as many compliments on our service as we have on our product.

Your call IS very important to us. As is your text (914.266.2349). Or any time that you contact us via email. Please, continue to let us know how you’re doing or if we can improve The Strap Saver for you in any way. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy. It’s as simple as that.

¹no, not she who has the gold makes the rules, but if we ever get the gold, we’re certainly making “do unto others…” the rule!

Check Out the Size Of Our Package!

July 23, 2017/in Running a Business, Saved Straps, Shari, The Store, What's New

Things are always evolving in the Strap Saver Think Tank – we’re always trying to improve our product and our process. Today, it’s all about what the product looks like when it arrives in your mailbox.

It started with rogue Strap Savers. Yes, these are tiny parts and it’s easy to forget to slip one in an envelope or to have one go astray when open the package. To combat this, instead of just popping them inside of our signature pink bags and sending them on our way, we are now securely attaching them to cards sealed inside of plastic bags. Now the packager and the customer can double-check that their order is complete. If there are any discrepancies, we can fix them ASAP!¹

Once we attached them to cards, the entire package was much flatter, which made me wonder if we could use paper envelopes instead of bubble mailers. The bubble mailers are pretty, but it’s so much plastic. It felt icky for mother earth and since our new packaging added a layer of plastic around the card, I had hoped that we could do better.

Ask the internet and ye shall receive! (this time, anyway…) We found these beautiful #7 coin envelopes in 80 lb paper that come in sexy black, just like our bubble mailers. Even though the new envelopes are much smaller (6.5” X 3.5”), compared to the bubble mailers (7.5” X 5”), they still fit up to 3 pairs of Strap Savers. Overall, it feels like a win-win-win! (us, the customers and the environment!) Don’t worry – each package still comes with our hand silk-screened pink bags for Strap Saver storage. After all, this started because these things are easy to lose!

I was nervous when we realized we’d have to make these changes. I was concerned that it would take a long time to figure out, that it would cost a lot of money and/or that I would be unhappy with how the solution looked to the customer. Overall, it took us a few weeks and I think we have something even better at a comparable price. One more obstacle conquered on the road to success!

¹Our Return Policy is the same. Customers can always exchange their Strap Savers for any size/color/strength if they have ordered incorrectly, or return the product for a full refund – minus any additional shipping – within 30 days – if they aren’t 100% satisfied

How To Find The Perfect Swimsuit for 2017

April 24, 2017/in Body Image, Friends, Saved Straps, Shari, Social Media, The Store

I spent a considerable amount of time this afternoon trying to curate a decent article on swimsuit styles this season for our social media feeds. Considering it either is, or soon will be, hot enough to wear one in most of the northern hemisphere, I thought I’d have no problem (here comes the assume thing). All I found were slide shows of teeny bikinis and one-pieces with more cutouts than fabric. The one common factor is that most would require you to become BFFs with a very skilled waxer. I even found an article that classified bathing suits by age.

Oh, FFS¹, people.

I know it’s intimidating to go out with half of our body showing – especially when there are others who are very comfortable with most of their body showing (and look lovely doing it!). It has never been easy for me. (swim shorts = best swim invention ever) When I was younger, I worried about the size of my butt and my thighs. Now, it’s gravity. (cruel, cruel gravity!)

It took a lot of re-framing (and the wisdom of age) to change my perspective. Unlike all of these fashion articles, I now treat my swimsuits like a vehicle to fun. If I want to get in the pool to cool off, I need one. If I want to go to the beach to hang with friends and surf the waves, I need one. If I want to go snorkeling and see the pretty fishies, I need one. It’s not about being on display for anyone, it’s about getting to the good times.

I guess putting that in print or on the internet doesn’t make anyone money. Fashion magazine would be out of business if they admitted that we are not the sum of our clothes. Since the “experts’ couldn’t do something that I felt I could pass on to you, here’s my real world bathing suit shopping advice (my expertise: being a woman and shopping for 30+ years):

Buy something pretty/in a color your like. If not, black works!
If you truly are having issues with how you look, ruching is a fabulous invention.
Try to find something that isn’t wedgie-prone (unless, of course, that’s your thing)
Look for a zipper pocket. My swim shorts have these, I never realized how useful it could be…
If you aren’t about a bikini, try the tankini – merely for ease during a trip to the bathroom (some stores sell tops in extra-long, so it looks like a one-piece without getting fully naked in a public restroom when nature calls)
Don’t be afraid to buy separates – even from different stores. Black bottoms go with everything.
Do not wait! By July, most of the selection is gone.
If you hate the way that it looks and ruching doesn’t help, try to imagine all of the fun you’ll be having when you’re wearing it. If anyone judges you, isn’t it really on them? Who are they to decide what you get to wear and how you have fun?
If your straps aren’t adjustable, check out The Strap Saver for a custom fit without sewing.

What are your favorite “real world” swimsuit shopping tips?

Happy warmer weather everyone!

¹This is officially the first time I’ve cursed in this blog. It takes fashion sites and swimsuit season to do it!

What’s the Deal with Stainless Steel?

April 16, 2017/in Manufacturing, Running a Business, Saved Straps, Shari, The Store

We had many choices when it came to materials for The Strap Saver. There are a plethora of metals and plastics at several different price-points. Our options felt endless but our goals were clear. We wanted our product to be:

strong (after all, boobs are heavy!)
for everyone, even customers with sensitive skin.
made of something that would hold up to sweat, salt water and chlorine. (we’re active people and we need a product to keep up with us!)

When our smart engineers explained the benefits of stainless steel, it became the obvious choice. It’s light, strong, resistant to corrosion and plentiful. It was not, however, the cheapest but building the best product possible was the more important. We chose the most popular type – 304. It is also known as 18/8, which is imprinted on the back of most silverware.

For the science nerds, stainless steel usually contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It’s the chromium (mostly) that keeps it from rusting. (that’s the short answer, for more information, here’s the long answer.) For the history geeks, stainless steel has been around in some form since the early 1800s. (for the record, I’m all nerd and geek…)

It’s the perfect material because it helps us to build a quality product. We hate that so much that so much that we buy is disposable. Stainless steel will outlast several bras and bathing suits.¹ The Strap Saver should not wear-out or be affected by sweat, the ocean, or the pool.

Although it does contain some nickel, all stainless steel is classified as hypoallergenic. The process of making it involves chemically binding the nickel so tightly that it cannot leach out. Customers with sensitive skin should feel comfortable giving us a try. (If there are any issues, we do have a 30-day money-back guarantee)

Stainless steel can also be beautiful and shiny (see: top of the Chrysler building) in addition to strong. We think it’s a great symbol for those of us behind The Strap Saver and those of you that use it. (minus the susceptibility to fingerprints!)

¹We cannot guarantee it against if they are misplaced, which is probably the #1 reason they’d need to be replaced. Strap Savers are small. The best we can do is offer those pretty pink bags to keep track of them!

Tax That!

March 6, 2017/in Running a Business, Shari, The Store

It was almost exactly one year ago that I admitted that I had some major problems keeping the books for The Strap Saver. It involved a lot of procrastination and then frustration at tax time. I made a pledge to do better for 2016 and I did… mostly. I have just reconciled everything through 2/28/17 and we’re set up for a good year. (our YTD growth is in the triple digits! Yay!)

As promised, I did spend my time entering sales during the year – because those are the most exciting. (Woo hoo!) Unfortunately, it’s an arduous process. Our accounting software is complicated and doesn’t play nice with the companies that we use to take payments. I have to enter each sale and deposit manually. It would make my head hurt every time I had to think about sitting down at the computer to make my way through the work. (note: past tense!)

Once January rolled around again, I knew it was time to prepare for my annual appointment. I was much further along than last year, (which really isn’t all that impressive, when I think about what a mess that was) but it still took a while to catch up. I knew there had to be a better way (besides hiring a professional, of course). Surely, with my vague memory of college accounting classes, I could figure one out.

It took about 8 hours of sweat, starts, wait – that won’t work, backtracking, and chocolate but I did it! I came up with a process to simplify our entries. What might have taken 4-6 hours would only take an hour. What! Of course, my tax accountant hasn’t seen this yet. (The numbers all work out to be the same, I swear.) I had the chance to put it into practice today for February and it was a breeze. I had the sales and expenses entered in a fraction of the time. (and, did I mention that we are growing?)

I did keep last year’s pledge to do better, but it still cost me a lot of hours in the last few weeks. (including missing a few really nice days cooped up in this office) This year’s pledge is to stay up-to-date. Next March I hope to only need to export our company file and send it through cyberspace to the bean counters. For now, I’ll celebrate my current success and mark my calendar with reminders for my new and unbreakable monthly date with the books.

Also – can you believe that I’ve gotten two blog entries out of tax time so far – and am setting up for a third, and this a website about a bra accessory? And you’re reading it? Now THAT is talent!

How to Tighten Bra Straps

February 21, 2017/in Saved Straps, Shari, The Store

How to Tighten Bra Straps

If you need to corral bra straps that snake their way down your arms, look no further than our simple tutorial:

Find that little plastic or metal slider on your strap. It’s usually found along the back and often looks like an 8 or ⃠. (Not all bras have one. If yours doesn’t, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!*)
After some effort, realize this little clip is too far for you to reach without taking off of your bra, which means taking your shirt off too.
Take off your shirt.
Take off your bra.
Adjust the strap by sliding the clip away from where the strap loops through the ring. This will make the strap smaller. (doubling the strap)
Put the bra back on.
Notice that you’ve made your straps uneven.
Take the bra off, again.
Even out the straps.
Put the bra back on.
Unfortunately, your straps are now too tight, you’ve aligned to the wrong slider.
Take the bra off, for a third time.
Loosen them a little, but definitely keep them even this time.
Put the bra back on.
Woo hoo! No more loose straps.
Put on your shirt, hope you didn’t smudge your makeup, get deodorant on your shirt or muss your hair and now you’re free to go… except…

What if you have reached the end of your strap? What if you need to tighten your bra strap more but there is no more?

You could pin it. (the potential for sticking yourself is pretty high, at least the potential for us sticking ourselves is VERY high)
You could sew it. (Do you know how to sew? Won’t that make it bulky? How short do you make it? Do you even own a needle and thread? *cough* we don’t!**)
You could use The Strap Saver. It’s the no-sew solution for when you hit a strap dead-end, but don’t want to give up on your beloved bra. (Plus, they banish Clip Creep! No more starting the day with a snug strap, only to have it loosen as you take care of the business that you do.)

We think that The Strap Saver is an essential part of learning how to tighten bra straps, and it can be your perfect-fit hero.

Learn how to tighten bra straps properly and make those slithery beasts stay in place! For extra tightening, get a Strap Saver to rescue your favorite lingerie.

[maxbutton id=”2″] [maxbutton id=”2″ text=”Buy Now” url=”https://www.thestrapsaver.com/buy-now/”]

*If your bra doesn’t have an adjuster, use the Double Strap Saver Solution.

**We = Shari. And I do. But I’m not really allowed to use it. Have I ever mentioned I’m a klutz? Another blog for another time… Beth does own a needle and thread. She’s quite good with crafts. I do not mean to disparage her reputation here or anywhere else.

Red bra on a clothesline with clothespins with hearts on them, text reads fall in love with our sale

Be Our Valentine with 20% off!

February 9, 2017/in Saved Straps, Shari, The Store

Woo hoo! It’s Valentine’s Day so it’s time to celebrate love! After preaching all year about how we need to learn to love ourselves, we’re going to offer more than just helpful advice. It’s time for our annual sale!

We all feel better when we look better and few things make us look better than a custom fit. The Strap Saver can help you achieve that. Maybe it’s the bra the keeps the girls at just the right height. It could be the tank top that has one neckline under a jacket for work and another when worn to the club. Another option is that perfect little black dress that would otherwise be too low-cut for comfort. There’s always the chance to get another season out of that bathing suit that makes your boobs AND your butt look great. Or, the workout that’s made painless with extra support. The opportunities are endless for your favorite strappy clothes. (We’re ‘the product that keeps you perky’ for a reason!)

While we’re not fans of “traditional” Valentine’s Day (The price of roses and chocolate shouldn’t inflate because of Hallmark’s say-so), we are fans of you. We know you deserve that custom fit so we’re offering 20% off The Strap Saver¹. That means the first pair is only $12 and each additional pair is only $8. Standard shipping is still free in the United States ($2 International) and orders come with our 30-day money-back guarantee. The sale runs all day on February 14th – use coupon code VDSALE. This only happens once a year – so don’t miss out!

¹The discount is on merchandise only and excludes gift certificates.

Avoid Gift Receipt Guilt!

December 19, 2016/in Holiday Shopping, Holidays, Shari, The Store

There’s less than one week left before two of the major gift giving holidays for many Americans – Christmas and Chanukah (or Hanukkah, or Channukah, or Channukkah….). Many of us are still scurrying around, trying to find the perfect gift for the ones that we love. We like to think that we know them best and will give what they want – whether guided by a list or not. Sometimes we’re right. Other times, not so much.

In recent years, there’s been a wonderful invention to help – the gift receipt. Stores are very happy to print out a proof of purchase that hides the price. If the gift isn’t quite right, it gives the recipient the freedom to exchange sizes. If they are feeling brave, they can select an entirely different item. The customer is happy and stores don’t have to worry about questionable returns.

I specifically chose the word “brave” because some gift givers or receivers may see a return as a form of rejection. Someone who cares about you went out of their way to choose this specific sweater/vase/necklace/tie, out of love (or, for many, it was within arm’s reach while in the checkout line). It might be considered rude to return it. This person might expect to see this chachki the next time they come into your home.*

Not only do we want to avoid this situation ourselves, we want to keep our loved ones from being in position as well! I present to you the best option of all: the gift certificate. I’m not talking about a bank gift card that is good ANYWHERE. We do want to show some thought. A store gift certificate says “I’m smart enough to know what you like/need, want to give you something that makes you happy, but not arrogant enough to think I know exactly what expresses who you are.”

One example: a friend who is particular about the fit of their clothes or has a passion for bra shopping. A gift certificate to their favorite clothing or lingerie store might make them happy, or a gift certificate to The Strap Saver, which can enhance any wardrobe of overthings or underthings.

With the holidays just a few days away, this solves the problem for the last-minute shopper from the comfort of your own home. May store gift certificates (like ours!) are delivered to your inbox immediately. (Although our new shopping cart doesn’t offer the prettiest email. If you’d like us to send you something nicer, please contact us with your order number and we’ll email you print-worthy gift certificate with your codes)

Avoid gift receipt guilt. Be thoughtful but don’t attempt to be a mind reader. Give a gift certificate this holiday season!

*I actually don’t subscribe to the idea that we should hang onto gifts out of guilt. I don’t think that’s the intention of the gift giver. We should only surround ourselves with things that are useful or beautiful. It’s a very minimalist philosophy. But, I needed a blog on gift certificates and “gift receipt guilt” sounds snappy, doesn’t it?

The Other Strap Saver

December 12, 2016/in Friends, Getting Started, Networking, Running a Business, Saved Straps, Shari, The Store

.Last week while Beth and I were at Made in Monmouth, I received a media email alert based on “Strap Saver”. My first thought was “Wow, who’s writing about us now?”. After a glance, my mind quickly changed to “oh no… what’s THIS?” The link led me to a twitter account @strapsaver_ with a logo that included a bra and a tweet saying “Fix your life, one strap at a time.” The product was for retrieving rogue bra straps.

I spent the next 15 minutes chewing my bottom lip and wondering what to do about it. Was someone using our product name? Didn’t they look these things up? Would I need a cease and desist? If so, how was I going to manage THAT?

To say I’m protective of this company is an understatement. I’ve worked hard to build what we have. I know I’ve taken the right measures to keep it safe, but not everything is within my control. Earlier this year, I was concerned about competition from a 3M product called the “Hold Tight Strap Clip.” Despite our trademark and provisional patent, I worried about the same potential problem – would I have to protect against someone undermining our brand? (in this case, it was more trademark than patent)

I decided to read the tweet again for insights – the hashtag was #echsinnovationexpo and the other Twitter account mentioned was for a Mrs. Something-or-Other. Slowly, the gears in my brain started turning again. It’s a high school. The Mrs. is their teacher. This product is not being produced. I think. Ok. Phew. Back to Made in Monmouth. Let’s sell some Strap Savers!

I went home that night and talked about it with Marc. We had a quick laugh over my tendency to jump to conclusions and tried to figure out what to do next. One part of owning a trademark is using it in business and another is defending it. If there was evidence that I knew about this and let it go, it wouldn’t look good for me if there was a future problem – even if this was just a high school project.

I decided to follow them on Twitter and headed to their website to contact them. I wrote to them (what I hoped was) a very nice note saying that I thought their product idea was cute but explained about ownership of the trademark to The Strap Saver. It was not a problem if this was for a class project, but if they were going to sell it, they would need to change the name. I even tossed in about needing to defend the trademark so that hopefully I didn’t sound like a crazy adult going after a school project. (file this under “things I’d never thought I’d have to do as a business owner”)

I heard back from them right away – explaining that yes, this is just a project and no, they didn’t have plans to produce it. My favorite was the closing line: “We’re all just a bunch of 14 year olds just trying to get by.” All I could think was “I hear you!”

The interaction did lead to something helpful for them. They needed an expert in the field to answer some questions. So far, no one had gotten back to them! I gave them some answers about their project and my thoughts on existing solutions to slipping straps.

While my reaction to the situation still makes me smile, I’m very impressed with these young women. They put together a great website and a very funny video. The branding is clear and the logo is cute – which I think was their goal. I think it’s important that teachers are having students do this type of work while they are still in high school. (also – maybe include a section on researching intellectual property?) Young adults will start to understand the process of developing their own ideas into viable products. This could have been Beth or I a *cough* few *cough* years ago, if we had all of the opportunities of the internet at that age.

Their project is due today. I hope they get an A.

Give Gifts Like a Ninja

December 6, 2016/in Friends, Holiday Shopping, Holidays, Shari, The Store

The art of the ninja lies in the power of surprise. Their ability to hide is their greatest strength. A considerate gift-giver uses their knowledge to sneak away and find the perfect package for their loved ones – and then stash it until the big reveal. The joy lies in the unexpected (unless it’s 16th Century Japan and you’re the target, not the ninja). It’s these characteristics that inexplicably tie these things together. (hey, it’s called poetic license, deal with it.)

The holidays are fast approaching (doing their own sneak attack) and we’re all preparing for our ninja gift-giving roles. It’s the annual attempt to show our loved ones how well we know them by finding the perfect present. Let us help you out! The Strap Saver is ideal for your favorite frugal fashionista, bathing beauty, gym junkie, petite pal, “gifted” girl, and couture cutie – anyone who wants the perfect fit for their strappy clothes. We offer 4 sizes, 3 colors, and 2 strengths, so we can shorten almost any strap. (Purchase The Strap Saver here!) If you know their bra size, contact us and we can help you find their likely strap size. If we’re wrong, they can exchange it!

If you’re unsure of your friend/parent/sibling/significant other/favorite celebrity’s size, we also offer gift certificates. They are delivered to your inbox immediately, so they are also perfect for the last-minute shopper. (although our new shopping cart doesn’t offer the prettiest email, so if you’d like us to send you something nicer, please contact us with your order number and we’ll email you print-worthy gift certificate with your codes)

We wish you the best of luck in all of your stealthy gift-giving pursuits!

Your Call Is Very Important To Us

Check Out the Size Of Our Package!

What’s the Deal with Stainless Steel?

Tax That!

How to Tighten Bra Straps

How to Tighten Bra Straps

Be Our Valentine with 20% off!

Avoid Gift Receipt Guilt!

The Other Strap Saver

Give Gifts Like a Ninja

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