Q. Name/Name of company (if applicable)
A.Lindy Bartell, Smarty Parents, Inc.

 

Q. How long has your product/service/company been in the market?
A. The Piggy Platter placemat & craftmat, and line of educational accessories have been available for purchase for nearly two years.

 

Q. How did you determine need for product/service (or why do anticipate a need)?
A. I was inspired to create the Piggy Platter when my oldest son started eating at the dining room table and proceeded to get sticky oatmeal in every crevice.  The laminated and foam placemats did not contain the mess or protect the table.  Through it’s development, the Piggy Platter came to be about so much more, including a personalized platform for learning and creative exploration.

 

Q. Why did you choose the Portland area to start your business?
A. I’ve made Portland my home since graduating from the University of Oregon in 1990. It’s where my husband Chris and I want to raise our family for the foreseeable future.

 

Q. What are your impressions of the entrepreneurial community in Portland? How would you like to see it grow/change?

A.The entrepreneurial community in the northwest is one of the biggest reasons we’re still in the game.  The advice, encouragement and support from people we’ve met with have been essential.  One of the most challenging parts of our journey has been the lack of experience in consumer goods locally, but we look forward to contributing to the entrepreneurial community by what we’ll learn from working with Crayola.

Q. How are you involved in the community and how has it helped shape your business?
A. I’m a firm believer in the statement: “you’ll get what you put into it.” So, Chris and I work at making the time to assist other entrepreneurs with our expertise in marketing, PR and the Web.  We connect people to others who can add value or provide a solution to a problem.

 

Q. How does OEN assist you/how are you specifically benefiting from the organization?
A. The contacts and expertise we’ve gained through OEN will become essential in light of our new licensing deal with Crayola: raising capital and building a team to execute and deliver on our plan!

 

Q. What are your favorite websites/magazines/events that you read/attend to keep yourself informed about the business community/your specific market?
A. Inc. Magazine – I love it!  Chris teases me a bit because he finds it so atypical.
Playthings (www.playthings.com) – essential reading for our industry.
Count Me In (www.countmein.org) for women entrepreneurs – I just won its “Micro to Millions” which will open yet more doors!
Ladies Who Launch (www.ladieswholaunch.com) also for women entrepreneurs.
Angel Oregon (http://www.oen.org/events_ao.aspx) – It was the event that inducted me into the entrepreneurial world.

 

Q. Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
A. The advice many have given to us: If you believe wholeheartedly in what you’re doing, don’t give up!