SPANX® and Sara Blakely Announce Two Leg Up™ Winners - LooHoo

 

 

SPANX® and Sara Blakely Announce Two Leg Up™ Winners
 
Atlanta, GA, May 8, 2013 - Spanx® and Founder, Sara Blakely, announce two new Leg Up®winners for Spring 2013: Cyndi Prince, founder of LooHoo and Tracy Gonsalves, founder of Femme Fitale Fitness.
“Everybody needs a leg up when starting a business,” said Blakely. “Mine came when Oprah named SPANX a ‘Favorite Thing’.”
Since the “Oprah-moment” that catapulted Spanx from a small start-up to a household name, Blakely has been on a mission to pay forward her success and empower women to reach their full potential.
In 2010, the Leg Up program was created to offer women entrepreneurs and their businesses a chance to be promoted to millions of Spanx fans via the catalog, website and social media channels, including The Rear View blog.
Amidst scores of applicants, two winners were selected for their innovative ideas and inspiring stories. From eco-friendly dryer balls to flirty fitness gloves, these standout products and the women behind them help improve the lives of their customers on a daily basis. 
LooHoo offers wool dryer balls that are reusable, earth friendly and an energy-saving alternative to dryer sheets that help protect your family’s health and the environment.

Cyndi Prince discovered wool dryer balls in 2009 after moving from disposable to cloth diapers and learning the harmful effects of chemicals in dryer sheets. While the wool balls provided a natural and safe alternative, they didn’t last long. Prince set out to make her own version that would be durable enough to last for hundreds of loads.

“Women are always looking for time-savers, so a product that shaves off drying time, is healthy for your family and saves the environment is such a lifesaver,” Blakely said. “Cyndi saw an opportunity in the day-to-day of being a mom and turned it into a business that will help people everywhere.”
Femme Fitale Fitness offers stylish workout gloves embellished with fun colors, prints and Swarovski crystals, allowing women to “work out looking like a girl,” said founder Tracy Gonsalves.
Gonsalves started the company when her husband’s business suffered in the housing crash and he simultaneously went paralyzed, no longer being able to work. Gonsalves was quick to support her family by turning a “crazy” idea into a sustainable business: cute, quality women’s accessories for the gym.
“Tracy’s story is so inspirational! She saw a need in the market place for feminine workout gloves and was willing to take a risk.” Blakely said. Her energy, courage and determination could motivate any woman to hit the gym and start her own business.”
 
About Leg Up™
Spanx wants to give other amazing women entrepreneurs their leg up! As Oprah gave Sara her big break by naming Spanx ® a ‘Favorite Thing,’ Blakely is paying it forward by endorsing female entrepreneurs.  “Everybody needs a Leg Up in the beginning of starting a business,” is Blakely’s philosophy.  Through the Spanx catalog, spanx.com and its social media channels,Spanx ® highlights women and their business/products.  Also, each woman chosen will receive a lucky red backpack – the same kind Sara used to start Spanx.  Spanx does not profit in any way. The only hope is that another woman gets great exposure and her much-deserved leg up!
 
About Spanx®
Spanx founder Sara Blakely was getting ready for a party when she realized she didn't have the right undergarment to provide a blemish-free look under white pants. Armed with scissors and sheer genius, she cut the feet off her control top pantyhose and the Spanx revolution began! The Spanx brand now houses more than 200 products ranging from slimming apparel and swimsuits, to bras, activewear and men's undershirts. To help women everywhere experience the power of shapewear, Sara launched ASSETS®, a focused range of body-shapers and ASSETS® Red Hot Label™ by SPANX®, a luxe extension of ASSETS that offers a wider assortment of slimmers, bras and panties. With an array of problem-solving products for every body type and budget, Spanx has secured its place in women’s hearts and in pop-culture with daily mentions everywhere from CNN to SNL. In March of 2012, Founder Sara was named the world’s youngest, self-made female billionaire by Forbes Magazine and one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA and opening retail shops across the United States, Spanx can now be found worldwide in more than 50 countries. In addition to keeping butts covered from Savannah to Singapore, SPANX also shapes the world by focusing on their mission: To help women feel great about themselves and their potential.