We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Hizer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brittany, appreciate you joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe in embracing success as a blend of long-term goals and daily achievements – whether it’s closing a major deal, working out and eating healthy, or being fully present with my son. Overall, I believe these key factors contribute to success:

Passion and Purpose: Whether you’re an entrepreneur blazing your own trail or navigating the corporate world, having passion for your job, your industry, your products is paramount. As a mom making products for families on the go, I am so thankful to have a purpose driven-career & the passion to drive a business forward every single day.

Emotional Intelligence and Kindness: Emotional intelligence is important for success in both personal and professional life. Successful individuals are often adept at navigating social situations, building rapport with others, and resolving conflicts effectively. And by practicing kindness which is different than niceness, individuals develop empathy and emotional intelligence contributing to overall well-being and success.

Hard Work and Resilience: From a young age I worked hard whether it was at school, on the basketball court or babysitting for neighborhood families. Success rarely comes without hard work and resilience. Successful individuals are willing to put in the effort and keep going even when faced with challenges or setbacks.

Patience and Persistence: Both are critical when founding a business and a brand – this has become a team motto. We send that fourth or fifth email and always rejoice with happiness when a response comes through our inbox. We also celebrate when a customer who said “not right now” a year ago after initial contact is ready to make a purchase because we established and built a relationship over time.

Networking and Relationship Management: Building strong relationships and networks can open doors to new opportunities and support systems. Successful people often prioritize networking, seeking out connections and building mutually beneficial relationships. All those books and articles about the importance of a network are spot on especially when starting a business.

Optimism: I have always been an optimist and have found it extremely helpful as an entrepreneur. Successful individuals tend to approach challenges with optimism, viewing them as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Brittany, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In October 2020 we introduced Pluie, the first and only self-sanitizing diaper changing table that is redefining the industry, to the world and more formally launched in 2022. With a sleek design and cutting-edge patented technology, Pluie is the world’s first self-sanitizing diaper changing table, providing a safe and hygienic experience for children and caregivers alike.

Through our extensive research and conversations with over 650 parents, we discovered a common trend that highlighted the urgent need for Pluie. It became evident that parents and caregivers often feel compelled to leave establishments in order to change their children’s diapers in the comfort and cleanliness of their own vehicles or homes. Additionally, we validated that many parents resort to kneeling on the ground, laying down mats, even pet pee pads due to concerns about hygiene and safety.

When creating Pluie, we thoughtfully considered every aspect of the diaper changing experience. Drawing from our own experiences as mothers who have changed countless diapers in public, we applied our insights to the design process. Pluie features a groundbreaking UV-C light system, located behind a protective panel, that activates when closed to sanitize the changing area. This innovative technology eliminates 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses, including COVID, E. coli, and Influenza, by disrupting their DNA through a photochemical reaction. Pluie goes beyond being just a diaper changing table; it represents a dedication to health and safety, providing families with peace of mind while on the go.

We are dedicated to revolutionizing the way parents and caregivers experience diaper changes on-the-go. Our mission is to transform the traditional diaper changing table into a modern, safe, and hygienic solution that caters to the needs of families everywhere. By providing a cleaner, more comfortable, and convenient experience, we aim to create a positive impact on the daily lives of babies, parents, and caregivers. #changethetable with Pluie and discover a new standard in diaper changing convenience.

Pluie Diaper Changing Tables are now conveniently available in public restrooms at restaurants, theme parks, airports, stadiums, and various other public spaces spanning across 35 states nationwide. And we have several utility patents and accolades from prestigious publications such as Fast Company, Time Magazine, and Chicago Innovation. We were even featured on Shark Tank (Season 14), earning recognition and praise from parents nationwide.

We actually just launched our first consumer product, the Pluie Pret Changing Clutch. https://hellopluie.com/product/pluie-pret-changing-clutch/

The Pret Changing Clutch is a compact, stylish, and machine-washable diaper changing mat for modern parents and caregivers who expect the best while on the go. Makes for a great baby shower gift!

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Yes, we manufacture our Pluie Diaper Changing Tables and proudly manufacture in the United States. We offer two models, the P100 Plus with the patented UV-C light system and the P100. When Pluie was just a concept in CAD files, we partnered with a design firm that not only assisted with engineering but also played a key role in procurement management. Identifying reliable suppliers was crucial to sourcing parts and understanding the cost structure. As we moved forward, we successfully built our first prototypes, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Before transitioning to large-scale manufacturing, we carefully produced a small quantity of units for testing, certifications, and initial field trials with customers. Drawing from my extensive 20+ year career in hardtech/hard goods, ranging from commercial fitness equipment to fishing boats, and now to diaper changing tables, I have gained invaluable insights and lessons learned along the way:

Market Research is Key: Conduct thorough market research to validate your product idea is actually solving a real problem and there is demand for it.

Design for Manufacturability: Ensure that your product is designed with manufacturing in mind as you don’t want to get to the prototyping phase and learn you may have major obstacles to actually make the design.

Regulatory Compliance and Certifications: Depending on the industry and location, there may be various regulatory requirements and standards that you need to adhere to – be sure to identify these up front to factor into your design.

Quality Control: Implement stringent quality control measures throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that your product meets or exceeds customer expectations and builds trust.

Supplier Relationships: Building strong relationships with reliable suppliers and choose suppliers who can consistently provide high-quality materials/components at competitive prices (small quantities in the early stages).

Cost Management: Keep a close eye on manufacturing costs and look for opportunities to optimize processes and reduce expenses without compromising quality.

Continuous Improvement: Strive for continuous improvement in all aspects of the manufacturing process but be mindful of outgoing expenses.

Customer Feedback and Iteration: Once your product is in the market, gather feedback from customers and observe everything from install to usage so you can iterate and improve upon your product.

And we always say roughly right! Don’t be afraid to get your product or service out there before you consider it perfect!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Referencing what I shared about success, the most effective strategy for us at Pluie has been patience and persistence. We don’t shy away from sending that fourth or fifth email, making those important calls, and keeping our customers engaged with informative newsletters on a consistent basis. It’s all about finding that delicate balance between being persistent and respectful, never crossing the line into being overly aggressive. When faced with a “no,” we view it as a “not right now” and use it as an opportunity to nurture relationships, knowing that a positive response may come in the future.

Our cold outreach strategy, including personalized emails and LinkedIn messages, has yielded great results for us. By addressing a common problem that resonates with a wide audience, even beyond just parents, we have been able to connect with our target market effectively. We also leverage our personal and professional networks for warm introductions, a gesture that has proven to be invaluable in building lasting connections. And of course, we always make it a point to follow up and express our gratitude for the support we receive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hellopluie.com
• Instagram: @hello_pluie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellopluie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hellopluie
• Twitter: @hellopluie
• Youtube: @pluie8981

Image Credits
Ashley Wittmer