We recently connected with Lesli Bohm and have shared our conversation below.

Lesli, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

What if someone searching online doesn’t know your product even exists? What if they think they know what they’re looking for, but items similar in the category display before yours? What key words does one use? A Sweeter Seat is currently the only item in the market of it’s kind. How do you, as a customer, search for something you didn’t know you needed? That has been one of our biggest challenges. We had the forturnate opportunity to chat with the famous Barbara Corcoran from Shark Tank on her podcast “Business Unusual”. She agreed with our quandry as to how to get people to find us. We know we have a unique item and we know people use it once they have one in hand.
For entrepreneurs it’s hard starting something new to begin with. “Inventing” something that’s unique is difficult as well.
We didn’t reinvent the wheel, in this case a towel. A Sweeter Seat simply changed how and when you use one. Our hadnmade product is perfect for all ages and genders. So, we know we’ve got something!!

Lesli, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Lesli Bohm and I am the creator of A Sweeter Seat. My husband and I have moved a few states over the last 10 years and have landed ourselves in Hilton Head Island, SC. We moved to Hilton Head from Northern California in Spring of 2019. Moving somewhere very humid from a location that’s very dry meant a lot of changes. Except a few months in the Winter, it’s hot here! Your legs stick to everything or get burnt on hot surfaces. I had to rethink and discover a way to create something to resolve my issue. The majorty of my background lies within the Service Industry. I’ve bartended, managed private events and worked for liquor an d wine distributors for a decade. So, I’ve been in a lot of bars and restaurants and definitely sat on many a bar stool. In being a patron of so many places, I realized barstools, bleachers, benches, etc…really aren’t that comfortable. What if there was a product to help with these needs? Was there anything out there that was portable enough to take in your bag, car or pocket? The answer was …no!

A Sweeter Seat was created during the Covid 19 pandemic. With many forced to stay at home, they used their creative outlets to start their own “side hustles’, so to speak. Our product is something that has likely been in my head for quite some time, but didn’t become realized until early 2021.

People ask “who is your target audience”? The answer is everyone! I could write a long list of places where our produt can be used, but I’ll narrow it down. We’re for the mom that is watching the soccer game at the stadium, to the man that loves the gym and golfing. From kids in those horrible chairs at school, to the salon, your favorite beach bar, poolside, picnic tables, travel and more. You deserve A Sweeter Seat!

I’m so proud that I made the decision to take that idea and turn in into something. We all say “what if” all the time. I took that “what if” and turned it into a growing business that entered it’s 3rd year in April. If you’re scared, trust that if you take the leap, you just might suprise yourself.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I mentioned in a previous segment that in creating something completely brand new has made it difficul for potential customers to find us online. As we face that challenge, we try and target new customers here locally on a daily basis. Most of our sales are word of mouth from exisiting customers. Once you use A Sweeter Seat or borrow one from a friend, you’ll want one for yourself. For 2023 we are going to target some local retailers. Until we get in the right locations, we have to be creative. I take mine or one of my many everywhere I go. Someone sitting next to me usually asks, “what is that”? So that I am prepared I always have my “go-bag” with me. A clear tote filled with colorful selections that someone can buy from me right on the spot.
When I spoke with Barbara Corcoran on her podcast she liked that idea since we do not have a brick and mortar store. She encouraged us to possibly get some disciples (current customers) that could also carry some of these bags and repeat what we do.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

We make our own product, it’s not currently manufactured. Creating a handmade item takes time and limits our production to an extent. In the near future we would definitley like to poistion ourselves to grow in that manner with a manufacturer. Finding the right one will be key. We want to keep this business based in the USA, which will make it even more challeging, Many companies outsource their labor to other countries and we want to avoid that in any way we can.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.asweeterseat.com
• Instagram: @asweeterseat
• Facebook: @asweeterseat