Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Romina Keper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Romina, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I’m Romy, a Speech-Language Pathologist and founder of @charTEACHerie. One day, I was putting together a charcuterie board for a teacher friend’s retirement party. As I was arranging the crackers and cheeses, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be cute if this had school supplies and other things teachers need on it instead of food?” And my “a-ha!” moment came to me right there in my kitchen! Teachers love using puns in the classroom and thus the name came naturally as well: CharTEACHerie Gift Boards.
As someone who works in a school, I know that working with children is much harder than people think. I also know that teachers sometimes get overlooked and deserve to be celebrated! Mugs, gift cards, and candles are great but I’ve always felt there should be a better way for parents to show their appreciation for the people who work with their children every day.
My goal is to be the first name that comes to mind when someone needs a gift for a teacher that stands out and effectively communicates, “Thank you so much for everything you do.” I want parents to use CharTEACHerie to express their gratitude to not only teachers, but also the school nurse, teacher’s assistants, guidance counselors, etc. I would also love to be the go-to person for whenever a principal, administrator, or PTA is looking for fun gift ideas for their whole staff. I’ve created party favors, goodie bags, trinket trays, candy boxes, mini survival kits and more; we truly have something for everyone and every budget.
Romina, 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?
CharTEACHerie is here to celebrate that special teacher in your life! The boards consist of commonly used school supplies along with other things teachers love and use on a daily basis: hand sanitizer, chocolate, K-Cups, hair accessories, lanyard, post-its, and super cute decorative items for the classroom. We also offer the option to make the gift even more special by adding something like a mini bottle of wine, gift card, perfume, etc.
Anyone who works in a school knows how it feels to be overworked and overlooked. When the time comes to give a teacher a gift, parents usually go for traditional items like mugs or gift cards. We strive to provide teachers with something more meaningful, something that speaks right to their personalities and conveys real gratitude for their hard work.
I want parents to know that there is an easy, inexpensive way to show their appreciation for the people who work with their children every day. Every single CharTEACHerie board is unique to the individual and their interests. I incorporate their favorite colors, sports, animals, hobbies, bands and/or TV shows, just to name a few!
I’ve recently celebrated two years of being in business. What I am most proud of, however, is that I’ve been able to use CharTEACHerie to support many organizations that align with my passions for speech therapy and education.
I’ve donated curated teacher and speech pathology themed raffle baskets to Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, Friends: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter, Pilots to The Rescue, The Hero’s Benefit, Think Happy NY, Hope for Youth Long Island, and Variety Child Learning Center just to name a few. It’s like a double win: The gift prize will mostly likely go to someone in education (as it is school supplies-themed) and funds are being raised for the school staff at the same time!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Going the extra mile for my customers and adding a personal touch to every. single. order. This could mean offering a discount on a future purchase, complementary bag tag, or a small free gift after five or more orders, etc. I include a handwritten note thanking the customer for their business and asking them to tag me if they were happy with their purchase. People really value these kind little gestures. It makes them more likely to refer my business, give me a shout out on social media, or write a review online. It really is a great word of mouth strategy.
Any fun sales or marketing stories?
One of my favorite marketing stories was how I scored the opportunity to be featured in 100 swag bags that were distributed at the grand opening of the Snooki Shop in Huntington, NY.
At the beginning of the year, Antoinette from @shopsmallbizLI posted on her Instagram stories asking for local businesses to reach out if they wanted to be featured in a swag bag for the grand opening of a new store in Huntington. The store was called “The Snooki Shop!” Nicole Polizzi, a.k.a “Snooki” from MTV’s “Jersey Shore” was kindly offering us the chance to use her platform and her big moment to showcase our brands and gain more visibility.
I IMMEDIATELY sent her a DM asking for more information. I couldn’t miss this opportunity, right here on Long Island!
I prepared a CharTEACHerie board for Nicole’s specific interests including leopard stickers, cheerleading notepad, and a “Croco-Dilly” metal bookmark. I was aware there was no guarantee Nicole would be there, or that my gift would even find my way to her in the first place. But I just had a feeling I couldn’t pass this up.
Later that night, – about 3:30am to be exact – I am woken up by a dripping sound in my second bedroom. Water was leaking from an apartment two floors above us, and directly onto my clothing rack! Of all the nights!
My husband and I scrambled to remove all my clothes from the room and cover the furniture, running around with used towels and new towels like maniacs. Thankfully, nothing was damaged, and I was able to go back to bed for maybe another hour or so. At this point, I was beyond exhausted but determined to see the day through. So with a double shot of espresso in my extra-large latte, I drove out to Huntington and stood online outside for almost 3 hours, waiting in the cold in February. Finally, I got inside, bought the CUTEST sweater, and had a great interaction with the very kind store manager, Gina, who promised to personally put my gift in Nicole’s hands.
Just a few days later, I get a DM from Snooki herself! A reality TV star is legit DMing me! I couldn’t believe it. This was a huge learning experience because it not only showed me the power of putting myself out there, but also how much celebrities appreciate little gifts and gestures, just like teachers!
Since then, I’ve used similar events to establish connections with several other media personalities as well as leading figures in relevant industries, like Maureen Kelly, CEO of Tarte Cosmetics. I met Maureen at a Meet and Greet as part of the Tarte Kindness Tour. Like Snooki, she personally messaged me just a few days later. Maureen ended up generously purchasing five mini CharTEACHerie boards for a back to school giveaway on her Instagram account!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charteacherie.com
- Instagram: @charteacherie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charteacherie
Image Credits
Professional photos by: Katherine Nuñez Leonardo
Instagram: @katherinenunez.photo