We recently connected with Stacey Feeley and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stacey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

In an industry dominated by traditional practices, GoSili has always played outside the lines. Our mission to reduce waste and create a cultural shift away from single-use plastics isn’t just a tagline; it’s the driving force behind everything we do. We take an unconventional approach in executing the companies mission, which is our best way to make a real impact.

When we founded GoSili 18 years ago, we were complete newbies to the industry. We originally tried to do everything by the book and follow all the guidelines, but it just didn’t work. Our lack of industry knowledge turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We didn’t know what we “couldn’t” do, which often led to successful outcomes. Our naivety allowed us to break free from industry norms and truly innovate. If our competitors went one way, we deliberately chose the opposite path. We embraced a philosophy of doing things differently. It was an audacious approach, but it set us apart and it worked.

One of the core principles that differentiates GoSili from other companies is our unwavering dedication to our mission of reducing waste. We don’t just talk about sustainability; we live and breathe it. We believe in creating products that not only replace single-use plastics but also offer a sustainable lifecycle, from creation to disposal.

We are currently the only silicone consumer product company that recycles not just our silicone products, but anyone’s. When a customer is done with a product, we aim to help them dispose of it properly, ensuring it doesn’t end up in a landfill. This commitment to “closing the loop” extends well beyond our own products—allowing us to recycle silicone goods from our competitors and other companies. It’s different, it’s not the industry norm, but it’s the right thing to do.

Stacey , 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?

Our mission and story are deeply rooted in a love for our children and a commitment to sustainability. When Giuliana (my bestie and co-founder) and I became new moms, we were constantly researching everything to ensure we provided the best for our kids and families. Amidst this quest for better products, we found ourselves questioning the prevalent convenience and “take and toss” culture. The excessive and toxic plastics piling up in our sinks and bins were simply unsustainable, and it quickly became evident that there had to be a better way.

Thus, GoSili was born. We set out on a much larger mission—not only to create safer and better products made from high-quality silicone but also to make a positive impact on the planet.

Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?

In 2019, we sold GoSili. Selling our business was a decision rooted in excitement and possibility. After 14 years of relentless hard work and dedication, our company was flourishing. We had built something sustainable, innovative, and profitable, capturing the attention of major players in the CPG industry. We had raised multiple rounds of investment, welcomed shareholders, but held onto most of our stock, always with the vision of one day joining forces with a larger corporation. It seemed like the logical next step to scale our operations and amplify our impact.

When those opportunities finally knocked, we were ready. Our investors were on board, and Giuliana and I stayed on to steer R&D and business development post-sale, selling half of our shares to a corporate giant. But what looked like a dream opportunity on paper soon became a complex reality. The larger corporate environment, with its layers of bureaucracy and rigid processes, was stifling our creativity and agility.

Transitioning from a nimble startup to a cog in a corporate machine was far from seamless. The freedom to innovate, which had been our lifeblood, was now put into a box. Simple tasks that once took days seemed to drag on for months and our direct, personal engagement with customers was totally lost. The tone that set us apart was forgotten in the noise of standardization. We found ourselves folded into a corporate bubble, unable to maintain the personal touch and responsiveness that our customers had come to love and expect.

But it wasn’t just the operational differences that were off synch. We quickly realized that we had fundamental differences with the corporate approach to business and sustainability. The very core of our mission was getting diluted amongst a very different business model.

It became abundantly clear that we either had to walk away completely or do what we never thought we’d do…and buy it all back! It was a bold move, driven by a deep conviction that success isn’t just measured by growth metrics, but by staying true to the values and vision that started it all. So, after a 4 year corporate stint, here we are!

Being back in the driver’s seat feels right and we’ve rekindled the passion that drove us to start this business in the first place.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

We’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way and the buy back of GoSili taught us that sometimes its really hard to walk away. Staying true to your mission and values is what ultimately brings fulfillment and success. And while the road back to independence was challenging, it has also been incredibly rewarding. If there’s one thing this journey has reinforced, it’s that the power to create change lies within us, and sometimes that means taking back what matters most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gosili.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gosiliproducts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gosiliproducts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1175596