Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Supattra Maganis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Supattra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission behind Eco Gloves is deeply personal, stemming from my experiences as a mother and my passion for preserving our planet. As a parent juggling the demands of raising two young children, I found myself relying on disposable gloves to manage my busy household. Yet, the more I used these gloves, the more I grappled with the dissonance between their convenience and the environmental impact of single-use products.

This dilemma became the driving force behind Eco Gloves. I wanted to create a solution that enabled individuals and businesses to maintain their desired level of cleanliness and convenience without contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste. The reality of climate change and the urgency to reduce our carbon footprint only reinforced my commitment to this mission.

As I delved deeper into the disposable glove industry, I discovered the staggering amount of waste generated by various industries, not just households. This further solidified my dedication to providing eco-friendly alternatives that could make a tangible difference on a larger scale.

Eco Gloves represents my desire to challenge the status quo and demonstrate that businesses can prioritize both customer needs and environmental sustainability. It’s a testament to my belief that even seemingly small changes, like choosing compostable gloves over traditional ones, can contribute to a collective shift towards a more sustainable future. This mission isn’t just a corporate statement—it’s a personal commitment to creating a better world for my children and future generations.

Supattra, 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 Supattra, though I also go by Patty. I am the founder of Eco Gloves, a company offering convenient and eco-friendly disposable gloves for individuals and businesses. My journey began when I became a mother, and I found myself relying on disposable gloves to manage my busy household. As much as I appreciated their convenience, I couldn’t ignore the guilt of contributing to the ever-growing problem of plastic waste. Additionally, I was looking for a convenient on-the-go solution that wouldn’t require me to carry a box of gloves around in my purse.

This realization sparked a desire to create a more sustainable solution—one that didn’t force me to choose between convenience and caring for the planet. What resulted was my first product: Eco Gloves Individually Packaged Compostable Gloves, fan favorite among other parents, business professionals, schools, and students who appreciated their convenience and sustainability. From there, I branched out into other products that served both general consumers and businesses, including Bulk Box Compostable Gloves and Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves, as well as the traditional recyclable gloves.

Eco Gloves was born from this vision, offering a range of disposable gloves that maintain the convenience, protection, and practicality of traditional gloves without the associated environmental guilt. Our products cater to various industries, including healthcare, food services, and household usage. By prioritizing both customer needs and sustainability, we aim to revolutionize the disposable glove industry and pave the way for a greener future.

What sets Eco Gloves apart is our unwavering commitment to sustainability, quality, and customer satisfaction. Our compostable gloves are made from high-quality materials and are designed to be durable and reliable. We also work closely with our manufacturer to ensure consistent quality and performance. Additionally, we continue our commitment to the environment through planting a tree with every order, and removing plastics from hard-hit polluted areas with every subscriber. Through our partnership with 1% for the Planet, we donate a portion of our sales to environmental causes, further demonstrating our dedication to making a positive impact.

I am most proud of the fact that Eco Gloves has enabled individuals and businesses to make more environmentally conscious choices without compromising their needs. By choosing our products, they become part of a larger movement towards sustainability and contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.

Potential clients, followers, and fans should know that Eco Gloves isn’t just a brand; it’s a community of individuals who believe in the power of small changes and collective action. We are here to empower and support you in making eco-friendly choices that align with your values, enabling you to live a convenient and conscious lifestyle. Together, we can redefine what it means to be environmentally responsible.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

In the early days of my business, I faced the challenge of securing the initial capital necessary to bring my vision to life. The concept for my first product was twofold: first, to address a personal need for a more environmentally conscious disposable glove option, and second, to create a business model that put sustainability at the forefront of our operations. This project was deeply rooted in my passion for protecting the environment and securing a better future for our children.

With this goal in mind, I decided to leverage my personal savings and crowdfunding to raise the necessary funds for the initial production run. My decision to use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo was driven by several factors:

Gauging Interest and Product-Market Fit: Crowdfunding allowed me to assess the level of interest in my product idea and determine whether it addressed a genuine market need. It was an excellent way to validate or refine my concept based on community feedback.

Accountability and Support: Launching a crowdfunding campaign not only helped me generate capital but also held me accountable to my backers. This support from a community of like-minded individuals provided the motivation and drive to see the project through to fruition.

Building Buzz and a Customer Base: Crowdfunding platforms provided an invaluable marketing tool, enabling me to generate excitement around my product and gather a base of early adopters who could provide constructive feedback and support as the business evolved.

I set an ambitious funding goal on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, outlining my business development and production timelines. To my delight, the community responded enthusiastically, contributing 125% of the targeted amount. This overwhelming support gave me the confidence and financial backing needed to move forward with production and fulfill my first batch of orders, setting the foundation for the company’s future success.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

When I first launched Eco Gloves, I decided to start selling on Amazon, which provided an excellent platform for our initial product, the Individually Packaged Compostable Gloves. As a consumer-focused offering, I felt that leveraging the reach and visibility of a major marketplace would be the most effective way to get our product discovered by potential customers.

As our business evolved and we introduced our second product, the Bulk Box Compostable Gloves, we found that our gloves were in high demand not only from individual consumers but also from larger businesses that required a steady supply of eco-friendly gloves. To better cater to the needs of both types of customers and to gain more control over our brand, we decided to establish our own e-commerce platform at www.ecogloves.co.

There were several factors that influenced our decision to create a direct sales channel:

1. Cost and Margins: While Amazon provided valuable exposure and marketing opportunities, the associated costs made it challenging to maintain sustainable profit margins. By selling through our own site, we were able to invest more in our products and environmental initiatives, such as planting a tree with every order and contributing 1% of our sales to the 1% For the Planet program.

2. Customer Relationships: Having our own platform allowed us to foster closer relationships with our customers, gather direct feedback, and better understand their needs. This, in turn, has helped us refine our products and services to better serve our customers and the environment.

3. Branding and Values: Selling through our own website has given us the freedom to communicate our brand values and commitment to sustainability more effectively. This has been instrumental in building a loyal customer base that shares our passion for eco-conscious living.

While transitioning to our own platform has been beneficial for our business, we recognize the value that Amazon provided in helping us establish our brand. We continue to assess and explore various channels to ensure that we reach and serve our customers effectively while staying true to our mission of promoting environmental responsibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ecogloves.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ecoglovesofficial
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecoglovesofficial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eco-gloves/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ecogloves
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlgHUjJ51so9zFLPafqMEQ

Image Credits
Tony Golden Thomas Schwartz