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

Tina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

One of the best things I’ve done for a customer—and something that truly reflects how much I value them—happened just recently after I appeared on Talk of the Town Channel 5 in Nashville to promote my product, The Heel Sling™. As part of the segment, I offered viewers $10 off their purchase using the discount code NASHVILLE. It was a small way to say thank you and welcome new people into the community.

After the segment aired, a few customers checked out at full price without applying the code. I knew they had likely just forgotten, so instead of letting it slide, I went ahead and manually applied the discount when fulfilling their orders. Shortly after, I received heartfelt thank-you emails—some with grateful emojis—and it honestly made my day! I could tell they felt “seen and appreciated”, and to me, that’s what it’s all about: making people feel valued not just as customers, but as part of something I genuinely care about.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Meet the Creator Behind The Heel Sling™: A Solution Born from Real-Life Frustration

Behind every great product is a personal story, and The Heel Sling™ is no exception. Created by someone who understands the discomfort, blisters, and constant annoyance caused by shoe slippage & ill-fitting shoes, The Heel Sling™ is more than just an accessory—it’s a problem-solver!! As the founder, I didn’t start with a background in footwear or product design; I started with a problem I couldn’t ignore and a determination to fix it. After countless slips, sore heels, and band-aid “solutions,” I knew there had to be a better way—and when I couldn’t find it, I decided to make it.

What Is The Heel Sling™? A Small Solution with Big Impact

The Heel Sling™ is a simple, sleek device designed to prevent heel slippage, stop heel blistering, and eliminate the discomfort that so many people experience when wearing shoes that just won’t stay put. Whether you’re wearing heels, flats, loafers, or even sneakers, The Heel Sling™ comfortably “anchors” your foot in place without altering the look of your shoe. It’s easy to use, discreet, and built with both comfort and durability in mind. It doesn’t just fix one issue—it redefines what comfortable footwear support can feel like.

Why It’s Different: A First-of-Its-Kind Innovation

What sets The Heel Sling™ apart is that there’s “truly nothing else like it on the market”! Other solutions rely on bulky inserts, sticky pads that wear out, or DIY hacks that never quite solve the problem. The Heel Sling™ is the ONLY product designed to address heel slippage —without changing the shoe itself. It’s lightweight, reusable, stylishly minimal, and actually works. It’s not just a bandage fix; it’s a smart, intentional tool that adds value to every step you take.

More Than a Product—A Mission

At its core, this business isn’t just about selling a product—it’s about empowering people to feel more comfortable and confident in their everyday lives. From the very beginning, I’ve focused on creating a solution that puts the customer first. That’s why I go out of my way to offer excellent customer service, follow up with every order, and show appreciation—like when I recently honored a discount for customers who forgot to apply a promo code. I know what it’s like to feel overlooked, and I’ve made it my mission to ensure that no one who buys The Heel Sling™ ever feels that way.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Putting together the initial capital to start my business was both a deeply personal and strategic decision. I’ve always been a fiercely independent woman—graduating Magna Cum Laude in undergrad, earning an MBA from the University of Chicago, and building a career on Wall Street. After relocating from New York to Chicago, I continued my entrepreneurial path by purchasing and managing several small businesses.

Years later, life took an unexpected turn. I was newly married, preparing to become a first-time mom, and my husband, a successful owner of an import business, was a strong and steady provider. Tragically, he passed away before our daughter turned 16. I had been developing the concept for The Heel Sling™ for years, but his passing made it clear that I needed to step into a greater role to support my household financially.

Since family funding wasn’t an option, I used a combination of personal savings and insurance proceeds to begin the process—investing in development, prototyping, and ultimately patenting the product. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. There were plenty of sleepless nights spent wondering if I should simply play it safe and preserve what I had, or take a leap of faith and build something that could grow into long-term security—not just for me, but for my daughter’s future as well.

Taking the risk to fund my own product meant betting on myself. It was scary at times, but the belief in my vision—and the desire to create something truly useful—kept me moving forward. It’s a journey built on resilience, careful planning, and a deep personal drive to turn loss into purpose.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle deeply influenced my approach to business. It taught me to stay grounded in the present rather than stress over things I can’t control. As an entrepreneur, this has been transformative—I’ve learned not to dwell on past mistakes or fear future uncertainties that may never happen. If the present moment is manageable, I remind myself that I’m OK, and I keep moving forward.

This mindset has helped me lead with calm and clarity, even in high-stress situations. I make decisions based on what’s in front of me, rather than getting overwhelmed by “what ifs.” It’s allowed me to focus on steady progress, trust the process, and stay resilient—qualities that are essential in both managing a business and building something from the ground up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theheelsling.com
• Instagram: @theheelsling
• Facebook: @theheelsling
• Linkedin: The Heel Sling
• Youtube: @theheelsling
• Other: Amazon.com/theheelsling
  TikTok @theheelsling

Image Credits

KTLA Unscripted – photo with 5 people standing