GRiPPiES: A great product invented by two New York moms

Corrie Wilder jokingly calls the creative product invented by her and friend, Yelena Mogelefsky, a “tantrum prevention device.” This is because the idea first came to them about 3 years ago, while Corrie’s daughter (who was 2 at the time) was wailing at the gym class she attended with Yelena’s son (3 at the time) because she did not want to wear no-skid socks over her slippery tights. “They don’t match!” Corrie’s daughter lamented about the socks-over-the-tights solution.

Corrie and Yelena figured there had to be something they could buy to fix Corrie’s daughter’s tights, and, for that matter, all of the other slippery socks in both of their childrens’ drawers. They researched the internet to see if they could find some suitable product on the market.

They couldn't.

So they invented one.

GRiPPiES are rubbery adhesives, available in the shapes of teddy bears, stars, or ovals that can be applied to the bottom of any socks or tights already in your child’s drawer. (Or yours!) They can be washed right along with the sock.

A Lucky Combination

Corrie and Yelena are two working moms who first became friends during their daily commute on the Long Island Railroad. Corrie is a graphic designer, who used to work for Time Inc., but she now freelances from home. Yelena is in the fashion industry and currently works for Foot Locker Inc. Corrie and Yelena’s combination of experience and connections proved just the right match when they came up with the concept that became GRiPPiES.

A Full Plate

Corrie and Yelena developed their product - and continue to market and sell their product today - while still working their respective day jobs. Plus, they each have two children apiece. With all this on their plates, the two moms developed their idea into a tangible product and got it to market in only a little over a year. Both moms credit supportive husbands and families who help with the childcare and house responsibilities enabling the moms to continue to develop and improve GRiPPiES while still maintaining day jobs to help finance their entrepreneurial endeavor.

The Big Break

The big break for GRiPPiES came a little less than a year ago when One Step Ahead, a popular childrens’ products catalog, decided to offer GRiPPiES in their nationwide catalog.

What’s next for GRiPPiES?

Well, the breaking news is that starting in September, GRiPPiES will be in over 800 Target stores.

In addition, based on voluminous requests the moms have gotten about making the product available to the older adult population, they are marketing their product – beginning this month – through Starcrest of California, an on-line and mail-order company targeting the over 60 population.

Corrie and Yelena have also developed GRiPPiES No-Slip Tights, a patent pending product with the non-skid adhesives built right in. They will be available later this summer. To be notified when they are available, click here.

All this and eco-friendly too

Corrie and Yelena are also proud of their product’s new packaging, debuting this month. While GRiPPiES themselves have always been recyclable and eco-friendly, their original packaging was not.

That is all about to change, as GRiPPiES will now be offered in upgraded, recycled packaging that is not only better for the environment, but is actually less costly. In fact, with the new packaging, customers will be getting a better value for their money, as the new packaging will include more GRiPPiES (24 instead of the old 16 count packs) and will continue to retail at about $5.99 per pack.

Any advice to would-be mom inventors?

Corrie and Yelena both agree persistence and assertiveness are key. They had no connections at One Step Ahead, yet assertively marketed their product to them as well as to numerous retailers, confidently recognizing that their product fills an empty niche in the market.

The mom inventors also advise product developers to be aware of applicable regulations - such as the CPSC regulations - early on in the development phase and develop the product according to those regulations. (GRiPPiES themselves are PBA and lead free.)

Corrie and Yelena are offering examiner.com readers a 10% off discount if you buy 2 or more packs of GRiPPiES. Just enter discount code EXAMINER10.