TalkingWithTami:Hi Kirsten,why did you decide to start Cheer Chics? I actually came from the hairdressing industry and worked for TIGI for many years. I helped create Bed Head, Catwalk and S-Factor lines of hair products. After having my second child, I decided to start consulting. I then began researching the cheerleading industry and learned that there were more than 4 million plus cheerleaders in the US . Cheer Chics was born. I knew the manufacturers and how to market and develop products from my previous experience. As they say…and the rest was history. Were you a formal Cheerleader like me lol? Yes, I am a formal cheerleader. It was a long time ago, but I cheered in middle school and was on the drill team in high school. I’m also from Texas …the unofficial state capital of the world for cheerleading.

TalkingWithTami:You have a lot of fun products for the girlies,can you tell us what all you make? We originally launched five salon quality products in the Cheer Chics line. I was inspired by my daughter and many of the young girls around me. All of the girls on the bottles are named after friends and family and resemble the actual girls. Cheer Chics has both hair and body products and fun names such as Pom Pom® Hair Pudding and Bring It On® Body Lotion. Our newest product is called Awesome All-Star Detangler and Leave-In Conditioner. The bottle is eye-catching because it is in the shape of a star and the product itself smells good enough to eat. Last year we added Cheer Chics Bows and a sister line called Dance Dolls.

TalkingWithTami: Tell us some of the highs and lows that happened to you, since you’ve launched Cheer Chics? Each day is a roller coaster. Some of  the highs are going to cheer competitions across the country and talking with our biggest fans…cheerleaders. The girls come up to our booth and tell us how much the “love” Cheer Chics. They smell the products and comment how yummy the fragrances are. We are packing for a competition in Georgia as we speak. Some of the lows are the worry of the economy. Most days I try not to think about it and just put on a smile and my best foot forward and sever our customers. We pride ourselves on customer services (a lost art form). Most of the time we try to get the orders out the same day or within 24 hours. I couldn’t do it without my wonderful staff; who are really more like family now. For the first two years we were home based and I had three employees working out of my dining room everyday. We finally moved to an office/warehouse space last September.

TalkingWithTami: Usually most companies add new products to their lines yearly. Whats something new your working on? We are working on launching a new, fun and exciting line of jewelry under the Cheer Chics brand. It will be called Cheer Chics Charms. We have found an awesome manufacturer that will be creating custom bottle cap necklaces for us. We hope to work with teams and schools across the country to turn their logo and team name into wearable jewelry. The fun thing is that the charms are magnetic and can be switched out daily and match every outfit. Another product that will launch later in the year will be a body wash and shampoo that feels like slime. This will launch under our Storybook Station brand as a “Make-Your-Own” type-product. Customers will be able to add in their own fragrance, color and even glitter. We think it is going to be a very busy year.

TalkingWithTami:We all learn something very fascinating about ourselves when we step out on faith. Whats something that youve learned about yourself? Well, starting your own company is definitely stepping out on faith. My husband Greg and I count our blessings daily. I couldn’t have done it without his encouragement in the beginning to take that first step. The one thing that I have learned about myself is that I’m strong. Strong willed and strong minded. I try to never take “no” for an answer and I try to continue to push forward and move our company in the right direction. I know that if we can survive during these very difficult times that we will thrive when the future is brighter.