Kids Lunch Box Cards:review, interview, and contest (closed)

I am always amazed at how cool “mom” invented products are…so for this contest, I was so intrigued after we received some ourselves, that I contacted the Mom that invented it, Gina, to ask her about her inspiration and what prompted her to move ahead with her idea. I was surprised at the answers! You just never know who your talking to, right? Gina has proved to be one of the nicest, most warm women I have talked to on the Internet and has even offered me some advice and a smile at the end of a hard day on my own business. Moms truly are the source of all great kid ideas andI marvel at the strength and character it takes to run a company, raise kids…and still have time to feed their families at the end of the day.

So take some time to read how she got started, visit her site, and enter the contest here. I can personally say that Kids Lunchbox Cards are a hit in my home and I wont be surprised if they are a hit in yours as well.

KidsLunchBoxCards are a super-fun alternative to the humdrum lunch-time napkin note. They revolutionize communication between moms and kids at that vulnerable time during a long school day. A special note that says…

Our interview with Gina about her business:

1) What prompted you to start KidsLunchBoxCards…(the story behind it)

When she was in 2nd grade, my 7 year old daughter would complain about not having friends at school. During those days, when I went to kiss her goodnight, I would feel tears running down her cheeks, and she would tell me about how she would sit alone at lunch and how humiliating it was. It felt like my heart was splitting in half, and I knew I had to do something. I had recently quit being a costume illustrator for feature films to be a stay at home mom. I started drawing fun cartoons with riddles, quizzes and true wacky stories  that I knew would make her giggle, and I put them into her lunch.

2) how did you go from idea, to company
The lunch cards worked so well, it changed my daughters life. Kids would gather around her to see the days card and try to answer correctly. The cards sparked conversation, and now she has a huge group of friends. I also used them for my little girls- who reluctantly went to school unless they had a lunch card to look forward to-if there was a card in their lunch- all of a sudden mornings were easy! Other moms started calling asking where I got them…. and I witnessed so much separation anxiety with other kids, I then decided I had to try to go to print with one set andsee what would  happen. I knew I would need graphics, so I asked my friend Rose to come on board. We set out to create test cards- to see what kids of different ages  and genders liked and didn’t like, and what size would be best. After that was accomplished, I  asked my retired father ( who created Rice-A-Roni andwas the president of family owned  Ghirardelli Chocolate & Golden Grain Macaroni) to be my investor, my husband Markus ( an actor who plays the dad on the t.v.show “Unfabulous” ) to be in charge of marketing and my very smart brother to handle all the legal stuff!

3) what has been your biggest struggle off the ground?

Having people understand what the product is, and how it can help  kids.

4) how did you find manufacturing/printing
My neighbor and mom, Deborah Gallant, has a business that helps people with” a great idea” get their business off the ground called Lifeworkcatalyst.com. She recommended a printer, and has been a wonderful guide from the  beginning.

5) how did you find start up funding

see #2!

7) what are your long term goals with your company

My dream is to have an expansive line- there are so many subjects to have fun with, and I really want to get to my non readers line.  It’s endless!

what has been the most rewarding
When the cards make kids smile, when kids are giddy and have something to look forward to at lunch and don’t feel sad to go to school, when a mom feels like she is sending a “hug” to her child who’s at school- it’s all good!

This is Charlotte showing me her “favorite one“

When we received them, they WERE fun. We brought them withus to Sonic while we sat around to check them out, and I have to say that even my DH and I learned some new fun (and some disgusting) facts. Kids of all ages are really going to enjoy these. I asked my daughter flat out, she is 3.5 yrs old, if she would like these in her lunch, it was a very loud YES! Although she cant read, she did enjoy the pictures and Gina assured us she has a younger line also coming out soon.

Charlotte showing me the “spider” on the card. She told me it was a black widow.

What you can win:TWO WINNERS will each receive 5 packs of Kids Lunch Box Cards, one of each of their five categories of cards. Each pack comes with a week supply of cards, so the winner will actually win over a months supply!! Light up your child’s day!

How you can win: Gina is getting her business off the ground…to enter, do you have an idea for her on how she can get the word out? What about a suggestion for her website, a category, or expanding her line. Lets hear what you think from one mom to the next. Post in the comments

To gain a 2nd entry: Tell us why your child would love this product!

How you can gain a third entry: Link to this contest and her site and let your readers know she exists! They may have a child that is need of something like this.

When the contest ends: Saturday, the 9th. Two winners!