Hello folks!  Here are a few links to some press just to keep you in the loop. 

http://kitchenrap.blogspot.com/2009/09/living-charmed-life.html 

http://agirlsgottaspa.com/blog/2009/10/leslie-haywood-breast-cancer-survivor 

http://realitytvmagazine.sheknows.com/blog/2009/09/29/shark-tank-episode-seven/ 

http://www.mominventors.com/2009/09/30/mom-inventor-causes-bidding-war-on-shark-tank/

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/oct/06/local-mom-savors-success-as-grill-charms-inventor/ 

http://www.allbusiness.com/entertainment-arts/broadcasting-industry-television/13119994-1.html 

http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/29747-president-of-s-c-startup-gets-50-000-in-capital-after-appearance-on-lsquo-shark-tank-rsquo?rss=0 

http://www.charlestoninspired.com/blog/2009/10/08/local-inventor-gains-investor-from-reality-tv-show/ 

Okie Dokie, onto business!

Wednesday (tomorrow) I’ll will be doing a live teleseminar with friend Traci Bisson, Founder of The Mom Entrepreneur.  It’s free, but space is limited so please sign up now!

http://www.themomentrepreneur.com/oct-09.html#sharktank  Hope to see you there! 

I’ll give you a quick update on business, and then I want to get in a little “Pink” business since we are winding up Breast Cancer awareness month.  Sales since the show are better then they have ever been and I’m still excited to see what my inbox brings every morning.  On the wholesale front, I have tried to get on with QVC before, but have not been successful.  Most recently the buyer mentioned something about not wanting to take on many new “unproven” products in light of the economic uncertainty.  (This is last year about this time and I’m sure you remember just how “uncertain” things were November of 2008).  Well I’m going back for another try!  A broker (which is how many folks get on to QVC, is through a broker) whom I met a while back is really hopeful that this media attention recently is what will push them over the edge and take a chance on Grill Charms™.  In the past, QVC never had the opportunity to “see” the inventor and the product in action, and now they will have the added benefit of seeing about 15 minutes of how I do in front of a camera.  We are hoping for a spot on one of their Father’s Day gift giving special programs next year.  If you think Grill Charms and I would do okay on QVC, feel free to make a “suggestion” https://quality-s.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/main.html.file.|cs|cs_email,html/left.html.file.|cs|cs_nav,html/

(and maybe even give them a link to the show: www.hulu.com/watch/99124/shark-tank-week-7)Hee hee  

Okay, on to thinking Pink!  October is almost over, so I wanted to get in one last push for raising awareness and support for the cause.  For those of you who are just joining me, I am a breast cancer survivor as my mother before me.  We both were diagnosed in our 30’s.  I have two daughters and two sisters so I do what I can to raise awareness and help find a cure before my daughters turn “THAT” age.  A very talented photographer friend of mine took a powerful, inspirational and admittingly a tad bit shocking photo entitled “Hope”. It is a photo of my sister and me. 

Without getting too technical, the reconstructive surgery that I had after my bilateral mastectomy is called DIEP.  It is a relatively new and “all natural” procedure that does not involve the use of any implants.  The results look and feel “natural”.  The primary market for “Hope” is reconstructive surgeons that perform this procedure as the scars in the photo are completely un “photo shopped”.  It is not only a powerful and inspirational photo, but it also shows the results of the procedure (to some degree) and gives “Hope” to women in their offices faced with trying to look “normal” again.  Ironically enough, about 6 months after the photo was taken, my sister (whose arm and tattoo are featured) had her own bilateral mastectomy and natural reconstruction by the same wonderful doctors I had.  She had hers done prophylactically as she didn’t want to wait for the other shoe (or in our case, the other boob) to drop.  

We have decided to bring “Hope” to the masses and are donating 20% of the proceeds from www.keychainforacure.com  to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  I supposed that’s about all for now from this “inventor mom” for today.  I’ll be back soon with more!

Leslie Haywood, Founder and President of Charmed Life Products, Inventor of Grill Charms™  www.grillcharms.com