We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Noy, Irina Katsnelson, Lisa Kadoch recently and have shared our conversation below.
Stephanie Noy, Irina Katsnelson, Lisa Kadoch, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience, for us, really stems from our life experiences. When things don’t go as planned and we’re forced to pivot, that’s when resilience is built. Life can be tough, and building a business presents its own set of challenges, but it’s in learning to face those challenges head-on and adjust as needed that resilience is forged. Each of us comes from a different background, and those experiences have played a big role in shaping us into the women we are today. Whether it was immigrating to this country as a young girl, witnessing our parents build something from the ground up, or dealing with difficult family dynamics, these experiences taught us the true power and importance of resilience.”
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Our story is one we love to share because it all happened so organically! First and foremost, we’re friends who are like family, and we all share a love for traveling with our kids. Every year, we take a trip together to a different destination. Between the three of us, we have seven kids, ranging from 4 to 11 years old. Before each trip, we’d spend time searching for a variety of activities and crafts to keep our kids entertained while traveling. At dinner, we’d set up these activities at the table to keep them busy, which allowed us adults to finish our meals, chat, and truly enjoy the moment. It was during one of these vacations, as we were having dinner, that the idea of Paks was born. We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have an activity bag that was developmentally appropriate for our kids, one that provided them with on- the- go fun?” When we couldn’t find anything like it on the market, we decided to create our own.
Paks provides a hands-on solution for keeping kids entertained during travel or when parents are occupied. Each Paks product is carefully curated by age and gender, filled with educational and fun activities that make family vacations and outings more enjoyable and relaxing for everyone. Our goal is to make travel more enjoyable, one Paks at a time! While we market Paks for travel, we’ve also had customers purchase them for car rides, doctor visits, or even to have on hand for a sick child at home. The possibilities are endless!
We have some exciting news! Soon, you’ll be able to shop Paks directly on our brand-new website, launching at the end of February. Stay up-to-date on all the latest by following us on Instagram @paks4kidz, and get ready to shop Paks at Paks4kidz.com.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Resilience: As we’ve mentioned, the ability to bounce back from challenges and adapt when things don’t go as planned is crucial. Building a business comes with inevitable ups and downs, and resilience allows us to stay focused and keep moving forward, no matter what obstacles arise.
Creativity and Problem-Solving: Starting a business from scratch requires innovation and the ability to think outside the box. Whether it’s curating the perfect activities for kids or finding new ways to reach our customers, creativity plays a key role in how we develop products and overcome hurdles.
Empathy and Customer Understanding: Understanding the needs of our customers and empathizing with their pain points—whether it’s the stress of traveling with kids or finding engaging activities—is essential. By listening closely to what our customers need, we’re able to create products that genuinely make a difference in their lives.
Luckily, as moms ourselves, we are part of our target audience. We understand firsthand the challenges that come with keeping kids entertained during travel or while managing everyday life. Being in tune with the needs of our customers has given us invaluable insights. Our advice is to always stay connected with your own experiences and perspectives. If you’re creating something for parents or families, be sure to approach it from a place of personal understanding. Your own challenges and successes can serve as a powerful foundation for creating solutions that truly resonate with others in the same boat.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Our ideal clients are moms—those who understand the need for fun and engaging activities to keep kids entertained during travel, without the need for electronics. But our products also appeal to anyone in the travel industry, including airports, schools, hotels, and event planners. We’ve even got our sights set on a future where you can find Paks for sale at an airport near you, making travel less stressful for families everywhere!
Our ideal clients are individuals or organizations that prioritize family experiences—whether that’s parents or businesses in the travel industry looking to make life easier for families. They understand the importance of making travel and outings enjoyable for both kids and adults.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paks4kidz.com
- Instagram: @paks4kidz
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