Community Corner
Local Mom Launches New Product
Amidst a sea of unclaimed water bottles, this mompreneur decided to solve this problem with a new product called "Drink Duets."
When half used water bottles began to pile up at her beach house, Karen Stellato-Sa thought there had to be a better way.
Whether at the beach or the soccer sidelines, she would notice unclaimed water bottles. So she did what any multitasking mom with a full-time career in advertising would do - she created her own product.
Drink Duets are foam bottle tags that slip over the top of water bottles or other beverages. They come in 12 bright colors for easy identification. The bottle tags are large enough to decorate or write your name. Each package contains 12 different colored bottle tags and they retail at $4.50 a pack. The tags can be used more than once.
“I looked for a product to solve my dilemma and I couldn’t find anything,” Stellato-Sa said. “I thought there were wine charms so what about something to identify water bottles. I can’t tell you how many times my daughter came running over to the sideline at a soccer game and asked me which water bottle was hers.”
She named the tags “Drink Duets” based on the product’s mission - keeping you and your drink together.
According to mom Sherry Moriarty, Drink Duets are a much needed product. She's especially concerned about germs now that it's flu season.
“I purchased a pack for my son for when he plays sports but I also like the product for myself to use at the gym,” Moriarty said.
Stellato-Sa, a group media director for Omnicom Media Group Direct, created the prototype herself. She worked with a company in Delaware to manufacture the product. She’s sharing company responsibilities with her husband, Orlando, and so far is financing the business herself. She’s proud to say the product is manufactured in the United States.
Her customers are finding creative ways to use Drink Duets. Since they can be decorated with markers or appliques, many clients are embellishing them for parties or special occasions.
It turns out Stellato-Sa is not alone. Mothers are inventing products every day. According to the National Women’s Business Council patents granted to women jumped 35 percent in 2010. Almost 30 percent of those patents weren’t assigned to private companies indicating that more women are starting their own businesses.
Stellato-Sa’s creative juices are still flowing and she is working on bringing Glass Skirts, her next invention, to market. Made of the same material as Drink Duets, Glass Skirts encircle the base of a wine glass to make the task of finding your wine glass easier.
Stellato-Sa is married and lives in Stewart Manor. She has a son who attends Garden City High School and a daughter in college.
Drink Duets will be available in retail outlets or can be ordered at www.drinkduets.com, Further information can be found on the Drink Duets Facebook page.
