Banding together
Student entrepreneur creates Krisband for easy sanitizer access
Kristen Carter, Diederich College of Communication ’21, got to work immediately to help others during the COVID-19 crisis.
Her e-commerce business is selling the Krisband, a wristband that can be used for on-the-go hand sanitizing. Throughout the process of starting her business, she noticed that everything she learned from Marquette has prepared her for my entrepreneurship journey.
“Thanks to my advertising and digital media classes, I was able to design my own logo on illustrator, edit my product pictures on photoshop, produce my own commercial video, and manage the social media for my brand without having to hire anyone,” she said. “In addition, serving as an intern for the Women’s Innovation Network has also sparked my desire for entrepreneurship. Just by working in the 707 Hub and being able to network with professionals has allowed me the opportunity to get an internship with the Commons this past summer, and through this program I learned even more about entrepreneurship.”
In this Q+A, Kristen explains the inspiration for the idea and how her training helped her launch the product.
First, can you describe Krisband and how you got the idea?
Of course! The Krisband is a multi-use wristband made of silicone that has a buit-in pouch that allows you to fill it up with hand sanitizer. I call it a multi-use wristband because you can fill it up with lotion, sunscreen, shampoo, or any other liquid that people would want to have easy access to on the go. Each Krisband comes with a refill bottle that is specifically tailored to fit into the refill knob of the band for easy fill-ups.
After realizing the challenges of finding an internship in the COVID climate and getting encouragement from my dad, I decided to start a business! I knew from the start that I wanted to provide a product for people that would help them stay safe during the pandemic. After conducting a survey, doing weeks of market research, and product discovery, I began customizing my brand. The Krisband became the first product that I’ve decided to market within my brand, Carter Health and Lifestyle.
Who would benefit most from this type of product?
When I first started selling Krisbands, I observed that my customers who were seniors wanted to keep their hands sanitized, but they often had a hard time either keeping up with a sanitizer bottle or remembering to sanitize. The Krisband is perfectly convenient for them because by wearing it on their wrist, it serves as a constant reminder to sanitize after they’ve touched something that is potentially germ-infested.
Krisbands are perfect for mothers with children as well. As nurturers of the family, mothers tend to be concerned for their kids and husbands, so in a lot of cases I’ll have moms who purchase enough bands for everyone in the family to have one! Mothers have a lot going on during a typical day, and the Krisband provides an easier, more convenient way for them to keep their hands sanitized while they’re on the go.
How do you personally use it?
Personally, I fill mine up with sanitizer and use it whenever I leave the house to run errands. I use mine when going to the store, pumping gas, or even going out to eat. It has been a huge game-changer for me because I’m the type of person who can not keep up with a hand sanitizer bottle. With the Krisband, sanitizing my hands on a routine basis has never been easier. It also gives me more peace of mind because I know that I won’t forget to sanitize my hands while I’m out in public.
Have you always wanted to start your own business?
Honestly, I didn’t have the desire to start my own business until I started working out of the 707 Hub, so about two years ago. Owning a business always intimidated me, and for the longest time I didn’t think that I was capable of starting my own business. When I started working out the Hub, I was constantly surrounded by entrepreneurs of all ages, and just by being in that space, the idea of entrepreneurship began to rub off on me!
I saw students my age and younger who were running their own businesses, and I learned that as long as you have the right mindset, drive, and the ability to learn from others, anyone can own their own business! In 2019 I joined the Brewed Ideas Bootcamp, and that’s when my desire to become an entrepreneur really sparked. In the program, I learned all about the start up process, along with how to conceptualize and effectively run a business. Ever since then, my desire to start a business became stronger than ever.
How did Marquette help you on your entrepreneurial journey?
Marquette and the 707 Hub have a huge influence on my entrepreneurial journey. As a student studying advertising and digital media, I learned a lot of design skills and editing techniques from my classes that taught me the basics of the Adobe Creative Suite. Thanks to my classes, I was able to design my logo, customize my website, produce a product commercial, and build up a social media presence for my brand without having to hire anyone to do this for me.
In addition to my classes, Marquette also paired me with an amazing mentor through the Marquette Mentorship program. This program has been a huge blessing to me by providing professional development resources, along with pairing me with my mentor Hope Bradley, the director of ABC7 Chicago.
Back to the 707 Hub, not only did they provide me with the motivation to start my own business, but also the resources, mentors, network, and all the tools I needed to start my own business. In addition to the Brewed Ideas Bootcamp I mentioned earlier, Sasha from WIN who works in the 707 Hub shared with me the opportunity to be an intern for the Commons just this past summer. This awesome virtual internship consisted of students who were challenged to build innovative solutions to real-world problems, while engaging in meaningful networking, professional development, and community activities. From this program I learned even more about entrepreneurship and got experience pitching my business ideas to local entrepreneurs and community members. After my internship with the Commons, I just knew that I was going to start a business this year.
What are some classes and mentors at Marquette that have helped guide you?
Some classes that have guided me have been my video editing classes and my advertising design classes. In these classes I was able to sharpen my skills with video editing, and for the first time I learned how to aesthetically design ads and logos for a company or campaign. My main mentors from Marquette would be Sasha from The Women’s Innovation Network; Ebony Ssali, a brand & creative director; Tom Avery, a business mentor from the 707 Hub; and Hope Bradley, my mentor through the Marquette Mentorship program.
What advice would you give to other students who may want to follow an entrepreneurial path?
My biggest piece of advice is: Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and to seek mentorship from professionals. I have found that as a student, most people are willing to help! As long as you have the right mindset, drive, and the ability to learn from others, anyone can own their own business. Don’t let fear conquer your greatness!
Anything else to add?
I’m just grateful that God gave me the opportunity to launch my own business. He’s the one who opened the doors, aligned the right people in my path, and gave me the courage to start this! Along with that, I’m also grateful that I have a community of friends and family who have been so encouraging and supportive of my business. I look forward to seeing where this journey goes! For anyone interested, you can purchase a Krisband at carterhealthandlifestyle.com. You can also connect with us on social media at: @HeathCarter_ on instagram, @HealthCarter on Facebook, and @HealthCarter on Twitter.
