Embracing a DIY Approach to Marketing & PR with Leeanna Gantt of TookTake

Leeanna Gantt is the inventor and CEO of TookTake, a patented medication reminder system that is revolutionizing the way people take their medications. TookTake offers a variety of medication reminder labels designed to help consumers avoid accidental medication overdose and remember which medications they’ve taken, and when. As a breast cancer survivor, Leeanna knows how difficult it can be to remember if you’ve taken your medication - and have taken it on time. Prior to launching TookTake, Leeanna served in executive and leadership roles at a variety of organizations, including Start With, Rainbow Pack, and Tinker - Community Art Studio.

Leeanna joins us today to share how she turned a personal challenge into a fulfilling and rewarding startup business. She shares the inspiration behind launching TookTake, the first steps she took to transition her company from the ‘business idea stage’ to successfully launching a startup, and how she leaned on friends and family to test her products. We discuss the importance of managing your expectations as a new entrepreneur and why Leeanna chose a DIY approach for her PR strategy. Leeanna shares her experience with researching and applying for a Utility Patent for her products and the costs associated with obtaining a Utility Patent. We also discuss the best ways to pitch your products to journalists and share tips for honing your messaging and sharing your brand story in a concise, yet powerful way.

“What didn’t work was just doing nothing.” - Leeanna Gantt

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This week on Startups in Stilettos:

What inspired Leeanna to start the TookTake businessThe first steps Leeanna took to transition TookTake from a business idea to a business startupGetting comfortable with being uncomfortable and pushing yourself out of your comfort zoneManaging your expectations and how Leeanna prepared to launch her companyUsing grassroots marketing strategies to promote your new businessCreating a brand story that is relatable to your customersWhy Leeanna chose a DIY approach to marketing and PRPivoting from selling wholesale products to direct-to-consumer salesThe strategy Leeanna used to approach wholesale buyersHow Leeanna’s products and packaging have evolved since launching her companyProtecting your intellectual property and applying for a patentThe best ways to to pitch your story and product ideas to journalistsTips for honing your story and messageWhat’s next for TookTake

Resources Mentioned:

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Our Favorite Quotes:

“Don’t invest a lot in your first packaging because you’ll probably have to change it.” - Leeanna Gantt“Be persistent. If you believe in your product, keep trying to find the right people.” - Leeanna Gantt

Connect with Leeanna Gantt:

TookTakeTookTake on LinkedInTookTake on InstagramTookTake on FacebookLeeanna Gantt on LinkedIn

Connect with your Startups in Stilettos hosts!

Stephanie Cartin on InstagramStephanie Cartin on LinkedInJessica Abo on InstagramJessica Abo on LinkedInLearn more about Jessica Abo here

This episode is sponsored by… Hershey’s Her For She Sorority

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