Success keeps ringing: Save The Girls keeps answering the call

 

By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE
IBJ Managing Editor
[email protected]

In an IBJ story by Dennis Grubaugh back in August 2019, it was reported that this specialty purse design and idea had been “borne of inspiration” back in 2017. Grubaugh went on to share its inspiration: “All because two daughters lost their cellphones — one in a state park, the other in a toilet.”

Tami Lange, president and inventor of Save The Girls, told the story of her daughters’ dilemma to her sister-in-law in the days following the “drownings.” The family had gathered for a long family reunion in Branson, Mo., in July 2017, and when Lange told her sister-in-law the story, the response from her was, “I never lose my phone,” as her sister-in-law pulled her device out from her bra.

Lange proceeded to chastise her sister-in-law for carrying her phone there because of the medical community’s multiple warnings against keeping cellphones there and the resulting radiation concerns. Lange’s sister-in-law was being treated for breast cancer at that time.

The August 2019 story goes on to explain that Lange spent the rest of the day following this conversation researching ways to prevent phone loss like her daughters’ again while also not having to resort to her family member’s practice. She eventually submitted her idea to an international bid website that subsequently led to factory bids and product manufacturing.

Grubaugh’s previous report had further noted that the name “Save The Girls,” was a play on both the connection with her daughters and as a salute to the fight against breast cancer. (You can review Grubaugh’s IBJ story here: https://www.ibjonline.com/2019/08/07/from-qvc-to-the-oscars-cellphone-purse-rings-success-for-metro-east-businesswoman/)

Lange shared more recent remarks with the IBJ regarding how it all got started: “I knew I needed to find a new solution! I knew we needed a stylish, hands-free way for women to carry and use their phones safely. I started working on a design with a touch screen window and launched the company in 2017. It’s been a mission-driven journey ever since with giving 10 percent of profit to breast cancer research with our product line.”

As the company’s founder, Lange is CEO and still running things. Her daughter Elizabeth Lange is now serving as the director of operations at Save The Girls. “Yes, it’s a true family affair!” the CEO said. “We’re a woman-owned and operated business, with 18 employees total, at headquarters in Belleville, Illinois.”

The IBJ caught up with Save The Girls after learning of the ribbon cutting for their new warehouse and the company’s scheduled appearances with Costco Roadshows across the county. Lange said: “The ribbon cutting marked the grand opening of our new warehouse—a big milestone for us. As for Costco, we’re doing our first-ever Road Show in three St. Louis locations this summer. It’s a test run that could turn into a nationwide presence.

“Operations-wise, we’re focused on scaling our direct-to-consumer channel, while expanding into wholesale and big-box partnerships like Costco,” she added.

Product design for Save The Girls is done locally and manufacturing takes place with the company’s vetted, ethical partners in China and Cambodia. “Our line has grown from the original touch screen purses to now include our popular Clip & Go, RFID wallets, and our newest design – the Zip & Clip. All of them are created with practicality and style in mind; everything has a purpose,” Lange explained.

As noted earlier, Save The Girls is headquartered in Belleville, Ill., where Tami Lange was born and raised. “We just opened a brand-new shipping facility right here to keep up with demand. We don’t have a traditional storefront, but customers can find us at www.savethegirls.com, in over 2,000 retail stores worldwide, and at major retailers like QVC, HSN, and now in Costco’s Roadshows across the country,” said Lange.

In fact, Lange has made exceptional efforts to get the word out about the company’s product lines. As far back as November 2020, just a few years into production, Lange appeared on two segments of QVC promoting the product lines. The purses have also been featured on Good Morning America, the Oscars, and through many other news and program outlets all over the world. Support from the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center also helped them grow into an international brand.

Lange said, “Our marketing is scrappy but smart. We rely on organic social media, word of mouth, influencer marketing and good old-fashioned customer love. We’ve had viral moments on TikTok, built a strong community on Facebook and Instagram, and we leverage tools like Klaviyo, Shopify and Meta Ads. But honestly, our customers are our biggest advocates.”

The IBJ also asked Lange about some of the major challenges that Save The Girls had experienced in getting to this point on its timeline.

Lange first quipped, “Oh where do I start?”

She then said, “Early on, finding a manufacturer who could get the touch screen feature just right was tough. Then Covid threw us a curveball, like everyone. And as we’ve grown, balancing heart and hustle, making sure we stay grounded in our mission while scaling fast, has been the biggest challenge. And right now, keeping up with inventory demand and navigating retail logistics as we expand.”

And looking five years out and to the future overall? Lange replied: “Five years from now, I see Save The Girls as a household name. I want our purses and Clip & Go straps in every major retailer. But more importantly, I want our mission to be recognized by raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. We have donated $120,000 to date, but I’d love to hit $1 million in donations. Big goal, I know, but hey, we’ve come this far…”

Photos courtesy Save The Girls.