Ponytails With a Purpose
by Rowan Beck,
November 3, 2011, page 7.....

Alex & Isabelle Hair Ties began as a quest for the perfect hair tie in 2008. It has become quite the small business. Two moms, Alexis Mittlestadt of Charlotte and Deborah Morris of Shelburne, decided to help their daughters Isabelle and Alex create the “perfect” hair tie. The original goal was to teach the girls about finance while having a little fun. They make their hair ties in a variety of colors and are willing to customize for weddings, teams or any other theme.
The general idea was the girls would donate half of what they made to a local cancer charity. The other half could go towards a toy or horseback riding lessons. The girls chose the Connor Turnbaugh Foundation, which provides financial support to local families facing pediatric cancer. By the first fall, they earned $300. Then Alexis and Deborah decided to try their luck on the Internet and at local businesses. Three years later, it is not far from becoming a full-time job.
The business is growing slowly, according to Alexis, and they fit in filling orders while not at their other jobs as rehab therapists. While the kids are at school or sleeping, Alexis and Deborah are busily tying hair ties. The girls help out when they can. “Even my Dad was tying and packaging hair ties when my parents visited from Wisconsin last week,” Alexis said. Currently they are filling a large order for Birchbox, an Internet company where one can purchase anything from skincare products to toothpaste.
The hair ties are being sold at retailers from Burlington to Menlo Park, California. On average, they make approximately 1,000 hair ties per week to fill the orders from the Internet and for stocking retail businesses. They are continuing to add more retail outlets. They do no advertising; it is all word of mouth and web viewing. “Finnegan (Isabelle’s younger sister) is my best advertiser for certain... she never leaves the house without a collection on her arm. She is always looking out for others and wants to be prepared in case someone needs a tie,” Alexis said of her middle daughter.
The girls have a new local name for the business, “Hold Your Horses, ponytails with a purpose.” The girls have also given to other charities, including the Humane Society, Spring Hill Horse Rescue, and now for a local favorite supermarket employee with cancer. A portion of the Internet sales continues to support the Connor B Turnbaugh Foundation.
What started as a fun experiment with children has grown exponentially. It has taught valuable lessons in giving back, community and starting a business. “It is truly satisfying to provide a product that we love, that others love, and that allows us to give back, learn a lot, teach lessons, make something, be creative and, lately, spend production time making ties while catching up with friends and family,” Alexis said.
To see the hair ties, visit alexandisabellehairties.com. Girls can buy them to hold their hair back during the “A Time To Give Run,” the big fundraising event for the Connor Turnbaugh Foundation (CBT) on November 12. For more information about CBT, or its race, see the article on this page or at cbtfoundation.com.