Your Name: Linda Tong

Business Name: KindNotes, LLC

Type of Business: E-Commerce; Gifts

Business Location:United States

U.S. State: California

Website http://www.kindnotes.com
Twitter http://twitter.com/kindnotes
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kindnotesgift
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kindnotes/

Reason for starting
It started as a handmade gift for my then-boyfriend-now-husband several years ago, a jar of 31 notes in mini envelopes to be opened each day or anytime he needed a smile. I wanted to share this unique concept and gift idea for others to stay connected, express their love, and bring back the lost art of letterwriting.

Biggest Success
Being able to spread kindness around the world and making people smile is a huge success for us, in addition to our products being carried by prominent retailers such as 1-800-Flowers.com and SendOutCards.

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Top challenge is getting the word out about our products and marketing it. Luckily, a lot of our customers heard about us through friends and family – we’re grateful for word-of-mouth marketing. We continue to advertise on other sites and through our affiliate program.

Who is your most important role model?
I don’t have specific role models, but I do have utmost respect for women entrepreneurs who start at the bottom with nothing and continue to build their business without giving up.