Your Name: Arline Saiki
Business Name: ONEdersave Products LLC
Type of Business: Aquarium and Pond Product
Business Location: United States
U.S. State: New York
Website www.onedersave.com
Twitter http://twitter.com/EcoBioBlock
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EcoBioBlockUSA
Tumblr http://ecobioblock.tumblr.com
Reason for starting
Our graphic design business took a downturn and we moved to the country. My husband wanted a fish farmer friend of ours to import a Japanese fish and he suggested we do it. So we started raising fish and accidentally found this product from Japan that purifies water using beneficial bacteria. We tried it, it was fantastic and switched to importing.
Biggest Success
Winning Pet Age magazine’s 2008 aquarium product award (and personally just being nominated a Yahoo! Women Who Shine for the non-profit I work with)
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Skepticism about the efficacy of our product has been our biggest challenge. Pitching the media in our niche market and strategic marketing has gotten us some fans and promoters who have helped us with our marketing. That and my husband keeping up with all the newest marketing techniques.
Who is your most important role model?
One of my oldest friends who despite secretly battling cancer for the past 4 or 5 years, plus dealing with an unfaithful husband, has constantly challenged herself to be the best she can be in her field and amazes and inspires her children, her students and her friends as well as continuing to win awards for her work.