Melissa Reed, ReuseGiftBags.com, The Story ExchangeYour Name: Melissa Reed

Business Name: www.reusegiftbags.com, a maker of reusable gift bags

Type of Business: Gift Bags

Business Location: Iowa, United States

Website   www.reusegiftbags.com
Facebook   www.facebook.com/reusegiftbags

Reason for starting
www.reusegiftbags.com was started by Melissa Reed, a social worker and mother, after her son’s last birthday party. All his gifts were presented in gift bags. Without being able to be recycled, but no signs of use they were thrown in the trash. Then it hit her, only the gift tag was not able to be reused. It is was socially acceptable, the gift bag could be reused.

How do you define success?
Success is helping one person at a time reduce their carbon footprint as well as in a time of recession save in areas they hadn’t thought of yet.

Biggest Success
We recently attended a birthday party for a friend of my son. Three of the gifts were presented in www.reusegiftbags.com logo bags!

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
A top challenge we have faced is the initial start up and the financial costs. By selling online and to gift shops and boutiques, inventory can be managed more effectively.

Who is your most important role model?
I am a nursing home administrator. An important role model to me was a 100 year old, retired, female resident. In a time women were staying home with the kids as a typical scenario, she was a math professor in a man’s world, and even more impressive was the chair of the time at a major university. She was a mother, wife and professional and is a role model for all women.