Judi Henderson-Townsend
President, Mannequin Madness
www.mannequinmadness.com
Quick, what was your last big impulse buy? A pair of designer shoes? A dark chocolate bar? For Judi Henderson-Townsend it was 50 mannequins. While visiting San Francisco’s only mannequin rental shop she learned that the one-of-a-kind business was closing. So, despite having absolutely no experience in retail or mannequins, she made a spur-of-the-moment decision to buy their entire inventory and launch Mannequin Madness as a part-time pursuit in 2001. Soon afterwards, it blossomed into a full-time niche business respected for its visionary service and environmental leadership. Henderson-Townsend received an award from the federal Environmental Protection Agency for recycling more than 100,000 pounds of mannequins in one year.
She also won a $100,000 technology grant from Intel Corporation, besting 2,500 other businesses. In 2005, Wells Fargo Bank chose her for its Living History Maker Award, presented to one African-American business owner a year.
What we learned from Judi: You’re never too old to re-invent yourself. Tap the wisdom and confidence life has given you and follow your instinct to new places.
Business Planning for Dummies
“My plan was to continue to work full-time at my dot-com and operate a mannequin rental business on the side to service the trade-show market in San Francisco. But in a short period of time, my inventory grew from 50 to 500 mannequins. Then 9/11 happened and I lost my job, so I decided to become a full-time mannequin lady.”
Smart Response to Dumb Waste
“I discovered that national retailers throw away mannequins when they are old or broken or when the store is remodeling or going out of business. Since mannequins are bulky objects made of materials that do not biodegrade, it is not good to put them in a landfill. So I convinced retailers such as Niketown, Kohls, St. John, Nordstrom and Ralph Lauren to let me recycle their unwanted mannequins.”
How it Works
“The recycled mannequins are rented or sold to a wide range of customers all over the U.S. and Canada. Besides independent retailers, some of our customers are Ebay vendors, event planners, artists, museums, production companies, Project Runway wannabees and fashionistas who want a dress form for their home to display a favorite garment. We’ve even had lawyers buy mannequins for courtroom demonstrations to show where someone was shot or stabbed.”
Great story!
Wow! I would have never thought about a mannequin business. Very creative!
Thank you so much for sharing & inspiring others, like myself.
Basmatie Littles
Karma Kidz
http://www.ItsKarmaBaby.com
Very interesting, very creative. Thank you for sharing and wishing continued success.
Renee Eanes
Party Parletix Events
what a great idea, no more than a great idea:
more than being in the right place at the right time
u saw an opportunity and seized it
i am trying to be that fearless
cheers
julz
Thank you! I also LOVE the learning process and I embrace stepping out of my comfort zone. Thank you for sharing with me, an entrepreneur….soon to be Business Woman.
Thank you Judi. Yet another success story from Ladies Who Launch and their featured Ladies! Good job, good instincts and GOOD LUCK.
I think I will make a trip to the local bookstore and check out those three you have listed.
One question. You mentioned entering contests evey year. I assume you are talking about your business. Could you give me (us) some advise on where to find them? I am especially interested in Canadian contests buecause most US contests are not open to Canadian Business.
Thank you again for sharing your story and your advise.
Brenda Stone
(aka Duchess O’Blunt)
http://thetwistedsisterhood.blogspot.com/
I agree get the information but you can’t sit on the fence, decisions have to be made and opportunities need to be recognized and seized. Also ANY business can be successful if you can recognize your strengths and weaknesses and seek support from those who’s strengths balance out your weaknesses. Thanks for the book suggestions they sound great! Congrats on your success now and future.
Krista Armstrong
Kariza Canada
Kariza Designs Distribution in Canada
strong.karm@gmail.com
I can identify with your determination and drive. I also built and continue to build my business through grass root methods. Entrepreneur’s are driven and focused. Good Book Choices!! Much success to you and your family.
Tracy Wright
CEO
Executees, Inc.
http://executees.net
What a phenomenal story. This is true to the cliche’ “One man’s trash is another’s treasure.” This takes creativity to another level. Thanks for sharing.
Roxanne Richardson
Sweet Tooth Fairy Giftbaskets
http://www.sweettoothfairygiftbaskets.com
What a great read! I am very inspired by your energy to do what it takes to make it to the top. I continue to that within my own business and promise myself daily that the minute I’m comfortable that I need to do something new and better!!
Keep up the good work and I hope blessing fall on your business like wild fire!
-Julia Gentry, Ideal Homes
Thank you all for the comments that you have posted on this profile about my business. Some of you have inquired about how to find out about business contests. Here are my suggestions. Set up a “google alert” for the keywords: business contest, contests for entrepreneurs or something similiar. Also if the industry you are in has a trade association, see if they sponsor a contest. Not all contests are about a cash prize, some are for visibility and/or credibility like when I received an award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Also the LWL site frequently posts contests - I found about about the one that Oprah/The White House project sponsored on the LWL site (I think it was under events section.
Wow! This article came right on time for me. I just started my business a few months ago. While everything started out pretty good for a new business, I have hit a bump this month. After reading this article, I have re-newed steam. I am inspired. Congrats to Judi Henderson-Townsend & thanks for sharing.
[...] on Yelp while searching for something else entirely and then again in an email newsletter from Ladies Who Launch, which featured Mannequin Madness and its owner Judi [...]