Ladies Who Launch
	From: LadiesWhoLaunch.com
Who Is She? J.J. Matis is the “president, CEO, secretary and everything else for my company, J.J. Creations.” J.J. Creations designs, produces, manufactures and markets functional yet fashionable backpacks, purses, travel bags, totes, book bags, mini-bags, luggage and other bags, primarily for sports fans, but also for rock groups and politicians. Her themed bags - specially designed for organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers, L.A. Lakers, New York Yankees, the Baseball Hall of Fame and rock bands like No Doubt and the Grateful Dead - have been wildly successful. Her long list of A-list celebrity clientele reads like a who’s-who at the Academy Awards or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and includes names like Bruce Springsteen, Cameron Diaz, Jack Nicholson and U2. Did we mention that she also won an account with the U.S. Senate and that her flag-bags are sold in Senate gift shops and worn by politicians such as California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Her revenues have grown every year for the past four years, the number of her merchandising agreements is rapidly multiplying, production is expanding, and J.J. is just getting started… How Did She Get Started? “In 1999, I was looking for something that I could use to carry my pom poms, foam finger, peanuts, water bottle, binoculars and radio when going to Dodger games. All I could find were the traditional backpacks and duffle-style bags. I wanted to carry a bag that was more fashionable, yet still incorporated my favorite baseball team. I have had a sewing machine since my teens, so I decided to make a bag for myself that resembled an actual baseball. Immediately I was inundated - at my seat, in the concession lines, in the ladies room, everywhere I walked around the stadium - with questions. Everyone wanted to know, ‘Where did you get that adorable bag?!’ While cheering on the Dodgers, I had a gut instinct that fans might be willing to part with their hard-earned money for my creations.” A Lucky Break - Making It in the Big Leagues “I took a Poloroid and description of the product to the Dodgers’ merchandising executive, Mike Nygren, who encouraged me to get some samples done and incorporate the project into my MBA program at California Lutheran University. The business became my final graduate project. With mentorship from Mike, I was able to obtain my Major League Baseball license, which was the biggest of big breakthroughs. Major League Baseball is strict about giving out licenses and sets the standard for licensing - it’s a $2.5 billion business. I was also able to get into other high-profile sports, including hockey and basketball.” Money - Making It in the Boys Club “One of my biggest challenges is being a woman in the male-dominated sports world. I have to over come a lot of prejudices every day and navigate through the political bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the Number One growth areas in sports licensing are products for women. The key is to incorporate fashion with that particular sport. So, I came up with my ‘graffiti’ products, which feature original artwork created with the style and colors of each team in mind.” Early Influences “A bit of entrepreneurship runs in my family. When I was growing up, various family members owned their own businesses - a jewelry store, travel agency, beauty salons. Another early influence… I took my first sewing class in middle school. First I made a tote bag, then a dress and shirt. From that point on, I began to alter and modify just about everything I wore.” Early Work Experience “After college, I began my career working in the marketing departments for the Los Angeles Raiders and EMI Music. I excelled in both jobs, but after five years, I realized the corporate setting wasn’t right for me at that time of my life.” Shoestring Budget “My father invested by providing the initial seed capital for my business and my mother also contributed. My family and friends have played an integral part in the success of my company. Dad is my CFO and business advisor, Mom provides advice on fashion and marketing strategies, my brother is my photographer and I.T. guy, and extended family and friends act as customer focus groups, providing feedback on my newest creations.” Surviving a Slump “Sometimes it has been hard to keep going. I was not well connected and didn’t have access to large amounts of funding. The doubters and naysayers made me question myself. But I often reminded myself of the Bruce Springsteen lyric, “From Small Things, Big Things One Day Come!’ And by my third year in business, big things started happening.” Future Vision “My future goals include selling millions of products, carried by all major sports teams. It is my vision to feature a variety of licensed logos, nicknames, symbols, slogans and original artwork on a line of premium quality baseball, basketball, football, hockey puck, tennis ball, golf ball, soccer ball, bowling ball shaped products, graffiti products and additional design creations. I would also like to become part of a larger corporate entity and expand nationally and internationally.” What I Do for Fun “I love going to sporting events (surprise, surprise) and rock concerts, spending time with my family, and giving back to the community. I’m involved with charities that are important to my family and friends and often donate products to good causes. One of my bags, autographed by the Lakers, recently raised more than $1000 for California fire victims.” Words of Advice From Babe Ruth: “Never let the fear of striking out stop you from swinging.” From Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.” J.J. Matis lives in Los Angeles, but commutes often to New York. [www.ladieswholaunch.com]

Ladies Who Launch

Who Is She?

J.J. Matis is the “president, CEO, secretary and everything else for my company, J.J. Creations.” J.J. Creations designs, produces, manufactures and markets functional yet fashionable backpacks, purses, travel bags, totes, book bags, mini-bags, luggage and other bags, primarily for sports fans, but also for rock groups and politicians. Her themed bags - specially designed for organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers, L.A. Lakers, New York Yankees, the Baseball Hall of Fame and rock bands like No Doubt and the Grateful Dead - have been wildly successful. Her long list of A-list celebrity clientele reads like a who’s-who at the Academy Awards or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and includes names like Bruce Springsteen, Cameron Diaz, Jack Nicholson and U2. Did we mention that she also won an account with the U.S. Senate and that her flag-bags are sold in Senate gift shops and worn by politicians such as California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Her revenues have grown every year for the past four years, the number of her merchandising agreements is rapidly multiplying, production is expanding, and J.J. is just getting started…

How Did She Get Started?

“In 1999, I was looking for something that I could use to carry my pom poms, foam finger, peanuts, water bottle, binoculars and radio when going to Dodger games. All I could find were the traditional backpacks and duffle-style bags. I wanted to carry a bag that was more fashionable, yet still incorporated my favorite baseball team. I have had a sewing machine since my teens, so I decided to make a bag for myself that resembled an actual baseball. Immediately I was inundated - at my seat, in the concession lines, in the ladies room, everywhere I walked around the stadium - with questions. Everyone wanted to know, ‘Where did you get that adorable bag?!’ While cheering on the Dodgers, I had a gut instinct that fans might be willing to part with their hard-earned money for my creations.”

A Lucky Break - Making It in the Big Leagues

“I took a Poloroid and description of the product to the Dodgers’ merchandising executive, Mike Nygren, who encouraged me to get some samples done and incorporate the project into my MBA program at California Lutheran University. The business became my final graduate project. With mentorship from Mike, I was able to obtain my Major League Baseball license, which was the biggest of big breakthroughs. Major League Baseball is strict about giving out licenses and sets the standard for licensing - it’s a $2.5 billion business. I was also able to get into other high-profile sports, including hockey and basketball.”

Money - Making It in the Boys Club

“One of my biggest challenges is being a woman in the male-dominated sports world. I have to over come a lot of prejudices every day and navigate through the political bureaucracy. Meanwhile, the Number One growth areas in sports licensing are products for women. The key is to incorporate fashion with that particular sport. So, I came up with my ‘graffiti’ products, which feature original artwork created with the style and colors of each team in mind.”

Early Influences

“A bit of entrepreneurship runs in my family. When I was growing up, various family members owned their own businesses - a jewelry store, travel agency, beauty salons. Another early influence… I took my first sewing class in middle school. First I made a tote bag, then a dress and shirt. From that point on, I began to alter and modify just about everything I wore.”

Early Work Experience

“After college, I began my career working in the marketing departments for the Los Angeles Raiders and EMI Music. I excelled in both jobs, but after five years, I realized the corporate setting wasn’t right for me at that time of my life.”

Shoestring Budget

“My father invested by providing the initial seed capital for my business and my mother also contributed. My family and friends have played an integral part in the success of my company. Dad is my CFO and business advisor, Mom provides advice on fashion and marketing strategies, my brother is my photographer and I.T. guy, and extended family and friends act as customer focus groups, providing feedback on my newest creations.”

Surviving a Slump

“Sometimes it has been hard to keep going. I was not well connected and didn’t have access to large amounts of funding. The doubters and naysayers made me question myself. But I often reminded myself of the Bruce Springsteen lyric, “From Small Things, Big Things One Day Come!’ And by my third year in business, big things started happening.”

Future Vision

“My future goals include selling millions of products, carried by all major sports teams. It is my vision to feature a variety of licensed logos, nicknames, symbols, slogans and original artwork on a line of premium quality baseball, basketball, football, hockey puck, tennis ball, golf ball, soccer ball, bowling ball shaped products, graffiti products and additional design creations. I would also like to become part of a larger corporate entity and expand nationally and internationally.”

What I Do for Fun

“I love going to sporting events (surprise, surprise) and rock concerts, spending time with my family, and giving back to the community. I’m involved with charities that are important to my family and friends and often donate products to good causes. One of my bags, autographed by the Lakers, recently raised more than $1000 for California fire victims.”

Words of Advice

From Babe Ruth: “Never let the fear of striking out stop you from swinging.”
From Helen Keller: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.”

J.J. Matis lives in Los Angeles, but commutes often to New York.

[www.ladieswholaunch.com]

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