Meet Elizabeth Sarnecki-Scumaci of GlitterStarz in McCook

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Sarnecki- Scumaci.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Elizabeth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started 10 YEARS ago… YEP GlitterStarz made it the 10 year mark! It all started after graduating college, and having the perfect dynamic of the motivation and drive within, while being blessed with a great support system.

Just like anything in life, start small… take baby steps with positive intentions, and everything seems to work out. We started setting up at vendor events, and craft fairs… selling dance and “girly” themed t-shirts and tutus. From Day 1, GlitterStarz, Inc. has been a Mother-Daughter duo, and in our early years, we focused more on the teamwork between my Mother and I, and our dedication to our quality and innovation…. then the customers and sales fell into place.

Our product line evolved as the years went by, and we started to focus more towards the dance studio owners, and gymnastics, and cheer coaches for them to then retail to their parents. In our craft fair days, we were selling individually to the parents and grandparents. They would buy 1 tutu, or 1 t-shirt to surprise their little princess…. After a couple years of that, we figured out the game plan to sell to the studios and organizations for them to then retail to their loyal customers. This then turned “onesie-twosie” orders into 100s of order for the same product.

Throughout the 10 years, we have stayed in the same market, yet switched business models, and expanded our product line… the constant throughout the 10 years is DEDICATION and DRIVE.

Hey- in 2017, our 10th year in business….. We have just been invited to become a MADE IN USA supplier to WALMART…. Yep Walmart!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
A smooth road? Hmmm… It has been a very windy, and curvy road, with a couple of DETOUR signs 😉

I believe that the ability to become a successful entrepreneur, and make it within 10 years of the industry that you are in is all about flexibility. You have to be flexible with your products, prices, sales techniques, and customer relations. If we were not flexible with decisions and mindsets, the road would have been a lot bumpier.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the GlitterStarz story. Tell us more about the business.
GlitterStarz custom designs and manufactures cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics wear. Our product line varies from themed everyday apparel, to competition uniforms, to the warmup jackets worn over the apparel.

GlitterStarz has the slogan “The Rhinestone Leaders of the WORLD” trademarked! YES, it is trademarked!
We are proud that I have set out for a vision, and every day we are working towards progressing that goal and putting a mark on the map for us!

In our Chicagoland headquarters, we operate out of a 7,500sf building and employee more than 17 employees. GlitterStarz is also a minority owned business, with some products MADE IN THE USA! There is a lot to be proud of there…

What sets us apart from others is we give the same attention to detail and effort whether we are selling a single leotard to a Grandmother who wants to give her granddaughter a Christmas present, the same amount of respect and attention that we give to our distributors whom purchase 100s of the same item.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think luck is directly related to the amount of hard work I execute. I have found that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. The key to success is utilizing all resources around you, and sometimes luck is a good resource to take advantage of.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5100 Lawndale Ave
• Website: www.shopglitterstarz.com
• Phone: 708.496.8004
• Email: elizabeth@glitterstarz.com
• Instagram: GlitterStarzINC
• Facebook: glitterstarzINC

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