Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 11-6-15 Edition

Local
Woman’s Creation That Started In Her Backyard Is Catching On
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Like most homeowners, Ms. Theresa Thompson was tired of raking mounds of leaves week after week from her yards. She used the gift of creation given to her by God and invented what is known as “The New Leaf Relief EZ Mats.”
The New Leaf Relief EZ Mat can be identified as a new yard tool that helps pick up leaves, cut grass and other yard debris.
Earlier this year when the Sentinel introduced Ms. Thompson and her new creation, she had her sights set on being a participant on Shark Tank. Apparently, the company was interested in her product because they replied to her application. But by the time she completed the paperwork for the selection process, she was too late for Season 7 of the show. However, they en- couraged her to get ready for Season 8.
Ms. Thompson is grateful for that opportunity and plans to take advantage of it, but for now she is moving on to other projects. After intense negotiation with a company to produce the New Leaf Relief EZ Mats, she received her first shipment early last month and sales began on October 9th.
The process of becoming an entrepreneur has taken the m0ther to 3 and daughter of Ms. Annie Grace to work diligently with the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center that provides a lot of free services for startup businesses.
“This experience has been a learning process of who I really am...a woman that God has given the gift of cre- ation while learning to accept my failures, and at the same time having the strength to keep going. He will know that you have been faithful over small things and then all of a sudden He gives you the opportunity over a great big thing,” she stated.
Last week, she landed a sales deal with Ace Hardware
Ms. Theresa Thompson debuted her new creation, New Leaf Relief EZ Matt at the Hillsborough County Economic Development Minority-Owned Business Pitch Competition on September 12th at the Entrepre- neur Collaborative Center, formerly Small Business Development Center by Kenneth L. Jones, MBA (Manager, Industry Strategic Initiatives).
Store in Seffner with owner, Richard Kelly. “He likes the product, will put it in his store and see how it sells,” she said. “I just can’t believe a product that started in my back yard is now in retail stores for sale,” she said.
Ms. Thompson is employed with the Hillsborough County Court Clerk’s Office.
Ronald Everett said the pick-up of the leaves was much quicker that the rake-up.
Jeff and Susan Carpenter are customers with Ms. Thompson.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-B