Lisa’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited at nine years old when she invented shoelaces that stayed tied while playing handball in Brooklyn. This simple moment was the beginning of a lifelong journey of creating innovative solutions to everyday problems.
Her breakthrough came with the creation of the Bosom Buddy Breastfeeding Cape, inspired by her experiences as a young mother. This invention propelled her into the world of product development.
Driven by a desire to help others succeed, Ascolese founded Inventing A to Z, a company dedicated to guiding inventors from concept to market. With over 38 years of experience, she believes the key to success lies in positive and perseverance.
We spoke with Lisa to learn more about her journey.
Please share your origin story with us. Give us some insight into who Lisa Ascolese is.
I was born in London and raised in Brooklyn by two fabulous West Indian parents and a powerhouse Panamanian grandmother and uncle. My parents, grandmother, and uncle were the most positive people on the planet. I didn’t realize this blessing until I was an adult listening to how other families interacted with negativity and engaging in slanderous conversations with each other. In my home, my parents told us anything can be done and will be done. They told us we were smart and kind, and they instilled this belief in myself and my siblings and we believed them. I am a mom. I have three amazing children, Eddie, Brittany, and Giana. I’m also a grandmother of 3 wonderful granddaughters, Olivia who is 2 years old, and my twin granddaughters, Iyla and Ivy who are three months old.
Where did your initial fascination with creation, innovation, and products begin? Have you always been a visionary at heart?
I am a creative person who just can’t help creating solutions for day to day issues that arise. I believe for every problem, there are three solutions. The words “can’t be done” don’t ever come out of my mouth. I am a true believer in the power of positive words and actions, and I impart this powerful philosophy and belief to my family and my clients. I have been this way since I was 9 years old. As a child growing up in Brooklyn, we played outside all day. My game of choice was handball, and everyone who knows the game of handball knows you need to have tight shoe laces. Well after having to re-tie my shoes one time too many, I invented shoelaces that stayed tied. That was just the beginning of a lifetime of inventing hundreds of products throughout my life.
Your metamorphosis from struggling inventor to successful product development entrepreneur is incredible. If you could give a piece of advice about overcoming and navigating transitions, what would you say?
I invented the Bosom Buddy Breast feeding Cape which I designed so moms could nurse their babies discreetly and comfortably. I was very young when I had my first child, and I was completely embarrassed to nurse in front of anyone. I knew I had to create a product for other women who were experiencing the same dilemma during such a special and intimate time with their new baby. I sold the Bosom Buddy to retail stores all over the United States and took off running from that point with other products. I gained the confidence I needed to create, manufacture, and market other products.
There is also the Bun-tie Hair Accessory which I designed to put my hair in various up do styles. This is a very fascinating and albeit, funny story. Every Sunday when I was getting ready for church, I would put my hair up in a ponytail or bun, and I would use a different sock to create the style. Each week, I would inevitably receive a compliment about my hair accessory. I would laugh to myself and say, “If they only knew, I was wearing a sock in my hair”. After about ten compliments, I thought, okay, this is a product. I went home and started designing the Bun-tie Hair Accessory, and it was sold on QVC television a year later.
Then, the Wrap And Store Organizer came to life when I was wrapping Christmas presents and I kept losing my scissors and tape. I knew I wasn’t the only one going through this issue so I went to work designing the Wrap And Store. I made sure it had multiple pockets that would house scissors, tape cards, and a dropdown bar for wrapping paper, along with two ways to hang it. I designed it to keep all gift wrapping tools in one organized place. Then, there is the infamous Perfect Pocket Organizer I created to help contain and organize plastic lids, cookbooks, and large utensils. I say infamous because this was one of my fastest selling products on QVC. QVC runs 6 minute segments, and my product sold in 30 seconds in Bob’s Kitchen.
Helping other people bring their ideas to life must be wonderful. What inspired you to begin doing so?
These inventions are just a few of the products I launched and sold on QVC television and HSN. Inventing is in my blood, but so is the need to help others to succeed which brings me to my business. I am the CEO and Founder of Inventing A to Z. At Inventing A to Z, I work with a spectacular team to help my clients take their ideas from a napkin idea all the way to the marketplace, from prototype to production and everything in between. I have always dreamed of combining my passion of inventing with the love I have for people, and I am blessed to say God provided me with both. I work with the most creative and kind people on the planet. I am on cloud 9 when I wake up to a new client with a product that can change the world. As corny as it may sound, it’s completely true.
With over 38 years of experience, what do you believe are the most important qualities an inventor or entrepreneur should possess to succeed in this industry?
I literally saw this vision of my life today more than 35 years ago when I was designing my Bosom Buddy. I saw myself surrounded by products and people who I was helping, and here I am. Dreams and visions do come true when you have the faith, passion, and belief in yourself that all things are possible.
For anyone who is looking to create or develop a product, what one-sentence piece of advice would you say?
The power of positive words and actions make all things that seem impossible, possible, when you mesh them together.
How do you stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in the product development industry, and how do you incorporate these into your work with clients?
I’m constantly listening to new podcasts and reading books to stay in tune with the newest trends. I recently wrote a book titled “The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing The Right Way! All Or Nothing Now Or Never!” It’s chock full of my 35 years of experience in product development and marketing. I made sure the book is accessible to people of all different stages in their lives and careers. You do not have to be an expert in product development to read it, but you will feel like one afterwards. You will also feel lifted and inspired regardless of what industry you are in. Each chapter contains my written affirmations for the reader. I explain the importance of naming and claiming your business or product and conceptualizing your product to secure intellectual property rights. I also share how important it is to find the right manufacturers who are the right fit for your product in addition to navigating the world of retail and marketing, each chapter is packed with actionable steps and real-world examples.
I tried to put more into this book than just the practical knowledge necessary to succeed as an inventor. I drew on my own life experiences to talk about the importance of passion, faith, and belief in achieving entrepreneurial success. I had to put my heart and soul into it in order to connect with the readers and inspire them in their journeys as entrepreneurs.
Discover more about her amazing journey by visiting her website here & be sure to connect on Instagram, here.
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