Stamford, CT - With help from the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) Amy Davis, CEO of Kiss-u Corps LLC secured a line of credit from Chase to bring her business manufacturing operations from China to the USA.
Kiss-u Corps LLC manufactures a refillable cylindrical tissue dispenser that fits into automobile cup holders called the “Kiss-u Tissue Tube.” When she first launched her business the entire product was manufactured in China. Her goal was always to bring the manufacturing back to the US but she needed capital. In June, she succeeded in securing capital after working with Susan Cozzi, WBDC’s business counselor. “Susan worked with me to bring my business plan up-to-date and develop a professional financial projection that the loan underwriters needed to make their determination as to whether or not I would be approved for a line of credit – and for the amount the bank would be willing to grant me; working with the WBDC team was essential in helping me grow my business.” says Davis.
“On average, women owned businesses approach a lender four times before they are approved by a lender,” said Fran Pastore, CEO of WBDC. “We are thrilled that Amy has realized this entrepreneurial dream on her first go-around and is helping to create jobs and taxpayers during these challenging economic times”
Davis would love to have the entire product manufactured in Connecticut but for now she has one of the many components of the tube manufactured in her home state by Plasticoid MFG, Inc in East Windsor. The rest of the product is manufactured in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois where Davis is helping to create jobs by working with multiple companies on different components of the manufacturing process including new tube and display designs.
“I share Amy’s pride and satisfaction because we were able to provide the capital she needed to sustain and grow her company,” said Laura Liscio, who is Davis’s business banker at Chase. “We know America’s small businesses are run by our neighbors like Amy, who in turn, hire their neighbors.”
If not for this baseline of credit from JPMorgan Chase with a promise to increase the line with future accounts receivable, Davis would still be creating jobs overseas. “Someday I’d love to bring the entire product back to Connecticut, but I’ve found wonderful factories in the Midwest to work with. I’m happy to be helping to employ Americans wherever they are.” She says.
Kiss-u Tissues can be found at select Walgreen’s and local pharmacies throughout Fairfield County including Hope Street Pharmacy in Stamford, Greib’s in Darien, Lang’s in Weston, and Achorn’s in Westport.
