...anonymously voted Westwords "Best Anti-Smoking Aid" for 2007
Best Anti-Smoking Aid
JuJu Central: JuJu Stx
Tracy O'Shaughnessy and Carole Wilke saw how hard it was for a friend to stick to her stop-smoking vow, so he two local women created JuJuStx to provide a little incentive. The bamboo toothpicks are infused with the natural sweetener Xylitol and other energizing ingredients and come in four flavors: cinnamon, mint ice, licorice and clove. While the picks satisfy the oral cravings of would-be quitters, the JuJu Jewel quotes on the back of each JuJuStx offer more inspiration. And should they need still more positive reinforcement, the company's website includes testimonials from contented customers, as well as the mission of the JuJu Girls: to help a million people quit smoking by 2009. Stick with it! www.JuJuStx.com
Tasting success in natural foods
By Joyzelle Davis, Rocky Mountain News - February 23, 2008
JuJu Stx - Bamboo toothpicks flavored with natural essential oils, including Licorice flavored, with sweet fennel, star anise and natural sweetener xylitol.
* When founded: 2004 * Web site: jujustx.com
* Where available: The $2.99 tins of 70 sticks are available at Vitamin Cottage, Whole Foods and JuJu's Web site www.JuJuStx.com.
* Back story: Tracy O'Shaughnessy and Carol Wilke decided to create a bamboo toothpick infused with natural essential oils to help a close mutual friend quit smoking. The thinking was that the oils would curb the nicotine craving while the sensation of chewing on a stick would give a smoker a stress-relieving way to do something with their hands.
At the time, O'Shaughnessy was working as a satellite-systems specialist for Lockheed Martin. After much deliberation, she quit the security of her job to focus on JuJu Stx full time from her Highlands Ranch home.
* Why natural: When they were just starting up, Wilke and O'Shaughnessy considered using artificial ingredients but quickly determined, "There was no reason for it other than to get products to last longer on the shelves," O'Shaughnessy said.
* Goal: JuJu Stx started with a goal of helping a million people quit smoking and chewing tobacco by August 2009. The company also would like to expand into a full line of "energizing products," from candy to gum to mints.
* Biggest challenge: "Getting the word out," O'Shaughnessy said. "We're a small company with a really big mission."
Help in the shape of a tooth pick
By Stephanie Thompson, Staff Writer 02/14/2008
What if a toothpick could kick a long-fought habit?
Colorado Community Newspapers recently picked the brain of JuJu Stx chief executive officer and Highlands Ranch resident Tracy O'Shaughnessy.
What started as a mission to help a friend quit smoking has morphed into a fresh way to help curb cravings and refrain from addictions in the form of a toothpick. JuJu Stx are toothpicks infused with essential oils that the makers say aid people looking to quit a habit. Packaged in brightly colored purple tins, JuJu Stx come in clove, peppermint, cinnamon and licorice. They are sold at Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage stores.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My first influence in taking a product to market was William Wrigley Jr. I was inspired by how he got started. My all-time hero is Thomas Edison, who had over 1,090 patents and tried over 1,000 times to perfect the light bulb before he succeeded. We spent more than two years perfecting the recipes for JuJu Stx and I kept thinking back to Edison trying over and over to get it right.
Where did the idea come from for your product?
The idea came from the intention to help a best friend quit smoking. We wanted to create a product that would be a brilliant stand-alone breath freshener, and also offer the stress relieving benefits of essential oils and help curb cravings. JuJu Stx® were designed to help smokers get over the 10-minute craving, satisfy the oral fixation and provide stress-relieving essential oils.
How did you get from the 'a-ha' moment to the final development and launch?
We started testing and sampling different kinds of toothpick materials, like the soft birch that most toothpicks in this country are made from, and decided upon bamboo for its superior strength and texture, as well as its appeal as a highly renewable resource. We experimented with countless recipes for the flavors and conducted surveys, focus groups and test marketing to decide on the most popular flavors. We use only natural ingredients, like Xylitol, which is a natural sweetener that helps fight cavities and promotes good gum heath.
We started with small retail outlets like candy stores, drug stores, convenience stores and restaurants and then had Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers as our first chain account in December of 2005.
How many JuJu Stx have been sold?
We have sold millions of individual Toothpix and have a company mission to assist over 1 million people quit smoking and chewing tobacco by Aug. 29, 2009, and help influence an entire generation of youth to choose a healthy, fun and cool alternative to smoking.
How would you like to see your business grow in the next five years?
We are a small company with a big mission and look forward to celebrating the achievement of helping so many with something as small as a toothpick. After that, we look forward to introducing the additional all-natural unique product lines we have developed with essential oils and energizing ingredients creating an international brand that will be known as a healthy and energizing alternative in the mainstream marketplace.
What is the most gratifying part of your job?
The single most gratifying part of our job is all the testimonials and feedback from the people who are so grateful for the benefits they receive from JuJu Stx.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work I love the opera, making stained glass, reading, and I just recently started to play mah jong.
How would you describe the local business climate?
Denver is a great city for entrepreneurs. I have been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years helping other people create their life's dreams. It is so wonderful to collaborate and work with other energetic entrepreneurs towards my life's dream of taking a product to market and helping so many people.
Stop-smoking sticks
The Denver Business Journal - December 22, 2006
By Kathryn Mayer
Tracy O'Shaughnessy and Carol Wilke originally intended to create a product to help a friend quit smoking. But after encouragement from friends, they started selling the product to the public, and want to help 1 million smokers quit by August 2009. They plan to donate 10 percent of profits to stop-smoking programs. More
Trading in one stick for another
Business clams to help smokers with new toothpicks
Highlands Ranch Herald
By Cory Dahl
Many people will take drastic measures this month to stop smoking, but the answer could be as easy as a toothpick. Tracy O’Shaughnessy and carol Wilke, two Highlands Ranch entrepreneurs, have created a line of flavored bamboo toothpicks the pair claims can ease cravings for tobacco. More
Ventures
JuJu Central LLC
Rocky Mountain News 2/2/07
JuJu Stx
Price: $2.99
Where you can get it: Web site: Vitamin Cottage and Whole Foods in the Rocky Mountain area.
Business Owners: Tracy O’Shaughnessy and Carol Wilke
Tidbits: Their mission is to energize the spirit – and help 1 million people quit smoking
and chewing tobacco by August 2009 More
KOA Radio Interveiw
Robin Heart
KOA's Robin Heart Interveiws JuJu Stx Co-owner and Co-creator Tracy O’Shaughnessy
click to hear interveiw
Tracy O'Shaughnessy
CEO, Alchemist of the JuJu
9249 South Broadway Blvd., #200-200
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
PH: 303-525-2811
Fax: 208-493-8777
E-Mail: JuJuStx@msn.com
www.JuJuStx.com
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