Meet Danica Carson
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danica Carson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Danica , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
This is kind of an interesting story! Hack Decks® was developed as a tool for clients of our boutique organizing business, The Uncluttered Life®. The Uncluttered Life® specializes in creating functional and affordable organizing solutions for our clients, particularly those who struggle with ADHD. There are lots of organizing businesses out there, but not many that focus on ADHD solutions. Organization can be life-changing for people struggling with ADHD. Figuring out one-step solutions is critical because of attention spans and tendencies to jump from one task to another without completing the original task. It is also critical because organized surroundings can improve productivity, mental health, and ADHD symptoms. We saw a need for something to help our clients get organized or stay organized in all areas of the home since it isn’t practical to have professional organizers come every week. Often, people with ADHD are great with upkeep for a little while, but it becomes overwhelming, and they give up over time. We wanted to create a tool that would be like a coach, with quick and manageable prompts to get things in order without the stress. The product needed to address two major issues: attention duration and singular focus. There are tons of lists on the internet for how and what to organize, but those formats don’t work well for people with ADHD. They typically require hours of dedicated time and work, and the list of tasks is overwhelming, even to professional organizers.
Considering those two challenges, we developed a system to address both. Declutter Deck® is different because it is a collection of micro-organizing prompts in a card deck format. Each prompt is designed to take between 30 minutes and an hour, and the format is great because it allows users to focus solely on the task at hand without becoming overwhelmed by future tasks. It was incredibly popular, and so we decided to branch out and form Hack Decks®. We wanted to make the deck available to all people who needed it, not just our clients.
After launching Hack Decks®, we expanded the line to include other themes that can be overwhelming or stressful, such as becoming a mother, going off to college, or keeping date night fun and exciting. All of our decks are designed with the mission of simplifying things that can be overwhelming or time-consuming. We collected ideas from experts in their field to make the decks truly beneficial while being quick, fun, and easy. People often gravitate to a particular deck because of what phase of life they’re in, but just about everyone connects with Declutter Deck® regardless of age or stage. It’s been a very rewarding experience to see how the decks help our customers. We’re excited to expand the line soon!
Danica , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hack Decks® is dedicated to freeing up your time and brain space. Each deck is like a little “life hack” in a box, which is where the name Hack Decks® comes from. We want to make your life simpler and more enjoyable by removing the stress of having to figure everything out yourself. The line currently includes Date Deck®, Declutter Deck®, Dorm Deck®, New Mama Deck®, and Random Acts of Kindness Deck®. Each deck is designed to help you work smarter rather than harder.
Date Deck® is one of our most popular decks. It’s such a fun way to spend quality time with your significant other without the stress of figuring out what to do or where to go. Let’s face it: coming up with something fun or new to do every weekend is exhausting. Then you have to get buy-in from your partner, and by the time you’ve both agreed to what you’re going to do, the fun and excitement are gone. It makes planning dates exhausting and tedious, even though the whole point of a date is to have fun and connect. Date Deck® eliminates all that by giving you 52 date ideas that you can select at random for a fun adventure or scan through to find something you’re in the mood for.
Declutter Deck® was our original deck, and it’s still one of my favorites because of how easy and effective it is at getting people organized without the stress. Organization can be not only time-consuming but overwhelming and confusing, too. Declutter Deck® is great because it allows you to bypass all that by using micro-prompts that address all major areas of your home in tiny tasks. Each prompt is designed to take between 30 minutes and an hour, so there is no major time commitment or anxiety.
Dorm Deck® is a really fun way to ease into living on your own for the first time. It’s packed with little tips and tricks for first-time college students that help them “ace” their first year and remember to take care of themselves and their space. There are prompts to encourage being proactive about their safety and mental health, in addition to fun adventures to have with new friends and even reminders to change their toothbrushes or do a load of laundry. They’re great for doing with your roommate, too!
New Mama Deck® is closest to my heart. Adjusting to motherhood can be a challenge. You love this little person more than you could have ever imagined, but you’re also struggling to reconnect with yourself and figure out how to balance your own needs with your baby’s needs. It’s so rewarding and so overwhelming. The New Mama Deck® is packed with little prompts to help you feel like yourself again while reconnecting with your partner and loved ones. It’s a great way to take care of yourself while taking care of your new baby. There are even some pro tips and tricks for safety, organization, and diaper bags. It’s everything you wish you knew as a first-time mom.
Last but certainly not least is the Random Acts of Kindness Deck®. This deck is all about making your community a better place and showing gratitude to the people who mean the most to you. I love this deck because not only are you making someone else’s day brighter, but you are also improving your mental health by creating positivity all around you. The ripple effect of kindness often flows back to the person performing the act of kindness. It’s a great way to start a wave of positivity in the lives of the people around you.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as a creator and business owner is that success is not linear. The market ebbs and flows constantly! You may have tons of sales and then none for no apparent reason. You can’t panic or get discouraged every time things take a downturn. Look at where you were a year ago or five years ago. Are things trending upward? If so, stick with it and remind yourself that you are a capable human being with something great to offer. A bad day or a bad quarter is not a reason to give up.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
Taking a product to market is a long and difficult journey, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see your idea come to life. Holding your product in your hands for the first time is such a cool experience. Something you thought up is now an actual thing in the actual world. It’s a little surreal. But everything it takes to get to that point is a relentless rollercoaster of doubt and faith in yourself and those you trust to bring your vision to life. I tried so hard to find a manufacturer in the USA for our decks. Got tons of samples and spent a lot of money on prototypes, only to have to accept that I was going to have to manufacture overseas. It was simply too expensive to manufacture them here. We would have had to charge a fortune to make it a viable business. Manufacturing overseas, on its own, was kind of intimidating because of the language barrier and general uncertainty that comes with trusting someone else to carry out your vision. It’s been a great experience, though. I found some wonderful suppliers. Ultimately, you have to take a leap of faith on that first order. There is no guarantee that your product will turn out as well as the sample you got. I think the most important thing to consider when deciding on a supplier is how easy they are to work with. Do they respond to you quickly? Do they address your concerns in a kind and courteous manner, or do they get defensive? Are they upfront about all costs and timetables? It’s critical to your success that you are able to work well with your supplier.
