Believe a Buddy is an interactive, powerful affirmation teddy bear that helps children believe in themselves; it gives children the power to change their negative thinking patterns and teaches them to speak positive affirmations and build self-esteem. Believe a Buddy inspires children to start their day with intention. The affirmation cards can be pulled daily in the house before the kids go off to school, in the classroom, hospital setting or anywhere a child may be.
“We’re dedicated to creating a world where every child has an opportunity to develop a strong sense of self-worth and confidence, and we’re working tirelessly to make that vision a reality,” says Cat Kozuch, founder and creator, who officially launched her company in July 2023. “Our mission is more than just a business — it’s a calling to make a positive impact on the lives of children everywhere.”
Personal experience was the impetus. In April 2008, Kozuch, was paralyzed in an accident and doctors told her she would never walk again. Instead of believing in her disheartening diagnosis, Kozuch wrote an affirmation on her hospital whiteboard that stated, “Cat will walk out of here!…duh!” After weeks of speaking her affirmation out loud, Kozuch was frustrated and started yelling at her big toe, “BIG TOE MOVE, BIG TOE MOVE, BIG TOE MOVE” and, right before her eyes, she relates, “a miracle happened” — her big toe moved the tiniest bit!
During her three-month hospital stay, her father was traveling for work, and every time he came back to visit her, he brought her a new teddy bear. The teddy bears became a collection pinned around the whiteboard affirmation. Finally, after weeks of speaking her affirmation out loud and hundreds of hours of physical therapy, Kozuch walked out of the hospital. Her inspirational affirmation with the blend of cute teddy bears from her father led to the creation of Believe a Buddy.
But, says Kozuch, “behind the scenes of this cute teddy bear, there were countless hurdles and learning curves that I faced.” The first was understanding how to invent a toy that was not only captivating and inspirational but also safe and durable. Kozuch recalls, “I spent hours researching, sketching and creating handmade prototypes. Each step was a learning curve, from understanding materials and mechanisms to ensuring compliance with safety standards.”
But even before that, Kozuch realized the value of advice to not be afraid to ask for help or talk to entrepreneurs who had already done what she wanted to accomplish — and to not try to do it all herself. Helping her past her feelings of frustration and exhaustion, she says, “I am lucky to have a sister and future brother-in-law who are highly successful entrepreneurs, and they fast-tracked my success by putting systems in place and managing certain tasks on the back end of the business.”
Kozuch found a key element in growing Believe a Buddy was to focus on building strong relationships with her customers using social media. “My Instagram page shows both product content about Believe a Buddy and content featuring myself showing the journey of how Believe a Buddy was made. I think people love the story and being a part of the journey from creation to distribution,” she says. Building these strong relationships increases customer loyalty and generates repeat business, and she says communicating on social media platforms helps her gain valuable insights into her customers’ needs and preferences.
Believing in Believe a Buddy
Cat Kozuch shares her entrepreneur’s journey: “I reached out to toy manufacturers, suppliers and industry experts, seeking collaboration or guidance. However, I faced my share of rejection and silence. With lots of persistence and determination I eventually found an amazing consultant who described himself as the ‘TOY-coon,’ and he helped me bring my vision to life with computerized designs of my Believe a Buddy teddy bear.
“Locating a suitable manufacturer was another hurdle to overcome. In the beginning I had several prototypes made with different manufactures, but they turned out awful! I wasted a lot of money trying to find the right manufacturer for Believe a Buddy. Balancing cost and quality, I engaged in countless emails, phone calls and meetings, searching for a manufacturing partner who could meet my specific requirements. This process demanded patience, negotiation skills and attention to detail, all while keeping the vision intact.
“I ended up securing an amazing manufacturing partner, and my next hurdle was the complex world of importing Believe a Buddy. Understanding customs regulations, shipping logistics and required documentation became essential. The import process brought its own set of challenges, requiring me to adapt and learn quickly in order to ensure a seamless delivery. It was all about communication and asking the right questions, and, eventually, I got all my answers and had a great first import delivery.
“Registering toys in certain states introduced another layer of complexity. Three states had their own unique set of regulations and paperwork requirements. I had to meticulously research and complete the necessary documentation to comply with legal and safety standards. I was rejected a few times because my paperwork was not correct but, eventually, I got the certification to sell in all states!
“Setting up an e-commerce platform added yet another dimension to my new business learning curve. From designing the website to configuring payment gateways and managing inventory, there were numerous back-end tasks that required careful attention and a steep learning curve. I had to balance my time and resources effectively to ensure a smooth online shopping experience for customers. I overpaid a website designer (because I didn’t know what to look for) and made a few mistakes, but the site works and is booming now!
“One of the biggest challenges I faced was being self-funded. With my grand vision and limited resources, financial restrictions imposed a slower timeline to my journey. Balancing a full-time job in medical sales and building a business demanded immense dedication and sacrifice. I had plenty of sleepless nights and spent all my weekends working on building Believe a Buddy. My unwavering passion and determination were the driving forces that kept me going, even during the toughest moments.”
