Two 40-somethings start T-shirt line to celebrate life
Andrea Foreman-Brook and Alisa Bay, best friends for more than 20 years, have gone through blind dates, weddings, pregnancies and business together.
Their most recent endeavor involves creating a line of T-shirts to help women celebrate their age. The idea for the venture started nearly two years ago when Bay told her best friend, "You're 40-something and you look fabulous."
The women joked that they should create a T-shirt with the motto. They did just that.
The women now create T-shirts with 15 fun sayings such as "40 Something and Sexy," "40 Something and Fit" and "40 Something and Need a Drink."
The Buffalo Grove-based owners say it's important that women celebrate their age and feel good about who they are.
"It's all about attitude and feeling better about yourself," Foreman-Brook said.
The women agree that when you're in your 20s, you're trying to find out who you are. When you're in your 30s, you're starting to figure things out.
"When you're in your 40s, you're confident and know who you are. It's the time when you have everything figured out," Bay said.
They say it's about expressing your age. They sell the shirts online at www.40somethingtshirts.com. The short-sleeved shirts sell for $21, long sleeves are $23 and nightshirts are $25.
The entrepreneurs boast about the quality of the shirts, noting that they could be sold in a boutique.
Prior to launching the shirts they spent nearly two years researching the idea. They didn't want a boxy workout T-shirt.
"We wanted a T-shirt that would be flattering for the figure," said Foreman-Brook, 47.
The shirts are black with a splash of hot pink because the women say everyone looks good in black.
The best form of marketing is wearing the shirts. They also have large magnet signs on their cars that say, "Celebrate Your Age," with their Web site.
"It's OK to be 40 and say it," said Bay, 45. More and more, women are living to be 100, so they note that 40 is the new 30.
Foreman-Brook and her husband, Paul, a stockbroker, are raising two children, Shayna, 13, and Sam, 9, in Buffalo Grove. Bay resides in Highland Park with 7-year-old twins Joshua and Nathan and husband Jami, who owns Love's Yogurt & Salads.
The women also operate a public relations firm together, AB Public Relations. "We're proof that friendship can last through a business," Bay said.
What's the next for the T-shirt business? Since the women are getting closer to 50, they're thinking about expanding the line.
For more information, call (847) 368-1895.