Every time summer rolls around, parents can’t help but stress about ticks. There are many tick-related diseases, but I think the scariest of them all is Lyme. I check my girls head to toe everyday, spray them with bug spray, and coach them to stay away from tall grass. However, on the east end, with all of the deer, it’s become a real threat. I was thrilled to find out about a dear friend’s new business venture, The Tickkit! Amanda Godfrey, Mama of 2 boys, was petrified each summer and decided to help all parents by providing a kit with all of the tools and instructions needed for proper tick removal. She even includes the envelope, addressed and stamped, to send into the lab, so that you get everything solved as quickly as possible. When it comes to our children, it’s time sensitive, so definitely have your home stocked with these kits all summer long.
How many years have you been in business in NYC?
TICKKIT is a very new venture… I just launched in June.
How did you get your start and what was your initial inspiration?
Last summer I put together a tick removal kit to keep at home after reading several articles that the tick season was going to be particularly bad. Like any city kid, my boys love playing in the park, and I wanted to be prepared in case I ever found a tick on one of them. My mom then asked for a kit to keep at her house for when we visited, and then I made a kit for my sister for her beach house.
When I heard that 2018 was supposed to be yet another heavy tick season, I thought to myself, “Every parent should have a tick removal kit.” And so TICKKIT was born...
What do you feel differentiates you from others in your field?
Most of the tick removal kits on the market are for pets. TICKKIT was created with the “prepared parent” in mind…while anyone can use the kit for tick removal, the idea is for parents to have the kit on hand incase they find a tick on their child, which can be a very scary experience.
What do you feel gives you longevity in this big city with so many options?
Unfortunately, ticks are here to stay, so TICKKIT will be relevant whenever tick season rolls around.
How do you positively impact your clientele?
I positively impact my customers because I’m providing them with insurance, in a sense. TICKKIT is something important to have around, but you hope you never have to use it. I think it definitely gives parents peace of mind knowing they have everything they need in the event of finding a tick on their child.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is offering a product that I know will be super helpful in a stressful situation. When you find a tick on your child, the last thing you want to do is run to Duane Reade for all of the supplies you need or refer to the CDC website for proper tick removal. Time is of the essence! TICKKIT offers the convenience of having all of the tick removal supplies in one place without having to think about what to do.
What is your favorite secret NYC spot?
My favorite secret NYC spot is a tiny coffee shop on the UWS called Box Kite. Every morning I look forward to the most delicious iced oat milk latte… it’s literally heaven in a cup. There is also a location in the East Village.
How do you benefit mamas?
I benefit mommies by offering them convenience with TICKKIT. Being a mama is no joke… there are a million things to remember every day, and TICKKIT checks off one of those boxes.
Pay it forward and name your top colleagues in the same field or related field.
Since TICKKIT is brand new, I don’t really know anyone in the same field. But, as a mom, another mama I look to for guidance is Jennie Monness. Jennie is in the process of building Mo’ Mommies, which is such a helpful resource for any new mom, or moms like me who forgot everything baby-related after my older son hit toddlerhood! She gives tips about everything from the best toys to the most useful gear.
What is the best advice anyone's ever given you? Or what is your "mantra" / words to live by?
My grandfather always said, “Don’t worry in advance.” This is something I tend to do, so whenever I catch myself in one of those moments, I try to remind myself of my grandfather’s “live in the moment” attitude.
As moms, the day can escape us, what is your best time-saving trick?
My best time-saving trick is to prep my boys’ meals the night before. After they have gone to bed for the night, I get my butt into the kitchen and plate their meals for the following day (one of my favorite breakfast preps is overnight oats… they’re SO easy to make and you can add tons of different toppings ;-) Planning their meals the night before means I don’t have to scramble when lunch or dinner time rolls around.
How can our readers get a kit of their own?
They visit our website at https://www.shoptickkit.com.