Ritz Clinging, Founder + CEO of I Love My Muff
Ritz Clinging, Founder and CEO of I Love My Muff
Muff Love.
This is the second feature we have done on Ritz and if you know her and her business, you would understand why! She is truly inspiring and hustles every single day to make her business a success. She is one of the most creative people I know and also the most authentic. I met Ritz briefly at a Pink Tank event back in the day and we quickly became friends. She is a fierce supporter of women in business and a champion of raising money for One Girl Can. The One Girl Can organization not only works to raise awareness of gender inequality worldwide but provides young girls in Africa access to education, mentorship, and opportunities they would have otherwise not had. We LOVE that they donate $1 from every product sold online to help support @onegirlcansociety in their efforts.
Read on to find out more about Ritz, how I Love My Muff came to be and how they were able to successfully navigate their business during the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.
What do you want to be known for as a woman in business?
I would be proud to be known as a staunch supporter of women. By women, I mean all persons who identify as women. As an advocate of forwarding motion for equal rights, supporting education for girls is pivotal in the fight. And as a woman who challenged herself and an industry that needed female direction and who dared to do it.
How has Covid affected your business?
It made us completely re-evaluate every single component of our business, what we do and how we do it. It forced us to make hard decisions and motivated us to fast-track and hyper-focus on areas we made too many assumptions about. It also reinforced the fact that our business is strong at its core and we were fundamentally able to successfully handle the unknown.
What inspires and motivates you when things get hard?
I think about other people who have it much harder than I do. Those who have struggles greater than mine and are able to overcome their challenges. I also look to other women in business who are in a much better position than I am. I look to their success as inspiration. Resilience is key to getting to where you want to go. I'm also incredibly motivated when I think about my family, my team, and the various charities I support, and how I can't let them down. It's my driving force to stay focused and work harder.
Do you have any advice for the next generation in business?
Take the risk, at any stage in your life. Follow your curiosity and you just might find your passion. Ask ALL the questions. Seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.
Tell us how I Love My Muff came to be?
I Love My Muff was born out of necessity. I’ve used all kinds of feminine hygiene products over the years and many left me irritated - both in mood and skin. I needed something natural, gentle, and effective. It was a frustrating journey not being able to find the right products that addressed my sensitivity around the vulva, so I set out to create my own solution. What started as intimate products for myself has become a line of purposeful products for the vulva that women can trust. Gentle, natural, pH balanced, vegan, and cruelty-free ingredients have been always my focus and remains my commitment. It was a bold and intentional choice to call these products I Love My Muff. I was out to make a loud and proud statement, to remove the stigma around feminine hygiene and get people talking. It certainly did and it still does.
The world has become a global economy since covid. How does eCommerce play a role in where you want to go as a company?
Ecommerce has always been a part of our business and since Covid, now a much bigger part. It gives us a wider reach and creates awareness and opportunities in places we would not necessarily consider as prime markets or have the physical ability to develop those markets. It also allows us an opportunity to share our Muffington Post, which is our dedicated in-house blog covering important issues and various topics of interest that benefit all women.
