Meet Alexis Anderson | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexis Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexis, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Becoming a mother truly changed my perspectives on both life and business. I found that in the early days of motherhood, I was full of creative energy and new business ideas – I was going through it for the first time and was constantly thinking of products or services that could make my experience a little bit better. When I had the idea for OOBI it came from a personal desire for a product like our Apple Airtag Kids’ Shoe, I wanted peace of mind as a parent and the fact that I can now give that sense of security to other parents was an added bonus. When we decided to set out and ‘go for it’ with our patent and production I held myself to the personal deadline of my son’s first day of daycare. I was so proud when he was able to sport his OOBIs from day one, and also loved to be able to have the Airtag feature to give me peace of mind as he left the house for the first time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
OOBI shoes are the first of their kind Apple Airtag-compatible kids’ shoes. They allow parents to embed an Apple airtag into their child’s shoe and then leverage the Airtag technology to be able to track the shoe’s whereabouts. OOBIs were inspired by my own personal need for this product, but in speaking to other parents I soon realized that I was not alone in that need.

One thing that makes OOBIs unique is that we designed them with parents and children to understand their unique needs and what they were looking for in a shoe. We learned that parents wanted shoes designed for function and valued things like comfort, stability, and security, whereas the kids wanted shoes designed for fun – they asked for shoes to make them go fast and leaned toward bright colorways. Our shoes are designed to meet all of these needs and more. One fun fact that I love about OOBI is that we see a significant number of repeat customers, once people try our shoes they can see how wonderful they are and they continue to choose OOBI as their little one’s feet grow.

I would not say that getting to where we are today has been easy, but I can say unequivocally that it has been fun! There is something about bringing a product and brand to life that is really enjoyable – to see your idea become a reality is cool.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Breakfast—I have a toddler, so breakfast is usually a grab-and-go situation. We like to stop at The Bagel Deli on Hampden en route to our weekend activities. This summer, we have been spending a lot of time at the Denver Zoo. My son loves romping around and seeing the Elephants and Lions!

Pilates @ Studio of Unique Fitness – I started going to Pilates about 6 months ago, and it is my happy place. I love the community at SOUF and how welcoming they are to beginners.

Lunch @ Farmers Market – It’s summer, and that means I will be at the Farmer’s Market every weekend! I like to change up which market we go to depending on the weekend. Pearl Street is an amazing farmers market, but I would not sleep on the UHills Market either. It is smaller and perfect for walking my toddler around.

Drinks – Jazz Night at the Brown Palace Hotel is an absolute favorite of mine. I love to go and grab a drink and listen to Jazz.

Dinner @ Sushi Den – Sushi Den is a classic for a reason. I grew up going to Sushi Den, and it is still my absolute favorite restaurant in Denver. I could eat the Toro in Toro every single day and never tire of it.

Late Night @ Don’s Depot—Did I mention that I am the Mother of a Toddler? I do not have late nights out at bars, but if a friend were in town visiting, I would recommend they check out Don’s for a low-key after-dinner drink.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our business (and the idea behind it) would not be anywhere without my son, Oliver. He is the inspiration behind the brand and my reason for driving the business forward every day. I love seeing the world through his eyes and being able to create something with him; it is truly magical.

I would also like to thank our amazing friends and family for their support throughout this process. They have believed in me and OOBI from day 1, and I have had the best time creating something knowing that we have that love behind us. There are too many to shout out individually but, in no particular order I would like to personally shout out to: my husband, my brother, my parents, The DesJardin Crew, Nick, Josep and Carola, Lori and Reggie, my mom friends, and so many more who know who they are. The saying “it takes a village” comes to mind, and I am so blessed to have such an amazing village! This would not be possible without you so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Website: https://www.whereisoobi.com

Instagram: @whereisoobi