Teacher and mum-of-three becomes a multi-millionaire after discovering a ‘disgusting’ $59 product dubbed ‘life-changing’ by thousands of parents
- Laura Klein started a side business six years ago that now earns her millions
- The 45-year-old from Brisbane was using mucus removal device on her children
- She decided to distribute it in Australia for $59 per unit and hasn’t looked back
- Her company, Snotty Noses, also sells vaporisers and essential oils online
Laura Klein was teaching part-time after giving birth to her three children and never expected her ‘side hustle’ to earn the family millions.
But when the 45-year-old from Brisbane began testing a children’s product at home in 2013 she knew it was a winning design.
The battery powered snot-sucking device, which retails for $59, might sound like a ‘grotty’ idea but it’s actually helping parents ‘solve a real problem’.
Laura Klein was teaching part-time after giving birth to her three children and never expected her ‘side hustle’ to earn the family millions
‘It was a product I found and used when my kids were little in 2012,’ Laura told FEMAIL.
‘I loved it so much I contacted the distributor to see if there was an opportunity to sell it.’
She decided to sell the unique product under the brand name Snotty Noses, which is memorable to say the least, and has since earned $3 million from sales.
‘It was a product I found and used when my kids were little in 2012,’ Laura told Femail
Building the business from her home meant giving up teaching to focus on the growth of the aspirator full time (pictured with her family)
Building the business from her home meant giving up teaching to focus on the growth of the aspirator full time.
‘The Snotty Aspirator is a successful product because it solves a real problem faced by parents all over Australia, for any child (usually under 5 years) who can’t blow their own nose when congested,’ she said.
‘It is also a lifesaver for disabled adults who struggle to blow their own nose.’
While you can get a manual rubber suction that does a similar job it doesn’t remove the same amount of ‘blockages’ as Laura’s snot sucker.
And it’s very easy and safe to use on your infant.
‘A squirt of saline up the nostril is the recommended step one,’ she said.
While you can get a manual rubber suction that does a similar job it doesn’t remove the same amount of ‘blockages’ as Laura’s snot sucker
‘Then gentle, steady battery powered suction removes any loose mucus, so the child can breathe, feed and sleep better,’ she said
‘Then gentle, steady battery powered suction removes any loose mucus, so the child can breathe, feed and sleep better.’
Once the blockage is removed it means babies are less likely to develop a secondary ear, adenoid or respiratory infection.
And it’s very popular among mothers in particular, who have been talking about it in online Facebook groups.
‘The aspirator accounts for 25 per cent of our overall revenue. We have sold around 10,000 aspirators to date,’ she said.
Their website also stocks essential oils, chest rubs and ventilators to help babies breathe easier and fall asleep with less congestion
Their website also stocks essential oils, chest rubs and ventilators to help babies breathe easier and fall asleep with less congestion.
With correct cleaning and storage the aspirator can last for five years.
‘My aspirator that I bought in 2012 is still going strong,’ she said.
The company hopes to double their last year’s revenue of $1.7 million and ‘are on track to do so’.