Community Highlights: Meet Natassa Wachsman of Rubber Ducky Isopods

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natassa Wachsman.

Hi Natassa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It all started with a conversation at the kitchen table. My husband told me he had an idea for a business and thought it could become something. I’m not going to lie; my jaw probably hit the ground when he first mentioned it.

What started as a single conversation quickly multiplied into a series of discussions, leading to the development of a comprehensive business model and a well-defined plan. One thing about me is once I set a goal, I’m not going to stop until I achieve it. Ideas turned into actions, and we had an entire business before I knew it. Our intention was clear from the beginning – we envisioned more than a hobby; we aspired to create an isopod and bioactive one-stop shop, carving our space in a unique and unconventional niche.

The idea of embarking on this entrepreneurial journey with my husband evoked both a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I had spent my life preparing for a completely different career path within healthcare. The desire to take control of my work-family balance has always been a top priority. Starting a business that allowed me to be present at home with our children while having the flexibility to set my hours fueled my enthusiasm.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur has not been a linear path. My husband once described it best, “We work 365, 24/7, so we don’t have to work 9-5’s.”

Entrepreneurship inherently involves a degree of uncertainty and risk. I was making a complete career change from something I had spent my entire life preparing for, and that uncertainty scared me. Not to mention the risk that comes with starting a new business from scratch; there are so many unknowns. However, I learned to see that as a blank slate where my husband and I were now in control of our destiny, and we knew that what we put in was what we were going to get… so we hit the ground running.

Being able to adapt and change my mentality was quite a challenge in the beginning. I went from having set hours at a job and a guaranteed paycheck to the unknown. It was a new market, and with that being said, markets evolved, consumer preferences changed, and practices advanced.

Entrepreneurs need to adapt quickly to stay relevant. Being open to change and proactively seeking new opportunities and no stone unturned is vital. In almost every industry, entrepreneurs must contend with fierce competition.

Standing out and differentiating a product or service in a crowded market requires strategic planning, effective marketing, and continuous innovation. You also have to have thick skin at times. Bringing a new idea or way of thinking to an already established market can sometimes stir things up a bit. Being willing to educate, explain your thought process, and realize there can be more than one way to achieve a specific goal is important.

Efficient time management becomes critical to balancing operational tasks, strategic planning, and personal well-being. When we founded RubberDuckyIsopods.com, we had two young boys and chose to grow our family as well. Achieving that balance between professional and personal life has been and still is challenging at times but crucial for my family’s well-being and the business’s long-term success.

We’ve been impressed with Rubber Ducky Isopods, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rubber Ducky Isopods is family-owned and operated with our primary focus being on isopods and the bioactive supplies to go with them.

Whether customers are looking for unique pets or terrarium co-inhabitants, reliable clean-up crews, or high-quality reptile feeders, we want to be your go-to source. Additionally, we are known for our commitment to bioactive setups, providing products that elevate the well-being and health of not only your isopods and springtails but also your reptiles and plant/garden setups.

What sets us apart is our family-driven approach. We manage every aspect of our business, ensuring that each item is ethically sourced and of the highest quality. Our hands-on involvement, from the website to shipping, to driving to different states to vend conventions, guarantees a personalized and reliable experience for our customers.

Our business model hinges on the belief that repeat business is the only business. Whether you’re an experienced enthusiast or just starting, our diverse range of isopods, bioactive products, and hands-on services positions us as a reliable and unique choice. We truly take pride in our customer service, offering assistance to hobbyists at any stage of their journey.

We want readers to understand that, beyond transactions, we value the relationships built with our customers and aim to provide unwavering support throughout their experience with us.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I have never considered myself to be an “everything happens for a reason” person; however, I do believe that there has been some luck of timing with our business and life in general.

There have been pivotal moments where both external and internal circumstances seemed to align perfectly with our efforts or even to just steer us into a better-suited direction. If the opportunity of Rubber Ducky Isopods had presented itself at a different time, I cannot confidently say that I would have embraced it as wholeheartedly as I did.

Reflecting, I realize that being at the right point in my life played a pivotal role in being receptive to change. At that time, I found myself in a space where personal and professional growth were not just aspirations but necessities. I was ready for a mindset shift and all that would come with it.

This period marked a convergence of various factors – maybe a combination of experiences, personal development, and a growing appetite for new challenges. I was at a point where the idea of taking on something new and transformative not only excited me but was attainable. I knew the potential for positive change and was open to seizing opportunities that could redefine how my and my family’s future was going to play out.

I had reached a point where I understood that success often requires stepping outside of my comfort zone and embracing uncertainty. The unknown and not having a specific laid-out plan is not something I have ever been completely comfortable with, so it was new territory on all fronts.

This mindset shift marked a big change, not only for our business but also for personal development and the realization that what you put into something is what you are going to get and to not be afraid to pursue something new, full force.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.RubberDuckyIsopods.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/rubber_ducky_isopods/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/RubberDuckyIsopodsColorado/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@FCP1/streams
• Other: www.morphmarket.com/stores/rubberduckyisopods/