Bright Spots

Crain's Cleveland Busines

March 15, 2010

Cleveland entrepreneur Carolyn Grossi of Little Flower Products LLC wants to instill in kids the desire to save money, and she's doing it in a fun way.

Ms. Grossi has developed what she calls the Princess Money Manager Coin Bank to inspire young girls to become money managers. (A SuperStar Money Manager for boys is on the way later this year.)

She says she got the idea for the princess coin bank when she realized the traditional symbol of savings - a pig - was not exciting for young girls.

The bank is available at www.a princesslovestosave.com. Redbook and Working Woman both have featured the princess bank.

Give Your Kids the Gift of Learning How to Save and Manage Money This Holiday

An Ohio Mom, Known as The Princess Money Manager(TM), Is Spending this Holiday Season Inspiring Preschoolers and Elementary Girls to Become Good Money Managers

CLEVELAND, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- 2009 has awakened us to the devastating realities of bad money management. Carolyn Grossi, a mother of two, is spending this holiday inspiring young girls to learn how to save, spend wisely and share.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091207/CL20493 )

"I want my kids to learn basic money managing skills," said Carolyn Grossi, a business owner and the creator of The Princess Money Manager (TM) coin bank (http://www.aprincesslovestosave.com/), a tool that teaches girls the basics of good money management. "Teaching kids the value of money and the value of saving are gifts that will last a lifetime."

According to the Council on Economic Education (http://www.councilforeconed.org/), the earlier you introduce financial education, the more likely they will carry it with them throughout their life.

"My goal is to get young girls excited about money management by offering them tools that capture their imagination and speak to their age group," said Grossi, who is currently developing fun financial products for both girls and boys, including The SuperStar Money Manager for Boys.

According to a recent survey, 42 percent of parents have not taken any steps to discuss financial basics with their children. The Princess Money Manager (TM) coin bank (http://www.aprincesslovestosave.com/), will help parents excite and educate preschoolers and elementary students on the values of saving, spending wisely and sharing.

"Sadly, children are witnessing or experiencing the results of poor money management," Grossi said.

A University of Arizona study said poor money managing skills can lead to illness, depression and other problems. It also found that parents have the most influence on how kids deal with money, highlighting the importance of parental involvement. (http://www.nefe.org/NEFENews/PressRoom/PressRelease/APLUSResearchFindings/tabid/715/Default.aspx)

"We make sure kids brush their teeth and learn their ABC's while they are toddlers," said Grossi, an expert in financial literacy for preschoolers and elementary students. "We need to add money management to the list of daily routines."

The Princess Money Manager (TM) empowers girls to make decisions about money. A pink tiara atop the bank rotates and opens to three slots: save, spend and share.

The Princess Money Manager can be purchased at www.aprincesslovestosave.com for $40 plus shipping and handling. Ten percent of profits will go to charity.

SOURCE Little Flower Products LLC

© 2010 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved

Lesson from Today’s Economic Crisis: Inspire The Next Generation to Be Good Money Managers

 

A Mother of Two Turns The Piggy Bank on Its Head,

Inspiring Young Girls with The Princess Money Manager Coin Bank ™

CLEVELAND, OH --September 1, 2009 -- Carolyn Grossi is on a mission to save her two young children and others from potential financial disaster. That is  why she has developed The Princess Money Manager Coin Bank™ -- a tool that inspires and teaches children to become young money managers.

 “Given the state of the economy, there is no better time to teach our children about money managing,” said Grossi, a successful business owner of 11 years. “The basic concepts of spending within your means and saving for the future have eluded us.”

 

 

 

 

Her first piece of advice to parents: start early and use tools that will excite and engage children.

 

“Kids need inspiration,” said Grossi, who is determined to teach her children the importance of saving, spending wisely and sharing – the three values that make up The Princess Money Manager Bank™.

 

Staring at the pig on her child’s dresser, Grossi realized that the long-favored savings bank symbol, the pig, would never inspire her three-year-old daughter. “The piggy bank is not exciting for young girls,”

 

Grossi said: “You can put lipstick and a tiara on a piggy bank, but it’s still a pig.”

 

 

 

Knowing her daughter’s passion for everything pink and princess, Grossi knew the bank had to include a princess.

 

But not just any princess. “I wanted her to be glamorous – appealing to two-year-olds, 12- year-olds and 42-year-olds and represent someone who is smart, savvy and altruistic,” said Grossi. According to Grossi,her princess is the antithesis of the image of Paris Hilton.  “We need to show girls they can be chic and glamorous while being financially responsible and giving.”

 

Grossi retained an artist to develop the image, and soon after The Princess Money Manager Coin Bank™ was born.

 

“I couldn’t be happier with this product,” said Grossi. “It’s a big hit with my daughter and her friends, and I know girls across America will love it.”

 

Parents will, too. Beautifully crafted with a tiara top and princess images, the bank is divided   into three compartments – save, spend, share. The top rotates, empowering the user to make decisions about money.

 

Grossi continued: “We have an obligation to teach our kids about money because it will affect them for the rest of their lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

The Princess Money Manager Coin Bank™ can be purchased at www.aprincesslovestosave.com for $40.00 plus shipping. Ten percent of profits from the bank will be donated to three organizations: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Food for the Poor and Providence House, a crisis nursery in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

“By purchasing the bank, you are demonstrating that a true princess loves to share,” said Grossi. “The only way to foster a spirit of giving is to lead by example, and by committing these profits to charity, I hope to introduce my children to the happiness that comes from sharing.”

 

For more information, please contact Carolyn C Grossi at 440.349.2100 or visit wwww.aprincesslovestosave.com.