Meet Kimberly Tsumbu | C.E.O. of Simply Giraffe

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

Hi Kimberly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The Simply Giraffe store was developed to allow me to spend more time with my daughter. During that time, I was working in the film industry, and as a first time mom I did not want to be working 12 hour plus days. A month before Simply Giraffe’s launch date, my husband and I lost our daughter Faith to turner syndrome. When that happened, Simply Giraffe’s mission changed from being simply an income stream, to being a tool of change in the community. Our motto is “We are earth’s good stewards, the biblical definition of being a good neighbor to our community.” Every aspect of Simply Giraffe is centered around building a safe and empowering environment.

We accomplish this through the careful selection of our eco-friendly products and how we choose our vendors. We also serve our community through our sanitation volunteer efforts, and education empowerment initiatives. Our blog is filled with resources aimed to helping alleviate college debt, assisting with parenting, and promoting sustainability.

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?
When I started Simply Giraffe, I had no money. God woke me up with the image of a giraffe. So, at 1am with my pregnant belly, I was sketching giraffes. I used a free app to design all my cards, graphics, and the website. A $6 camera from the thrift store was used to shoot my first commercial in a Safeway bathroom. All of my original product pictures were taken on an old iPad. My biggest expense was my product line, in which I did DoorDash and Instacart to earn the seed money.

But the loss of my daughter to Turner Syndrome was the hardest thing I have ever had to face. God took my brokenness and used my obedience to Him to touch lives in my community and around the world. It is truly humbling.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

We are most known for our Reusable Menstrual Pads. They are chemical-free, made with soft breathable, durable fibers and have natural odor control. The average woman uses around 500 menstrual pads in one year, not including liners. That is a lot of waste and exposure to harmful chemicals. Our reusable pads come in beautiful fun designs. They are chemical-free and, with simple maintenance, can last several years.

All of our products are made with your safety and the environmental impact in mind. Your small everyday Simply Giraffe purchases make a big difference to your home, the environment, and in the community. Together we (all) are the heroes that planet earth needs.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first place I would visit is ATL’s local library. The library always has something cool happening, like paint night or yoga. They also keep their movie inventory updated and have community passes to hidden gems in the city. For example, there is a pass to go see alligators at a fishery. Different libraries have different activities. I always go online to find out what library is doing what activity. My favorite library is the Palmetto Branch.

As for food, I have an obsession with Good Will Cook Books. I may try to make an insanely complex meal, and if it fails, then it is pizza from Sam’s club. Most of my dishes are pretty edible. I try to make a lot of my food from scratch because you can taste the freshness. Sprouts has a great variety of fresh organic vegetables and fruits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I lost my daughter, it was by God’s grace that I had a strong community. Janet Ford, the founder of Leadership with Purpose and Passion (www.lwpap.com) took me under her wing and mentored me. Pamala (www.theplannedevent.com) from the Planned Event, arranged my daughter’s funeral. My Mother, my husband, my uncles Teddy, Kenny (owner of www.coopdileu.com), and my grandmother (www.emilyjcoopwood.com) all played an essential role in keeping my head above water. Emily Fowler from (www.talkitoutinc.org), was an amazing counselor. My siblings Gregory and Olivia were always praying and checking in on me. Kara from “A Mom’s Peace” (www.amomspeace.org) sponsored my daughter’s headstone. Thank you.

Community is so important. Without these amazing people, I would have drowned. These people have inspired and poured life into me. Because of them, Simply Giraffe can inspire and pour life into others.

Website: https://www.simplygiraffe.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyg_com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyGiraffe