Local business owner’s unique products part of Grammys swag bags

By Michele Fiore

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    JANESVILLE, Wisconsin (WDJT) — CBS 58 is your station for the Grammys this Saturday night. One local business owner will be watching with extra interest. Her unique product’s going to be part of the Grammys swag bag.

“One of my sons thought we were being scammed, so he couldn’t quite believe it,” said Tracy Douglas, CEO, The Hair Forge.

A pre-Grammys post caught Tracy Douglas’ eye and she decided to go for it. Her company, The Hair Forge, is rather unique. It grew out of her two teenaged sons’ hair.

“I just looked at them and I was like, ‘oh, these aren’t really my style,'” said Max Jarzen, COO, The Hair Forge.

On two windy days, Max Jarzen and his brother, both with long hair, were both unhappy with the hair ties their mom handed them.

“So, I thought, ‘huh, men’s hair accessories, is anything there for men’s hair?'” said Douglas.

That’s how Tracy Douglas’ The Hair Forge came about.

“We are doing something to redefine masculinity,” said Douglas.

“Like, we have what we have here, is called the conshoe and it’s just like a bird skull on an elastic,” said Max Jarzen.

This family business out of Janesville now offers a one-stop online shop for men’s hair accessories.

“So, we have elastics, head bands, claws, we have grips. They’re barrettes but we’re calling them grips. We have got bolts, hair slides, and then hair stavs. I mean they’re designs that you don’t really see normally, or you have to dig really deep in obscure websites to find them, so that’s part of what we’re doing is putting those hard-to-find pieces in one place,” said Max Jarzen.

Shortly after submitting her application for the Grammys swag bag, Douglas got in.

“He wrote back, he’s like, ‘I love this. This is fantastic and adorable and you’re in,’ basically,” said Douglas.

So, the family packaged and shipped some of their best.

“We had to send 175 gift bags that are there in Los Angeles, that will be going to the presenters and the performers,” said Douglas.

“This is what’s in the bag, so you can see there’s the four products…and the easta,” said Robert Jarzen, co-owner, The Hair Forge.

It was completed with a sticker and two burlap bags.

“And then everything goes in the bigger bag,” said Robert Jarzen.

“We know Oprah’s presenting. Maryl Streep is presenting, and oh, goodness, thinking about them opening up their swag bags and seeing our product. It’s a thrill,” said Douglas.

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