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Kelley Higney

Founder & CEO Bug Bite Thing

Port St. Lucie, FL

Member Since March 2021

Skills

Ecommerce
Product Launch
Product Strategy

About

I am the founder and CEO of Bug Bite Thing. In 2013, my family relocated from San Diego, California to South Florida. There was one thing we were not prepared for—the mosquitos. My six-month-old daughter was constantly suffering from severe reactions to the bites. Determined to find a natural alternative to the available remedies on the market, I began conducting research. I ordered an unfamiliar product that uses suction to remove the irritant—and it worked! It transformed the quality of life for my family—we could finally spend time outdoors! I was determined to share it with others. In 2017, I secured exclusive distribution rights to the product and branded it Bug Bite Thing. I have since been a “Mom on a Mission” to educate the world on the most effective, chemical-free solution for insect bite relief. My company gained national recognition in October 2019 when my mother, Ellen McAlister, and I appeared on ABC’s hit show, ‘Shark Tank.’ All the Sharks were biting with offers to invest in our business, but it was Lori Greiner’s ‘Golden Ticket’ offer that secured our partnership. In April 2021, my mother and I returned to ‘Shark Tank.’ This time, we shared details on our company's transformation into a multi-million dollar enterprise following our first appearance on the show. Bug Bite Thing is Amazon’s #1 selling product for insect bite relief with more than 45,000 reviews. I am a member of the Fast Company Executive Board and Forbes Business Council. I am also the recipient of numerous awards, including two Gold Stevie Awards wins and was named ‘Woman of the Year’ by the 2021 American Business Awards and ‘Female Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the 2021 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. I am active within the South Florida business community. I resides in South Florida with my husband, Richard, and our daughters, Leah and Lilly.

Published content

20 financial pitfalls that can impact a company's growth factor

expert panel

Don't rush your business decision-making process.  There are certain financial dealings that can make or break a company's ability to thrive—whether the marketplace is up, down, or all over the place. That's why it's so important to put a strategy in place (and stick with it) that aligns with the company's core values, purpose, and longevity. Without that, it's very easy to become distracted by unproven trends and potential investments that may or may not be the best fit for your organization right now. To help leaders become better decision-makers when it comes to business and finance, here, 20 experts from Fast Company Executive Board each share one financial trap that leadership should avoid.

Is your business conference merch up to par?

expert panel

11 tips that will elevate your brand at the next event. How can company representatives leave a desirable impression when attending the annual conference circuit, whether on-site or virtually? Designing merchandise giveaways that speak directly to the brand's mission and core values is one way to attract the attention of conventiongoers, but it can't be run-of-the-mill items that will end up in the trash (or disregarded online) at the end of the day. That would be a poor return on investment.  Instead, lean toward sustainable products that have the biggest potential to come in handy for attendees—same time next year. Below, 11 Fast Company Executive Board members share best practices for how to use merchandise opportunities to build brand awareness and why it works for them.

Is now the time to expand your current products and services?

expert panel

Business leaders share their thoughts on how to build your business the right way. Oftentimes, when business begins to pick up the pace and executives are able to maintain positive outcomes on their bottom line objectives, quarter over quarter, there's a sudden temptation to push the brand of products further to improve or expand upon its current offerings.   But depending on the economic climate in the overall industry, sometimes it's worth treading lightly and putting on the brakes to take your time and conduct further research before getting too far in over your head. Here, eight Fast Company Executive Board members offer one tip for brand leaders to carefully evaluate their existing products or services and identify opportunities for improvement or expansion.

16 ways to recover, regroup, and reset business objectives and goals

expert panel

Here's what to do when the best-laid business plans of leadership and teams suddenly go awry.  For many business leaders and their teams, the month of August is an essential time for them to assess how the first half of the year went. Are the current strategies that they have in place really working? It's also a time to set (or reset) their goals and objectives for the upcoming year.  Keeping all that in mind, sometimes plans, unfortunately, fall by the wayside or may require some unexpected tweaking depending on external factors like market conditions, customer needs, or technological innovation. That's why it's important to remain flexible and have an open mind about how to pivot correctly when necessary, considering the current situation of your department or organization. Here, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members offer their solutions to help other business leaders and teams stay focused even when their initial plans begin to get sidetracked or fail altogether.

13 ways company leaders are elevating their brands’ authenticity

expert panel

If you want to promote authenticity, living your brand's truth starts from within. Becoming a standout business in the industry doesn't just happen overnight. It may take years to build the trust and loyalty that you've sought from potential clients and customers. But before you try to convince people on the outside why they should buy into your brand of products or services, it's also smart to get your internal team on board with the company's core values and mission you want them to embrace. Once you create a solid connection with the stakeholders on your team, they'll be empowered to promote your company as brand ambassadors.  Below, 13 Fast Company Executive Board members share their secrets to exhibiting brand authenticity and remaining true to your core values across the company—providing customers with a great first impression of what the organization truly stands for day to day.

19 ways to be more confident in your role at work

expert panel

Changing your mindset will enable you to achieve more success. In the workplace (and in life), it's perfectly human to sometimes obsess over the three Cs—competing, comparing, and complaining—when it comes to dealing with others and reviewing how our own accomplishments or failures stack up. It becomes a much bigger problem when an individual chooses to stay stuck in that mindset because it can hinder them from moving forward in their career and personal life. Below, 19 members from Fast Company Executive Board share what lessons they've learned from their ability to overcome patterns of previous self-doubt, and how they were able to forge ahead to a better path of success. 

Company details

Bug Bite Thing

Company bio

As Seen on Shark Tank, Bug Bite Thing is a chemical-free solution that instantly alleviates the stinging, itching and swelling caused by insect bites and stings. The reusable tool solely uses suction to remove insect saliva or venom from underneath the skin, making it safe for all ages. Bug Bite Thing is Amazon’s #1 selling product for insect bite relief with over 45,000 reviews. The company gained national recognition in October 2019 when Kelley and her mother, Ellen McAlister, appeared on ABC’s hit show, ‘Shark Tank.’ All the Sharks were biting with offers to invest in the business, but it was Lori Greiner’s ‘Golden Ticket’ offer that secured the partnership. Bug Bite Thing is the recipient of 23 prestigious awards including the 2021 BIG Innovation Award, the 2021 Mom’s Choice Award and 2021 National Parenting Product Award. Based in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Bug Bite Thing is active in community organizations, including St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, Treasure Coast Food Bank (a member of Feeding America), and Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. The company is also a member of Cancer Free Economy Network. Bug Bite Thing is available on Amazon.com, BugBiteThing.com and at over 25,000 retailer locations nationwide.

Industry

Corporate social responsibility

Area of focus

Consumer Goods
First Aid
Retail

Company size

11 - 50