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Smooth 17' - The Full Story

AMW

At 17, I was juggling high school at Innovation High School and college at STLCC, pursuing an associate's degree in science. Science wasn't just a subject for me--it influenced how I thought, approached problems, made sense of the world. Logical thinking and curiosity have always been a part of my nature, so when presented an unexpected problem, I saw it as an opportunity to create, learn, and experiment. 

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My mom came home one evening, frustrated. Her crew had been struggling with a vital part of their process--installing sewer liners--because the lubricant they'd relied on was no longer available. They had tried Crisco and mineral oil, but neither were cutting it. As she highlighted the characteristics of the original lubricant--high heat tolerance, water repellant, smooth application, and easy cleanup--I was instantly fascinated. To me, it sounded like an at-home experiment. 

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The same night, I started brainstorming ingredients that meet each requirement. After considering the compatibility of several possible ingredients, me and my mom gathered everything I needed and created our first batch of what would become AMW Smooth 17'. My mom tested it at work the next day and it worked. After some additional tweaking and testing, the formula was perfected. My mom shared it with her coworkers, and word spread quickly. Our first sale of AMW Smooth 17 was completed.

Co-Founder

Aviana Ward

Co-Founder

Maya Ward

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