Meet Taya Sebring | Founder of Cool Poo Bags

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

Hi Taya, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I often ask myself, ‘Does it feel right to give up yet?’ The little voice in my head always answers, ‘keep going!’ So, I tend to trust my gut on many business decisions, which has consistently led me to positive outcomes!

For a long time, I relied on others to guide my choices due to a lack of confidence in my own decision-making. I believe there are two types of people: those who naturally follow their heart and those who instinctively follow their head. I always make decisions based on how I feel, but I was brought up thinking it was stronger to base decisions on reason rather than emotions. So, I consistently looked for external reasoning from others to navigate life. However, my business, Cool Poo Bags, is the first time I ever embraced my own decisions. Listening to my heart has made me happier and more creative, so that’s the path I intend to follow from now on!

Even if things don’t go as planned, I feel much better knowing I made the decision rather than receiving advice from someone else that led to a bad outcome. Therefore, I will always base my decision on whether I am ready to give up or not, on how I feel!

What should our readers know about your business?
For Cool Poo Bags, I blend sustainability with playful design to stand out in the dog poop bag industry. Each bag is carefully curated, inspired by the bodega-style grocery bags that were phased out to reduce waste—an homage to our commitment to the environment.

What I’m most proud of is the sustainability aspect of my company. My bags are crafted from cornstarch, and are certified biodegradable, compostable, and suitable for home composting by TUV Austria and European Bioplastics. To further minimize waste, I sourced a factory that produces bags without an inner core. Even the packaging is recyclable, and I chose to ship the products via sea freight to lessen the carbon footprint.

It might sound surprising, but Cool Poo Bags’ journey is deeply intertwined with my personal struggles with depression. I was at a low point—living paycheck to paycheck, unhappy with my 9-5 job, dealing with a difficult boss, recently dumped by someone I really cared about, and facing frequent break-ins in my LA apartment. I felt utterly fed up.

My initial goal was to escape my situation, which led me to realize I needed a way to earn more money. I began by selling old clothes and then read The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, which introduced me to the concept of passive income. Reflecting on all my past business ideas, Cool Poo Bags emerged as the perfect opportunity at just the right time.

Over the course of about a month, this shift in focus helped reduce my “down” days. I found myself excited to work on the business after my 9-5 job, and the breakup and other stressors seemed to fade away. My life started improving as I immersed myself in this new venture, which motivated me even more.

I invested everything I had, maxing out my credit cards, driven by a strong belief that the business would succeed. Any mistakes felt like valuable learning experiences rather than setbacks. For the first time, I was in charge of my own decisions and my future, a stark contrast to my previous experience of letting others dictate my path.

I wish Cool Poo Bags could be a perfect example of what someone can make out of nothing. This has been the best thing to happen in my life so far, and I hope everyone can experience something similar to this for themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Silverlake so we would start our day with a walk to Muddy paw Coffee with my dog Bunny. Walking through the neighborhoods is so relaxing and fun to see the different architecture. My friends and family are big walkers, so after that we would def do a stroll around the reservoir (more fun homes to look at.) We would grab lunch at L & E Oyster Bar, they have the BEST fries, delicious oysters, and a yummy white wine makes the perfect light lunch. To finish off the night we will have to go to Bacari, because it’s all about the experience there!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this shoutout to my parents, Karen & Kevin Haslebacher, and Victor Sebring. My mom has let me talk about the business non-stop for over a year EVERY DAY and never asked me to stop. She has always been supportive of anything I do and was so invested in my journey. She helped me find my voice and I don’t know how I would function without her. Not to mention she’s my best friend! My step-dad, Kevin, has given me the BEST advice I could ask for, and we always used to talk about funny businesses ideas as a family. Lo and behold, one of his kids started a funny business! Last but not least, my dad—I know where I get my enthusiasm for what I do from! He is so proud of me and lets me know all the time what a great job I’m doing. If I ever need a pep talk and a big dose of optimism, I know who to call.

Website: https://www.coolpoobags.com

Instagram: @coolpoobags

Other: tiktok @coolpoobags