There’s a big difference between men and women’s work boots, as Marissa McTasney found out. Her quest to find a pair of construction boots to fit her properly inspired Marissa to create and build her own company. Moxie Trades now markets construction wear especially for women.

What: Moxie Trades sells work boots, gloves, tool belts and other gear for women, designed to fit women. And yes they come in pink and baby blue.
How she got started: in 2006, after ditching her sales job at IBM to spend more time with her kids, she signed up to learn painting and carpentry. Unable to find a pair of construction boots to fit her properly, she ended up contacting a manufacturer in China thinking she’d get a pair made and import a few others to cover her costs.
Claim to fame: An appearance on CBC’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ led to an investment offer from Brett Wilson.

* Bing: Check out these groundbreaking women in construction

by Ian Harvey