“Shark Tank” has nothing on three local entrepreneurs who recently launched business ventures and are thriving, even in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These women have taken their ideas and are exploring new paths, despite these challenging times.

Refusing to give in to the boredom and lethargy that have become side effects of the isolation brought on by the quarantine, best friends Tayla Rex and Maddy Zangl have embarked on a new venture: making and selling vehicle and home air fresheners they call “Freshies.”

The third woman, Jaclyn Kulp, was determined to fill the gap of customers who are wary about visiting nail salons because of the pandemic.

Rex and Zangl could barely contain their enthusiasm when talking about how Freshies started.

“We got the idea from Etsy,” Rex said.

“Let’s figure out how to make these,” the two friends decided.

Freshies are all natural and are available in a variety of shapes, from hearts to seashells and deer antlers to trucks.

“We use metal cookie cutters to form each Freshie,” Rex explained. “I have a little one, and we make them during nap time.”

Zangl made the production of the Freshies sound easy.

“We bought these little white beads from a friend and add essential oils and powder for coloring,” she said.

The aroma beads are also available online.

The ingredients are then measured and mixed.

“We just let them cure for three or four days before popping them into the oven for 10 minutes,” Zangl said. “Once in the car, they won’t melt at all.”

A variety of scents are available, including vanilla, fresh linen and warm rustic woods. Some of the Freshies are enhanced with glitter, ribbon, pompoms or other add-ons. Seasonal scents add to the inventory.

Custom orders may be placed on Facebook, and, so far, sales are going “really well,” Zangl said. “This is our quarantine project, and everybody in the local community has been very supportive.”

Headquarters for M and T Freshies is along Bake Oven Road, Germansville.

Kulp became an independent stylist working for Color Street, a company specializing in nail polish and nail art. She discovered her new venture through a friend.

“I signed up after a friend of mine had an online party featuring Color Street products,” she said.

Kulp was attracted to the products for a few reasons.

“It’s a 3-year-old company based out of New Jersey,” she said, “And, everything is 100-percent USA made.”

Ease of application was also a plus in Kulp’s eyes.

“It’s 100-percent nail polish in a strip form, with a peel and stick application requiring no tools,” she said. “It’s 95-percent DIY.”

Ease of application allows patrons to achieve a manicure in minutes, complete with custom designs.

“Business is good,” Kulp said.

Kulp may be contacted at Jaclynkulp@yahoo.com.