Compression legwear can be important for patients suffering from bad circulation and blood clots. But just because a patient has to wear them, shouldn’t mean giving up a sense of style.
When Kelsey Minarik suffered a blood clot on a flight at the tender age of 21, she didn’t realize the experience would bring about a positive outcome. But when her doctor suggested compression legwear to help in her recovery, Minarik saw an opportunity.
Today Minarik is the founder of RejuvaHealth. The company makes fashion compression legwear that doesn’t only allow patients to improve circulation, it also allows them to look trendy as well. Read more about Minarik’s quest to create a therapeutic product that is also a fashion statement in this week’s Small Business Spotlight.
What the Business Does:
Sells fashion compression legwear.
RejuvaHealth’s product line currently includes socks, knee-highs, thigh-highs, pantyhose and leggings. The garments come in various compression levels and styles.
Business Niche:
Offering fashion compression legwear.
Since Minarik was so young when she started using compression gear, she really wanted garments that were stylish. But she couldn’t find them from any existing retailers.
In addition, being a wearer of compression garments herself, Minarik says she has a unique approach to selling these items:
“Founded and run by an actual compression wearer, a key component of the Rejuva brand is our ‘real talk’ approach to compression garments and their use.”
How the Business Got Started:
Minarik got the idea while being treated for a blood clot suffered when she was 21.
Minarik’s doctor suggested she use compression legwear to help with her recovery. She loved how the garments worked, but she hated the frumpy, orthopedic appearance. She couldn’t find any stylish options out there. So she set out to make her own. After a couple years of research and development, RejuvaHealth was born.
Biggest Win:
Partnering with Dr. Comfort.
Earlier this year, RejuvaHealth entered into a co-branding partnership with therapeutic footwear provider Dr. Comfort. The new Rejuva by Dr. Comfort line just launched this month. The partnership is offering opportunities for RejuvaHealth to scale more quickly and expand into different markets.
Biggest Risk:
Attempting to partner with QVC.
Though the company’s partnership with Dr. Comfort has worked out favorably, not all of its partnerships have done as well. RejuvaHealth attempted to work with QVC for some product airings. But to do so, they had to supply approximately $70,000 worth of product to the shopping network, knowing they’d only get paid if they sold that product. Though it didn’t work out as expected, Minarik says it was a learning experience for the company:
“Regrettably, for multiple reasons, the airings didn’t go as planned and we were left to re-accept and work through the portion of inventory, which wasn’t purchased. Though the retail relationship with QVC didn’t work out, the end result was improved product.”
Lesson Learned:
Choose staff carefully.
Minarik says:
“In a small business with only a few team members, one wrong link can have wide-spreading consequences. Not only can it yield lost time, money, and mistakes, it can also wreak havoc on the internal work environment.”
Nickname:
Sunny Badger.
A reference to the famous Honey Badger YouTube sensation, Minarik’s friends and colleagues have taken to calling her “Sunny Badger” because of her happy-go-lucky attitude. Her sunny outlook is apparent in the way she pursues leads and other business opportunities as well.
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Images:RejuvaHealth
Great story of turning a mundane product into something fashionable and making a business in the process.
It’s definitely a great niche – and it seems so simple, I’m surprised no one thought of it before!
Yeah, compression legwear – very useful, but don’t look that great. They remind me of Dr White’s sanitary pads from a few decades back.
So it’s a great (and unique) idea that Kelsey came up with what she did.
Yes, I can see a lot of people being interested in these. There aren’t a lot of other options out there that are even remotely good-looking.
The other great thing is that they look like ordinary socks.
I think that’s cool. I am sure that people don’t want to wear something that will make them look sick. Making it stylish is a good way for helping these people feel good about themselves. Really nice idea!
Great points!