The crutch strap that makes everyday life easier
After working for 32 years at Arlanda Airport, Malou Böhm decided one day to quit and boldly told those around her: I'm going to be an inventor. Together with the designer Nina Sjöberg, they have developed an aid for people on the move that will make everyday life easier for people on crutches.
The idea for the innovation came from the personal experience of Malou's mum, who was unable to climb stairs during a time when she was on crutches.
"Mum would call me or my sister every time she needed to go up a flight of stairs, which of course wasn't sustainable in the long run." says Malou.
The desire to facilitate and help her mum was the starting point for the innovation process. The solution to the crutch problem was a crutch strap that can be easily attached to the crutches using a Velcro strap. A simple yet effective way to make life a little easier for those on crutches. In honour of her mother, and the inspiration she gave the innovation, the product is named after mother Ebon.
"The day mum is gone, the product will remain."
The partnership with Nina
To broaden her knowledge of entrepreneurship, Malou came into contact with Almie and attended a start-up course. Almie in turn introduced Malou to designer Nina Sjöberg, which would develop into an important and crucial partnership. The first meeting took place in Nina's kitchen where Malou presented her innovation idea.
"We went through the process together and complement each other wonderfully. It takes so much longer when you work alone. It is also nice to have a sounding board. Without Nina, this would not have been possible at all." Malou admits.
Nordic cooperation
When choosing a supplier, there were initial thoughts of using Chinese suppliers, but this option was rejected in favour of more local cooperation. Instead, a Finnish supplier was chosen, which Malou is happy about in retrospect."We are very proud of our Nordic collaboration. This is one of the ways we can contribute to our sustainability approach."
Upcoming visions for the future
The crutch band is currently only available in one colour, but there are ambitions to produce the product in more colours in the future. "The ladies on the French Riviera might want the band in purple or pink. Someone might want their favourite sports team on the band. In this way, the crutch band could act as a fun associate and not just an aid."
Malou's tips for other innovators
Try to get into relevant situations! Finding the right network isn't always easy, but you have to be persistent and not give up.Accept help! With the right guidance, you will get an idea of whether the idea is worth investing in.
After working for 32 years at Arlanda Airport, Malou Böhm decided one day to quit and boldly told those around her: I'm going to be an inventor. Together with the designer Nina Sjöberg, they have developed an aid for people on the move that will make everyday life easier for people on crutches.
The idea for the innovation came from the personal experience of Malou's mum, who was unable to climb stairs during a time when she was on crutches.
"Mum would call me or my sister every time she needed to go up a flight of stairs, which of course wasn't sustainable in the long run." says Malou.
The desire to facilitate and help her mum was the starting point for the innovation process. The solution to the crutch problem was a crutch strap that can be easily attached to the crutches using a Velcro strap. A simple yet effective way to make life a little easier for those on crutches. In honour of her mother, and the inspiration she gave the innovation, the product is named after mother Ebon.
"The day mum is gone, the product will remain."
The partnership with Nina
To broaden her knowledge of entrepreneurship, Malou came into contact with Almie and attended a start-up course. Almie in turn introduced Malou to designer Nina Sjöberg, which would develop into an important and crucial partnership. The first meeting took place in Nina's kitchen where Malou presented her innovation idea.
"We went through the process together and complement each other wonderfully. It takes so much longer when you work alone. It is also nice to have a sounding board. Without Nina, this would not have been possible at all." Malou admits.
Nordic cooperation
When choosing a supplier, there were initial thoughts of using Chinese suppliers, but this option was rejected in favour of more local cooperation. Instead, a Finnish supplier was chosen, which Malou is happy about in retrospect."We are very proud of our Nordic collaboration. This is one of the ways we can contribute to our sustainability approach."
Upcoming visions for the future
The crutch band is currently only available in one colour, but there are ambitions to produce the product in more colours in the future. "The ladies on the French Riviera might want the band in purple or pink. Someone might want their favourite sports team on the band. In this way, the crutch band could act as a fun associate and not just an aid."
Malou's tips for other innovators
Try to get into relevant situations! Finding the right network isn't always easy, but you have to be persistent and not give up.Accept help! With the right guidance, you will get an idea of whether the idea is worth investing in.
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