What: A
manufacturer of waterproof protectors for medical casts and IV
lines
Who: David
Reynolds and Marty Ceccarelli of Mar-Von LLC
Where:
Phoenix
When: Started in
1999
David Reynolds, a contractor by trade, had broken his arm while
remodeling a bathroom in 1998. Keeping the cast dry proved to be
very difficult, and when he tried looking around for a product to
help, he was unable to find anything that was both effective and
affordable. That's when the light bulb went on.
After doing a patent search for such a product and finding
nothing, Reynolds, 37, an inventor since childhood, designed a
plastic covering with an adjustable fastening mechanism on one end
to keep arm and leg casts dry. He enlisted the help of his longtime
friend and fellow contractor, Marty Ceccarelli, 38, to build
Mar-Von LLC and the brand.
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But even with their innovative product in hand, it wasn't
easy to get it on store shelves. "I just started going to the
local drugstores," says Reynolds. "I had a real hard
time. Most people don't want to give you the time of
day."
Determined to succeed, Reynolds and Ceccarelli continued to
develop the Cast Cover and sales strategies for two years, and
eventually landed their product on the shelves of
Albertson's/Osco Drug and 12 local Walgreens stores. The
reaction from consumers spoke volumes-their product was a fast
seller.
Today, the pair sells not only Cast Covers, but also the
waterproof Shower Sleeve-open on both ends, they are designed for
patients with IVs. Today, the products are sold via wholesalers and
distributors and on their Web site (www.showersleeve.com). Reynolds, who expects $2
million in annual sales by the end of 2004, has this advice for
other aspiring entrepreneurs: "I had a vision of inventing
something, [but] it didn't happen overnight. Don't give up,
and don't take no for an answer."
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