Anette Andersson's wall-mounted shoehorn is attracting interest outside Sweden. In January, she met with representatives of French wholesalers and hotel chains in Paris. "After France, the rest of Europe is waiting," says the Sundsvall innovator.
With a simple extendable wire, the WALLi shoe horn is always in place on the wall. Behind the innovation is Anette Andersson who, together with her partner Johan Sarskog, runs the start-up company Crave Design in Sundsvall.
For the past year, WALLi has been sold online and in a number of design stores. The smart shoehorn can also be found in the rooms of hotels in the First Hotel, Quality and Best Western chains, and more hotels are on the way.
In January it was time to take the step outside Sweden. With the help of the European Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which helps small and medium-sized enterprises free of charge.
EEN's representative in Sundsvall connected Anette with her colleagues in Paris, who accompanied her to the major interior design fair Maison et Objet in Paris.
- "It gave us a lot of new contacts. We also had individual meetings with designers, representatives of two hotel chains and two companies that sell hotel interiors. I also had the opportunity to talk to a major wholesaler of promotional gifts. There's a lot of interest and I expect to have the first contracts ready in the spring.
Anette Andersson also did a lot of footwork during the intense days in Paris.
- On the first day, all public transport was on strike, so we didn't go to the fair. Brigitte Lafargue-Sanclous from EEN and I went around the shops and introduced ourselves to get a feel for what the French thought of WALLi. The response was great, with many referring to their buyers!
The fair also established contacts with a Danish wholesaler who can open new doors. For France is just one of many possible markets.
- "My vision is that WALLi will be sold in several other European countries within a couple of years," says Anette Andersson.
She describes her invention as a stylish design product that becomes a striking detail regardless of whether it is located in a gym, hotel room, rehearsal room or at home in the hallway.
The wall mount is made of metal and the shoehorn, which is available in nine colors, is made of recycled wood. Manufacturing takes place in China, but assembly, warehousing and logistics are handled by a socially sustainable company in Nybro.
Crave Design is one of the companies in BizMaker's incubator program.
- "Taking advantage of BizMaker's knowledge and contact network is extremely valuable. My advisor Maria Wiik pushes me and makes me give that extra effort," says Anette Andersson, who hopes that WALLi will be followed by more products in the future.
CONTACT
Anette Andersson, CEO Crave Design
anette(@)cravedesign.se, 070 347 83 93
