What business opportunity is at the root of Freya Products?
The increasing life expectancy will increase the ageing population. By 2070, 40 percent of Belgians will be over 67. Those seniors want to stay home as long as possible, but their limited mobility is often a problem. West Flemish start-up Freya Products, named after the Norwegian goddess of immortality, allows elderly people to remain independent longer. The products of the young company provide them with assistance in sitting, standing up and stepping up among others.
Who's behind the start-up?
The 20-year-old David Lebbe and Nicolas Vandermarliere, two former studymates, founded the bvba with their own capital in 2017. David had already met the care sector in his previous job with a telecom player. "I saw what opportunities this ageing could bring," he says. "My grandmother also found out that I needed more mobility. My search for suitable tools was not very successful, so we decided to make them ourselves."
Who are the customers?
Initially, the entrepreneurs focused on the seniors themselves, but today they also receive many orders through ergotherapists, home care nurses and caregivers. "The advantage of a small start-up is that we can easily adjust," says David Lebbe. "This sometimes leads to drastic decisions. Thus, we have collected feedback about the ease of use and stability of our Lévate, an opsta-rollator. On this basis we have re-attended the design table, which resulted in a much improved version."
What about the competition?
Freya Products is not the only player in the market, but the emphasis on online sales is, as we say, quite unique. David Lebbe: "We run our business as a modern e-commerce company. The competition has little eye for the internet. Through our webshop Homezorgwebshop.be we reach not only the elderly but also their children, or people who have a son or daughter with disabilities. We have taken over our biggest online competitor."
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