High-tech underwear brand gets BSF funding
Anne Davidson and Judith Balcazar have launched a high-tech knicker brand for women with incontinence, helped by a £25,000 loan from Business Finance Solutions (BFS).
BSF is the North West delivery partner of the Government’s national £310m Start Up Loans programme and a lending partner of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Based in Stockport, designer Balcazar and former teacher Davidson are about to launch Giggle Knickers as an innovative new British designed product that could help millions of women to manage sensitive bladder issues.
The range of washable cotton knickers are available in black and feature a hi-tech gusset that provides total security without the bulk and discomfort of disposable pads.
Davidson and Balcazar, who have been friends for more than 20 years, are using their loan from BFS to build a transactional website and to invest in marketing and product development.
They are also currently in negotiations with a number of retailers to stock and sell the Giggle Knickers range and are developing a range of additional designs and colours for 2018.
Davidson said: “Thanks to the loan from BFS we are now working towards getting a full range of our products on the website for people to buy directly from us, which will really help us to raise awareness of this very common issue.
“Our Giggle Knickers brand aims to demystify sensitive bladder issues and to appeal to any women that wants a more attractive and effective alternative to the incontinence pants and pads currently on the market.
“We are also really excited about been able to donate 20p from every pair of knickers we sell to the Free a Girl movement, a charity that helps women who have been trafficked.”
Balcazar said: “Having worked in design for many years, it was a real shock when I hit my 60s, to find that there really was nothing that catered for women who suffer from sensitive bladder problems if you don’t want to use bulky pads but still want to live a normal, active life and look attractive.
“After extensive market research and trials, we are really proud to have created a product that we know will really fill that gap in the market.”
Roger Seddon, head of lending at BFS, said: “We are seeing more and more people like Judith and Anne, in their 50s and 60s, who are using alternative finance to launch a whole new career, often building businesses that are very personal to them.
“Sensitive bladder and light incontinence affects between three and six million people in the UK, yet there’s still a huge stigma surrounding the issue. Anne and Judith have taken their combined experience, both personally and professionally, to develop a product that is a real gamechanger and we’re very proud to support their new endeavour.”
