NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA: Sept. 20, 2012: The countercultural entrepreneur and former Windsorite, Maria Latouf, designer and creator of Posture Beads™, will attempt to charm the money loving venture capitalist Dragons on the second episode of this year’s popular CBC’s Dragon’s Den, to be aired September 26th.
Latouf is to feature her product, Posture Beads™, a necklace with a round disk stone pendant in front which balances a strand of beads that lay against the spine. The design offers the person who wears the piece the opportunity to be aware of healthy postural alignment, promoting a mindful relationship to one’s body. It is the only “posture aid necklace” on the market.
The beads target the health and wellness market. “At first, I thought that my main interest would come from the multibillion dollar yoga industry, where new products are rare,” said Latouf, who is seeking companies and manufacturing representatives to carry her product. “But physical therapists, massage practitioners, and chiropractors have also been contacting me—it can even, by enhancing awareness, help the postural alignment of someone who sits at a desk all day.
Latouf, a single mother, has been developing the product for the past two years. Previously, she had no business experience. “Creating the design, getting a patent pending status, brand development, finding a manufacturer and market research into the channels of distribution with no money has been a formidable challenge and amazing learning experience,” Latouf said. The call from CBC just ten days before the airing date has set her scrambling to redesign her website, www.posturebeads.com, and prepare for the publicity.
Latouf currently has one style offered to the public for sale online. Additional designs will be introduced later this year. Retail price points in the line will range from $60 to $250. “I’ve designed them to be so beautiful and distinctive that people want to wear and collect them aside from their ability to support a more mindful approach to postural alignment”
The beads will be manufactured internationally following fair trade principles and standards by Reflective Images Inc (RII), a Santa Fe, New Mexico based designer jewelry company. The company will also design and assist with the distribution of Posture Beads™ in the US market. Reflective Images, a pioneer and international leader in the ethical production of fair trade wedding rings, creates the world’s finest collection of contemporary Celtic jewelry. Their product has been widely featured in catalogs and stores across North America.
Media Contact:
Canada: Erin Richards at CBC, (416) 205 7994, Erin.Richards@cbc.ca.
Maria Latouf: (800) 717-1565 posturebeads@gmail.com
USA: Marc Choyt: (505)-988-7393 reflective@cybermesa.com ###
