Fushionz, LLC absorbs the impact and pressure to your feet caused by hard surfaces such as concrete. Fushionz® is a revolutionary patented product designed to be worn with shoes or without shoes. It is a comfort product made for anyone who needs to maximize their comfort throughout the day. It is perfect for people on their feet all day, who need to easily transfer their comfort from shoe to shoe, without shoes, at home or on the go. It is not an insert or a stick-it cushion, or your average insole. The padding is skillfully woven into the design of the sock for maximum comfort. They are currently being sold in no-shows and ankle socks at www.fushionz.com
As a teenager, I always found myself competing in various sports and physical activities. In addition to this, I worked various jobs into my adulthood that required standing for extended long periods of time. One day in particular, I can remember the balls of my feet feeling like they were on fire. I thought to myself, I need to find a hosiery product that feels like a mattress on the bottoms of my feet. After searching and searching, I discovered that nothing existed like this. I then began searching for materials that would feel good on my feet after shopping at a mattress store one day for a new bed. While shopping, I thought to myself – if only my feet could feel as good as my body on this bed. I then started to think that this was something I knew was a great idea and could potentially grow into a business someday. I started researching every material that felt comfortable on my feet from A to Z, and studying the pros and cons of each material. At first, I began putting the materials into my socks to see how it would feel. I wanted to make sure this was something that was highly comfortable.
I became more obsessed with this idea and began calling various factories to send me samples of the latest and greatest comfort to be mailed to my doorstep. Before I knew it, my house was full of cushions and random padding laying around the house including gel guns to mix it and squirt it out, then let it become solid after some time passed. I became highly interested in the science of what material would perform the best for someone’s feet. I began to find out that all cushion is not created equal. With all of the pressure of standing on the feet, I did not want your average cushion or padded material. This is how and why the name Fushionz® was created. One man that I was calling and communicating with on a regular basis for material samples, disappeared on me. I later found out that he took a job in Texas. I then began sourcing for a replacement for materials to continue creating my prototypes.
Before and throughout this phase, I made a trip to Barnes and Nobles to purchase books on how to draft a patent. After many practice drafts, I had written my first draft I was happy with, and then my final draft and mailed it to the patent office to hold my idea. Later on, I hired a patent attorney to draft my “this is it” version, at which it did not work out and I was dropped and turned away. I received emails saying not to contact them again or I would be charged approximately $200 for every email opened. I found myself back at square one once again. After many calls to find a new patent attorney and several – “I am sorry” or “we can’t or will not take this case”, I received a very exciting phone call from a man in the intellectual property world asking me if I had heard of this new Pro-Se program. I had not heard of it or him as he was not an attorney. He asked if I wanted to give it a try, and I said YES! Before I knew it, I ended up in a pilot Pro-Se program implemented for independent innovators by President Obama where I had to quickly learn how to draft and prosecute my own patents to the best of my ability. This felt like my last hope to try to make it work for my big idea. I kept on researching various comfort materials from that point forward.
Along the way, after creating many prototypes, I finally had a solid crude prototype in hand. I began calling many factories asking if they would make my product in the United States. Every factory told me “no” and that “we do not do this type of sewing”. For several years, I received a “no we can’t make this” and “you will have to go overseas to get this product made”. I had also made several road trips to Charlotte, NC to meet with a man that was trying to help me find factories as well to get my idea manufactured. Still, I was getting more rejections than I had imagined from these factories they were sourcing.
Just as I thought that I had convinced this one factory to make it in the United States, they came back at the last second with a “no we can’t do it”. I started to think to myself there has to be a way to make this happen even after almost every U.S factory it felt like was rejecting me. I began reading motivational quotes from the greats as my source of inspiration. It began to feel as if I had no hope from hearing all of the no’s and “I’m sorry, we can’t make this.” I began watching Shark Tank every Friday for more motivation. After more than several remakes of prototypes and asking “will you please try this on”, Covid-19 was knocking on my door. I continued throughout the pandemic trying to perfect my prototypes along with the assistance of my mom and finding wear testers along the way. Finally, I had a product I was willing to share with stores and sell online. Once I reached the buyers and the stores, the work of trying to get them sold out of the door seemed overwhelming. Once I got used to the idea of the stress and this potentially failing, I felt better prepared for any rocks and hot coal ahead that I might step on ahead. The fear slightly wore off, and I just decided to keep going and see what the future may bring.
One of the challenges I have faced in the sock and hosiery comfort industry is that people do not even realize that there is new technology on the market. Fushionz® is revolutionary and unique. This patented technology has never been seen in socks before making this a unique category of its kind. The challenge is introducing this product to the world. The opportunity is that a customer can now access this comfort affordably. It is a money saver because someone can now buy comfort without having to purchase it for every shoe, like a traditional insole. The opportunity is endless. Fushionz plans to integrate their shock absorbent technology into all future products by eventually producing various categories of its product line.
My advice to someone wanting to start a new business or someone who has started one already is to stay encouraged and motivated. Some days it can feel like you’re in a desert all alone, and at that point you can start to feel like quietly quitting. Try to focus on small goals that you can achieve, and even if it is small steps, work towards them as consistently as possible. Looking at the overall end goal can be overwhelming and cause much anxiety. For example, I’ve found that once I achieve a particular goal I set such as getting my product into a new store or even following up on a prospect to see if they’re still interested – This keeps my mind on track in small ways to potentially lead to larger goals. The word no can be very disappointing along the way. You really have to remind yourself as to why you are doing this. Even at your weakest moment, don’t quit, take a rest break. Try to plot your next business attack strategy while you’re resting. Staying positive is extremely important because along this new found journey, doubt starts to creep into your thoughts and side track you as you move forward. Always seek new information from mentors along the way. Take as many breaks as needed along the way to re-energize your mind, body and soul.
Things will happen along the way that will distract you and can cause long moments of pause. This is out of our control. We can’t foresee what roadblocks will pop up unexpectedly. We just have to take a break if needed, refocus and try again. It is also good to join networking groups that stay positive all the time just when you need the push to get you over the hump of doubt in your mind. I joined the Daymond John Network for Entrepreneurs Group as soon as I heard that it was open for applications and live. I have found that keeping myself motivated even by reading Linked In daily posts and stories from people around the world is also helpful in finding sources of motivation. Along my journey there has been lots of ups and downs. When I feel overwhelmed, I try to focus on what I can do next to chip off small goals to stay upbeat as possible and positive. I try to never turn down an opportunity to share what I have learned along the way, if it can help someone else. I share as much information as possible about what I have learned. And, I always try to guide a person to gain understanding of the process themselves prior to advising them to contact a patent attorney. There is a jungle out there, and helping people avoid pitfalls after what I have endured feels good. I enjoy telling them my entire story and providing self help tips for them to get it done too if they so desire.
Fushionz is on social media at: Instagram: Fushionz_hosiery, Youtube: Fushionz and LinkedIn: Melanie Y. Alston, Pinterest: Fushionz and Whatsapp.
- Eye Spy: Worldwide Eye Color Percentages - April 19, 2024
- Elevate Energy, Soothe Stress, And Peak Performance with The New UNBEETABREW Coffee Sensation - September 21, 2023
- Chef Bob’s Coffee: A Journey Fueled by Passion - July 29, 2023
