Tell us about ILLUMAGEAR
ILLUMAGEAR makes the Halo SL™, a 360 lighting device that affixes onto a standard hard hat making the wearer visible and lighting up their work space. The Halo is designed to replace the standard headlamp used in construction, ultimately helping to keep people safe and making them more efficient.
ILLUMAGEAR started as an idea: how do you get the Halo SL onto every hard hat across the globe? It was inspired by a love of construction and specifically a love for the people that make it what it is. There are now over 150,000 units of Halo deployed across the globe, and primary users include "heavy construction" workers, utility teams, and broadband teams.
ILLUMAGEAR was fortunate enough to win the first Seattle Angel Conference in 2012 and has brought onboard various local angel investors through the Alliance of Angels and other strategic partners. Three of the four board members are local residents.
How has the pandemic impacted your business?
ILLUMAGEAR was in the process of launching the third version of it's primary device onto the market the month that the US first "shutdown." Staff were let go and a different focus was brought forth by the sales team. Like most businesses, the team did not get together for most of the last two years and customer visits were cut to an almost nonexistent state. A lot of lessons were learned. It might seem tright and overused but the main lasting lesson learned from the pandemic was that it is all about the people that you work with and depend upon.
What are you most grateful for with your entrepreneurial journey?
That ILLUMAGEAR got to be real. It has taken over a decade and thousands of mistakes have been made but it has been an incredible ride. Meeting customers and partners across the globe that share a common and growing understanding of business is an honor.
What's your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Remember that it is not about you. It is about the mission and your customers. You are part of a system that needs to function without you in the middle and customer demand should drive the bus.
For more info:
Website: www.Illumagear.com
Contact: Max@ILLUMAGEAR.com