By Yuka Noda
Staff Writer
The problem of non-sticking band aids is on the rise everywhere; however, with Economics teacher Adam Geczi and senior Natasha Brunstein’s new company, this problem could be a thing of the past.
When Geczi purchased a few band aids in Japan during his vacation, he realized that the band aids were more flexible and adhesive than those in the U.S. and saw this as a business platform.
“Something like this could sell for millions of dollars, if it grows, gets and retains customers, depending on how successful it becomes,” Geczi said.
According to Geczi, he spent approximately 10 hours creating an interactive website when people started placing orders on the band aid products. He then handed the company over to Brunstein to run after she volunteered for the head position.
“It was basically a give-away company,” Geczi said. “If people start recognizing it on the gray market, the unofficial market where items are traded, then it has the potential to become an official company and the United States importer.”
The small-scale project imports Careleaf band aids from a company in Japan called Nichiban. As the company grows, Brunstein will re-label the Japanese product with an English label.
“Careleaves are more flexible and secure,” Brunstein said. “I felt there was a niche for a superior product on the market, and I wanted to provide that.”
The Japanese Nichiban Company sells various types of first aid materials, including band aids, skin tapes and more. However, as of today, Brunstein’s company only sells band aids. Brunstein plans to focus initially on advertising the band aid products to increase consumer awareness.
“For now, I hope to see how this project goes and see if there’s potential for growth and expansion before deciding to sell other first aid materials,” Brunstein said. “I’m thinking about presenting these band aids starting with the elementary schools. I’ll commercialize the product locally at first, but I hope to eventually have consumers in the entire South Bay area.”
Upon volunteering, Brunstein assumed responsibility of maintaining the website and promoting its product to new consumers in the United States, as well as balancing the supply in accordance to the demand.
“I volunteered to run the company because I thought it would be fun and a great opportunity to apply the economic principles we’re learning in class to the real world,” Brunstein said.
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