Aurora
August 23, 2008 10:08 PM
John Cudmore
Whether it was sitting on the sidelines at her own soccer games or watching her younger brother play hockey while perched on a cold, hard seat at the rink, Marissa McGaffey came to the same unavoidable conclusion — the seating arrangements needed improvement.
It wasn’t very comfortable, either.
To that end, the 17-year-old Aurora resident is trying to knock people off their feet.
And on to her products.
Her venture began as a summer business — McGaff Innovations — through the Summer Company Program, a provincial initiative that offers funding and a mentoring program for students making their way into the business world.
Staked to a small financial start-up by SCP and then matching funds to cover the cost of materials, McGaffey launched The Bench! Portable Soccer Mat, as a portable sideline bench.
The lightweight, roll-up mat provides a comfortable alternative to hard benches and offers a common seating area for soccer players while awaiting their turn on the sidelines.
“Soccer players on the sidelines need a place to sit together to develop team support,” said McGaffey, who is entering Grade 12 at Country Day School in King Township.
“It clears up a lot of problems.”
The Grade 12 Country Day student has added hockey to her lineup with the The Bench! Portable Hockey Mat designed for spectators.
Both products consist of a durable quarter-inch thick vinyl foam mat.
It’s thicker than a yoga mat and is easily cleaned.
Cost is $59.99.
The soccer mat comes in eight and 12-foot lengths, both two-feet wide.
With hockey season rapidly approaching, McGaffey is hoping her winter line is met with enthusiasm.
The hockey mat ($35) is a two-person, non-slip mat measuring four feet by one foot, but rolls into a compact item capable of fitting into a purse.
“I have a lot of ideas and would like to have some of them realized,” she said. “But I want to keep my options open. I’d like to continue with The Bench! for the season.”
Like most innovators, gaining attention in the marketplace was a challenge for the first-time entrepreneur.
“It was difficult in the beginning to get the word out,” said McGaffey, who notes the products are ideal for sponsors looking to give their teams an extra level of comfort and exposure to their name at the same time.
“People seem to think it is a great product and are sure it will take off."