Fortitude Founder

Allen County
Founder Profile

Helen

Nill

Business

Live On Goods

Founded

March 2015

Grant Date

May 2019

Idea

Allowing adults to protect their clothing while promoting socialization and a sense of dignity and pride.

Living with dignity and independence.

That’s the goal for many adults with physical limitations, young and old. Unfortunately, the products offered to this market are not always efficient to serve the purpose of allowing adults to comfortably interact with the world around them.

Helen Nill and her partners Gretchen Dahm, Maria Krach, and Laura Rao all have experience as caretakers for aging parents. The partners’ professional experience ranges from dietetics to small business owner to nursing. Together, they created Live On Goods.

Their first product in the Live On Goods line was created by Helen for her mother-in-law, a woman who was always stylish and put together but was having trouble keeping her clothes clean while eating as she aged. The traditional adult bib is not fashionable, often infantile, and usually ineffective. Helen knew there was a better way to give independence and comfort back to her mother-in-law.

She created the bonTop, an adult bib like none other that is currently on the market.

The bonTop is unique for a few reasons: It’s waterproof, washable, and stain resistant. It has an easy on, easy off front velcro strap and a pouch to catch fallen food.

But, most importantly, it’s fashionable for men and women. It comes in a variety of seasonal and core patterns and colors, catering to a wide variety of styles and needs. With bonTop, people with physical limitations to dine out with friends and family in comfort and peace knowing their clothes won’t end up wet and stained.

The bonTop has been curated using high-quality, local fabrics while keeping the price affordable for those who need it. Live On Goods does all of its manufacturing in northern Indiana with hopes to maintain a local presence.

As Live On Goods grows, Helen and her partners want to expand their range of products to sell nationally. Using their grant from the Fortitude Fund, the partners will revamp marketing efforts and begin production for a new line of community-oriented bonTops that will effectively be utilized by senior and assisted living facilities.

Until then, the bonTop will continue to evolve to meet the needs of adults looking to live comfortable and independent lifestyles.

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