Ask a man to slip into a leather pump or a brassier; not too comfortable, is he? That's because these items have been specifically designed for the average physical proportions of a woman.
Similarly, it's no surprise than many women feel awkward or uncomfortable using many home repair tools which have traditionally been designed for use by men. Finally, a line of home repair and improvement tools and products designed specifically for women.
Home Repair Tools Designed for Women by a Woman
Barbara Kavovit (aka Barbara K!) is a young New York City businesswoman/entrepreneur, and CEO of Barbara K! Enterprises, Inc., a comprehensive lifestyle brand that offers solutions for women through innovative home repair and improvement products, including an extensive line of high-quality, do-it-yourself toolkits, tools and accessories.
In addition to providing a line of tools designed to encourage women to feel confident about their ability to perform what have been considered (traditionally) male tasks, Barbara K! also provides an excellent role model for both female and male entrepreneurs.
Barbara K! launched her extensive line of home repair and improvement products, designed exclusively for women, with the mission of instilling in women the self-confidence achieved in doing-it-yourself, and eliminating the fear factor of home repair. For today's busy contemporary women, the kits are intended to save them both time and money.
Building a DIY Dream
Barbara k! entered the home improvement business by literally pounding the pavement - going door-to-door with fliers advertising her services and, later, donning a business suit and distributing her business cards, "Don't' Fuss Call Us," outside a Gristedes in Westchester, NY. Her diligence worked: she received dozens of calls from women requesting her home repair services. Knowing nothing about the construction business, barbara k! learned from her subcontractors as well as from classes at a local technical college.
By 1990, the demand for Barbara K!'s services increased enough for her to officially start "Stand-Ins," a small home improvement business. But, now she was targeting more than just home repair. After aggressively soliciting IBM for six months, she won a two-year contract for interior renovation. Later, she became intricately involved in developing River Point, a condominium complex in New Jersey.
In 1995, Barbara K! formed Anchor Construction, taking on larger projects, including a 50,000-square-foot renovation for Women.com and renovation work for Carnegie Hall. Meanwhile, she also built townhouses for models Amber Valetta and Linda Evangelista (she also built her own 6,000 square foot, post-modern traditional home in the Hamptons). In 2002, Barbara K! focused on a new mission with a new company: Barbara K! Enterprises.
Barbara K! Enterprises
Among barbara k!'s products is her signature 30-piece Toolkit , which contains everything a woman needs to tackle the most common home improvement projects, from fixing a leaky faucet to hanging curtains. The tools are ergonomically designed for women: they are shaped to fit smaller hands, boast spring-assist technology to accommodate a woman's grip, and are guaranteed forever. Reinforcing Barbara K!'s mission to educate women, the Toolkit also includes Barbara K!'s exclusive how-to booklet which provides step-by-step instructions for accomplishing a variety of common home repair projects using the Barbara K! tools, from changing a showerhead to hanging pictures.
The latest addition to the Barbara K! product line is designed to ensure potential inclement weather doesn't interfere with your travel plans this winter (or any other time of year). Women should equip their cars with the proper tools to battle another powerful lady, Mother Nature. Last fall, Barbara K! will launch the Roadside Safety Kit.
The kit contains everything a woman needs to manage the unexpected glitches of road travel: jumper cables, a batter-operated lantern, glow sticks, a tire gauge, a funnel, an ice scraper, gloves, rags, a poncho, and an S.O.S banner. It also features something other car kits don't; Barbara K!'s exclusive How-To Guide to Roadside Safety. This booklet includes instructions on basic car repairs, maintenance, identifying problems on the road, and emergency contact information.
Future Endeavors
Beyond the retailing success of her products, Barbara K! is establishing herself as today's Do-It-Yourself expert for women and is considering a variety of potential television opportunities.
With over 70 percent of all female home owners doing minor home repairs themselves, and 37 percent of women saying they would prefer to spend their leisure time working on a home improvement project than shopping or cooking, Barbara K! is evidently fulfilling a need and has clearly found her niche. And, with her revolutionary new product line, Barbara K! is bringing new meaning to the phrase "power women."
