A Street Sense Media artist/vendor is starting a new business that markets and sells stylish walking canes.
Ivory Wilson, 66, hurt himself after stepping off a city bus three months ago. The incident re-triggered pain from a previous injury and caused him to rely on a walking aid to get around. It also inspired him to develop a specialized product he hopes to market to people of all ages, especially those who have an interest in fashionable accessories.
An Army veteran and self-published author of five books, Wilson said he has long taken pride in his sense of fashion and style which he used to spiff up the walking stick he began using.
“When I hurt my leg, I said ‘damn, this is an ugly cane,’” he said. “So, I decided to put some flavor to it and add some bling.”
Wilson’s prototype cane uses a hood ornament from an older Cadillac as its handle. He hopes to raise enough money to place an order with a manufacturer to produce the canes, which he plans to sell in retail stores. So far, he has raised $141 of his $1,200 goal on Kickstarter (tinyurl.com/walking-cane).
Even though it’s early in the process, Wilson said he has already received positive feedback from friends, colleagues, and other potential customers.
“When I stand on the corner, passersby often stop and ask if they can take a photo of my prototype because ‘it is so cool,’” he wrote on his Kickstarter project page.
Though his cane has won many admirers, Wilson said he is also cautiously optimistic about his business.
“It’s not a success yet, I’m feeling my way through it now,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I can use all the help I can get.”