telmenow.com, the Stockport-based technology for independent living brand, is preparing for major growth, enabling it to reach its £1million turnover target for 2017. This represents a 400% increase on its first full year of trading (period to 31 December 2016).
Established in 2015, telmenow.com went live only 18 months ago, however, a series of significant factors including impressive team consolidation and strong product innovation to meet market demand, has allowed the business to go from strength to strength.
Located at the Stockport Business & Innovation Centre, Broadstone Mill, telmenow.com recruited graduates who are fulfilling digital marketing remits to heighten the e-tailer’s website presence, building upon the 100,000 plus hits a month that the brand currently receives.
As part of its growth strategy, telmenow.com has invested heavily in bringing to market innovative, functional and highly affordable products, many of which are exclusive to the brand, and have been developed with researchers from leading institutions such as Imperial College London and MIT. This will continue as part of its expansion plans.
The brand also launched an installation service for a low fixed price, allowing customers to have up to five products installed for £84.98.
The founder of telmenow.com and chief executive of its parent company Protelheath, Norman Niven is a former director of BUPA and founder of two companies whose products revolutionised medication management. Norman and his fellow directors launched the brand in response to the ageing population, which has brought a corresponding surge in the number of people requiring care, placing increased financial pressure on individuals and their families.
Norman explains: “With the launch of telmenow.com, we have responded to a major need in the market. We have over 250 products, mainly focussed on technology for independent living, allowing the more vulnerable to remain in their homes for longer. This gives them and their families peace of mind that they have access to products that help manage their health and care needs at an affordable price, so they can remain in familiar surroundings, without the immediate worry of having to sell their home or use their hard-earned savings to offset expensive care home fees.”
“Most people pay something toward the cost of full-time residential care, although how much exactly depends on individual circumstances. In private care homes with nursing, the local authority will often refuse to pay any of the fees and so the total cost could fall entirely to the relatives. Naturally, this is where the cost of care can spiral. Some two million elderly people have been forced to dip into their savings to pay for care costs, according to research undertaken for the NFU Mutual insurance group. The research shows around a million homes have been sold to cover care costs in the last five years.”