SCRUNCHIES made me $100,000!
When Katie found a x for her hair woes, she had no idea how big it would become Katie McCarthy, 30, Sydney, NSW
Feet pounding the pavement, I felt my ponytail getting loose again. Sighing, I continued running as I struggled to x my hair.
Why does this always happen when I run?
I thought.
Back at home, I thought about female athletes. When I watched them on TV, they would often stop mid-game to adjust their hair tie.
There’s got to be something better, I thought.
It was 2018 and scrunchies were coming back into fashion, so I decided to try making my own.
I wondered if I could create something that was high quality and functional.
Searching YouTube, I watched a sewing tutorial.
I could do that, I thought. So I bought an array of coloured spandex, which doesn’t easily absorb water and is fastdrying – great if you get sweaty.
I did my research into making them stay in hair – and found the perfect method.
Then I spent the next few hours hand-sewing my rst batch of scrunchies.
Calling the brand Scrunchiko, I shared my new business on social media, deciding to sell my scrunchies for $14 each.
‘I’ll buy one,’ my best mate Meg said.
Then, I bought a sewing machine and nailed the art of making them.
I had a few sales, but things really kicked off when I messaged Danielle Davis, the captain of Parramatta Eels NRL Touch Football premiership team, on Instagram. Making a green and gold scrunchy to match her team colours, I posted some over.
I loved the scrunchies, Danielle soon responded. Can we get some for the whole team?
Of course!
I typed back, excited. As word got out, requests kept coming.
I tted scrunchie-making around my full-time oral health therapist job, often working late. It was exhausting, but when I made a 466 per cent pro t in my second year, it felt worth it.
In 2020, the Rugby Sevens team wore my designs in their matches. It was amazing. My parents,
Graham and
Denise, often tell me they’ve spotted an athlete on TV wearing one of the scrunchies.
‘We’re so proud of you,’ they say.
But the ultimate pinch-me moment was last year when Aussie athlete Sarah Carli wore one in the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony.
So far, I’ve made thousands of scrunchies and, last year, my turnover was a whopping $100,000.
Seeing my scrunchies inspire young athletes to look good, feel good and play good makes me proud.
As well as the classic ‘Aktiv’ scrunchie, I’ve also introduced hats and eco-friendly scrunchies.
I still run my business around my job, but later this year I hope to spend more time on Scrunchiko.
I feel so lucky to make something I’m passionate about, while inspiring women to get active.
My parents say, ‘health is wealth’, and I like to think my scrunchies are the mascot girls need to give their best performance.
I’m proud to inspire women
to get active