MA Small Business Development Center

Bern Unlimited

Bern Unlimited
Duxbury
, Massachusetts

Bern employeesThere had to be a better way...

Before the arrival of Duxbury-based Bern Unlimited, consumers had to buy one helmet for skiing, one helmet for skateboarding, another for mountain biking, and yet another for wakeboarding.  Enter company founder Dennis Leedom, already an extreme sports industry icon at the tender age of 32, who has introduced a line of one of those "why didn't I think of that" products, finding indeed "that better way".

Starting in 2006, Dennis and his new company Bern Unlimited began designing and selling action sport helmets that offered complete head protection regardless of season or activity. Whether it's skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, snowboarding or even wakeboarding, a single Bern helmet is the only head protection customers need.

MSBDC Business Advisor Mark Allio, who divides his time between the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional SBDC and the UMass Boston SBDC, was immediately impressed with Dennis and his "positivity". He began working with Dennis in July, providing support and counsel on a wide range of issues- from strategic to operational, from sales to finance.

During that time, Dennis has continued to gain traction in building his company, and his leadership is paying off. In 2006, their first year with a product on the market, Bern realized $1.6M in sales and a healthy
profit. This year should be even better, as the market embraces Bern's superior products and winning attitude, with sales projected to rise to nearly $4M by 2008.

The company has been self-funded to date through equity investments made by Dennis and family and friends, but is now poised for bank financing.  Mark continues to help guide Dennis and his team as they work to complete their financing proposal and search for an appropriate banking partner that can support their meteoric growth.

"This is a fresh, exciting company that thinks outside the box", says Allio. "I'm psyched to be working with Dennis, and believe that Bern will become the brand of choice for extreme sports enthusiasts around the world."



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