REGION–KRNOV
I started a few years later, in 1995. My friends told me
to stop it, that half the people in the Czech Republic
make chairs in their garages. But I replied that they
all make chairs the same way: cheap components,
lots of plastic, zero ergonomy and dismal endurance.
I wanted to do it differently.
I had a serious car accident in 2005. I went into a skid
and hit a tree. Before I fell into unconsciousness,
I had a vision. I promised myself that if I survive this,
I would finish my work and start up the business,
100%. The doctors didn‘t give me much hope. I heard
many times that I would be on medication for the
rest of my life and wouldn’t be able to walk. Luckily,
this didn‘t happen, and I started going to physical
therapy where I met an experienced physiotherapist
and we became friends over time. This accident
changed my life undoubtedly, but also in a good way!
I saw photos of ergonomic chairs in the surgery and
it occurred to me that this might be the way. After
about six months, I invited her to the workshop
where I showed her our chair that we built. She said,
without any inhibitions, that it is nice but it is a shame
that it is totally wrong (laughing). I stared in disbelief.
She came again many times: she commented on
what was wrong and we continued development.
We kept testing until the chair was really correct.
The physiotherapy got me through the worst, but
our healthy chair saved me from the wheelchair.
I had a chance to test it on myself and thus get it to
perfection.
May I ask what is the greatest benefit of the
constructional solution of your chairs?
We started with small ideas. I always enjoyed doing
things well. That is why I named the company
“professional work” straight away: I believed in
myself. I knew that I wouldn‘t do it like the others.
Either I will do it professionally or I won‘t do it at all.
I am a mechanical engineer, a technician, I enjoyed
making the design more original. We were the first
ones who started to design anatomical chairs; we
focused on dispatchers, firefighters or paramedics at
that time. We created chairs that are indestructible,
durable, but at the same time fitting for various body
types.
The Therapia chair can change the person’s
workday. It is preventive care, a friend who helps.
We trained for fifteen years, which I think is a long
time to explore one field. Everyone is welcome at our
place, no matter what his/her problem is. We like to
resolve even the most complicated things. When the
customer gives us his trust, it is the greatest reward
for us, much bigger than money. We always say that
people pay for the material only. The therapeutic
spirit, care and love that we put into the production
are free.
I heard that you are starting to sell your chairs also
via e-shop; this is not typical. How are you handling
advising people regarding chairs that are tailored
to their needs?
We have our solution prepared in advance. As I am
looking at you--and I see you only via webcam--I know
exactly what your height and weight is. Believe me or
not, but distance counseling really works. We can tell
from our eyes, and if not, we ask the customer for the
rest. We are never ending developers and improvers.
Geniality is in the fact that no one else can adjust
chairs as we do. Because we came up with our own
construction system.
And the important thing is that we gather data. During
the fifteen years that we spent making ergonomic
chairs, we have already sold 30,000 Therapias that
have loyal users. They probably sit on them till
today. We have some customers who bought their
second Therapia, then a third. When you get used
to this way of sitting, you save a lot of energy and
you do everything to prevent health problems from
getting worse.
Every client is a challenge for us. And because we
suffered the first five years, the result is that we have
become professionals in this field.
What do you think is the biggest mistake when
people think about buying a chair?
It is wrong to think about sitting as something that
goes after the regimen. People need to realize
that the quality of life is given more by sitting than
sleeping. Poor-quality sitting causes fatigue, back
pain and overall health problems. The chair is not just
a piece of furniture; it is a part of one’s lifestyle. One
of our slogans says, “This is not a chair, this is your
personal therapist.” That says it all.
I swore that till the end of my life I will help people that
want my help. We don‘t sell; we don‘t have products for
sale. We have solutions, and it is only up to you if you
accept it or not. All of my employees sit on Therapia
chairs; we are excited that we do everything manually. It
is clean and perfect work.
How long does it take to produce one chair?
If one person was doing all the operation, the
production of one chair would take around a week.
Maybe three days, if he was fast. It is very demanding
work. I have fifteen employees in the company, very
handy and precise people. When the work is divided
among these handy people, we usually make around
fifteen chairs a day.
So, did you teach Czech people to sit healthily?
I would like to. I think of it as of my mission. Those
who already met Therapia can do it, and the number
of these people is not small. I think we have reached
the point where we are now thanks to our way of
communication. We give people a totally unique
opportunity to buy a brand new chair for their health
online, we have a complete service, send people
videos--everything is included in the price of the
chair, including delivery.
Also, our customers have fourteen days to test the
chair at home and then decide if they want to keep it.
If they don’t like it, they can return it. But this doesn’t
happen to us.
Thank you for the interview.
Text:
Šárka Kůrková,
Kristýna Eliášová
Foto:
archiv Therapia
www.therapia.cz
POSITIV 4/2020 ǀ 107