Special-Needs Business Profile: Pump Wear

Julie DeFruscio and her "best friend and partner," Dawn Juneau, started Pump Wear Inc. in 2001.

Pump Wear offers stylish and cool ways for kids to transport their insulin pumps, including waist-wrapping Pump Paks and bright patch pockets on shirts. DeFruscio describes the business as "a place where children and adults can go to have fun and be fashionable!"

DeFruscio's daughter, Nikki Tyler DeFruscio, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2000, at age two. "It totally devastated us," her mother recalls. "We were on a roller coaster with no sight of getting off." DeFruscio's sons, now age 17 and 14, were also diagnosed a few years later, within four months of each other. It was "a very trying time for our family," says DeFruscio. "Both boys were on insulin pumps within days and that has allowed them to continue to be kids."

Pump Wear isn't a full-time job for its two founders, with DeFruscio working as a sales rep and Juneau as an assistant. Their future hopes for the business are "to continue to grow our line and be known as the best in what we do," according to DeFruscio. "We also want to become more involved in Diabetes Awareness."

"She loves shopping for her Pump Paks!" says DeFruscio of her daughter's interest in the business. "Nikki loves getting the first new one that comes out. Nikki is now at an age where she is starting to come to shows with us. She loves helping."

DeFruscio would recommend that other parents follow her footsteps into business, as long as they understand "it requires time, money, and more time and more money." The best thing about having this business, she reveals, is that "I truly love being able to make kids feel good, and adults too." What's the hardest thing? "Manufacturing. It’s very costly to manufacture in the U.S. We do small quantities so we get hit hard with manufacturing cost."

The Pump Wear partners hear frequently from other parents "letting us know how happy they are with our service, products and providing these items for their kids." Children chime in, too. "When Nikki’s friend Madden said she wanted a Pump Pak for her birthday, I thought then that we have accomplished what we set out to do, make our kids happy to wear the pump," declares DeFruscio. "When someone who doesn’t have to wear one wants one, that is the greatest complement."

What inspired you to start your business?

My husband and I searched for the best treatment of Nikki’s diabetes, and the answer we found was the insulin pump. After switching doctors we found a wonderful doctor who gave us the opportunity to put a three-year-old on the insulin pump. We were so thrilled to get her pumping, but with the pump came a whole new set of problems. Where do you put the pump on a three-year-old? I wanted her to still wear her dresses, be cute and just a kid! So I started to have her undershirts altered with pockets.

How did you go about getting it started?

By the seat of our pants. We wanted to offer children and adults a place where they could go and find fun, creative ways to wear a insulin pump. Someplace where parents could sit down and amaze their kids with all the fun options they have. There are many stages to manufacturing our products. Nikki went on the pump in April and we were up and running in August. We started with six products and now have over 300.

How is your child doing now?

Diabetes is a daily challenge, but since going on the insulin pump Nikki has enjoyed being a child, eating what she wants and learning to manage this illness. It’s a daily struggle keeping blood sugar within range. The insulin pump has given our family flexibility back. It has not cured diabetes.

What advice would you give to other parents about raising a child with special needs?

Positive attitude! You have to have a positive attitude and you have to let them be kids. We don’t use diabetes as a reason why they can’t do something, they can do everything they want to do. We just have to work around the numbers.

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