THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503280097
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: EARNING A LIVING IN VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Sometimes the best ideas are born from irritation.
Three years ago while swimming at a local recreation center, Langley Holland became befuddled and then irritated when he realized the only way to protect his locker key was to pin the thing to his swimsuit and risk a tear or rip.
It only took a month or two for Holland to overcome his irritation and turn the tide in his favor by actually developing a business from an idea born while trying to keep his key in a safe place.
Holland started Kyne Sport and began to market a sports towel that features a Velcro closure and ventilated mesh pocket for keys and other odds and ends.
The 16- by 26-inch sports towel sells for about $12.95 and also features a snap strap that allows the user to hang the towel almost anywhere.
``Face it, a towel is a mundane, flat product,'' said Holland, 36. ``We had to make it interesting and now, people are always saying, `Why didn't I think of that?' ''
Holland's business also sells two larger beach towels that feature the same mesh pocket and snap strap. These two towels, made of a terry velour, cost $24.95 and $39.95, respectively. The towels, including the sports model, are sold in eight colors.
Aside from towels, Holland also sells mesh sports hats with flexible brims for $12.95, and he hopes to unveil several new Kyne Sport offerings this year.
Kyne Sports merchandise is sold in two local surf shops as well as four pro shops in the area.
Before starting and incorporating his business in 1992, and before graduating from Virginia Tech, Holland had ambitions of becoming a professional tennis player or triathlete.
When the tennis didn't pan out, Holland became a salesperson for a local oil company, a job he soon quit.
Between jobs, he came upon the towel idea. He spent about six months researching the project in trade magazines at a local library. When he incorporated the business, he sold shares to six other investors, leaving himself as president of the corporation.
He used $10,000 of his own savings to begin the towel production, as well as money from investors. During the past three years, Holland has also supplemented his income by being a waiter at night.
``Every time you make money, you have to buy something to make more money,'' said Holland, who works out of his Lands End condo. ``Although, I'll tell you, I love this industry. It's very satisfying to see something that you dream up materialize and people actually buy it. You wouldn't believe what I know about towels now.'' MEMO: Kyne Sport can be reached at 491-0789 or 1-800-491-KYNE.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
``Face it, a towel is a mundane, flat product,'' says Langley
Holland, 36, whose Kyne Sport creations include a towel with a mesh
pocket and a mesh sports hat. ``We had to make it interesting, and
now, people are always saying, `Why didn't I think of that?' ''
by CNB