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This is the story of a Bulgarian company that set aside a successful business with a 20-year history in the European market to help the children of Bulgaria—a Bulgarian brand dedicated to crafting active sitting chairs that serve as a prevention for a number of spinal diseases in adolescents and even adults.
Let us introduce you to the Totev family, and specifically to Ventsi, the man behind these innovative chairs, who shares the journey he and his family have been on. "The backstory is that my family was engaged in the production of dining chairs. For years, exactly 20 to be precise, we exported our production across Europe, and I dare say the business was truly profitable," Ventsi shares.
But what makes a family leave behind a highly successful business? For the Totev family, this isn't a cliché story about how "something was missing" or how "they just wanted to help"; rather, fate placed them in the right situations.
"One day, a lady called me asking if I produce kneeling chairs for active sitting. A physiotherapist had recommended them for her child as a prevention against scoliosis and various spinal curvatures, but the price of these models from abroad was completely out of her budget. We are talking about prices around 1,300 euros for the model she wanted, which, let's be honest, is entirely unaffordable for most parents in the country. I told her that I wasn't even familiar with these chairs, even though I had been producing dining chairs for 15 years."
This phone call ignited Ventsi's curiosity, and he immediately started researching. It turned out that kneeling chairs for active sitting were quite an unpopular product in Bulgaria, yet thousands of Bulgarians were in need of them.
In the beginning, it all sounded too good to be true. A chair that was a good prevention against dozens of diseases? It made some sense, but it sounded a bit like fantasy. The second green light for the Totev family came when the phone rang again...
"The following day was also surprising. I was contacted by a Yumeiho therapist from the city of Dobrich—Mariana Peeva—who was also looking for a kneeling chair for active sitting. After we talked, she assured me that the benefits I already knew about were real, and since I was such a skeptic, she challenged me to make a few units and see for myself, including making one for her."
A few conversations with different physiotherapists and specialists later, the first 3 kneeling chairs for active sitting came out of the Totev family factory: one for the lady with the child, one for the Yumeiho therapist, and one for home testing so Ventsi and his family could prove the benefits to themselves.
"I kept in touch with the lady who ordered it for her child so we could share our impressions of the kneeling chair's benefits. I was surprised; I felt most of the things on myself, but I was even more surprised when she talked about them. She knew about the prevention of spinal diseases and that the kneeling chair teaches proper posture, but she also started listing things she had seen and felt herself (you can't have such a chair at home and not start using it yourself, even if it was ordered for your child). I didn't tell her I knew about these benefits; I let her list them herself during our communication. Around day 20-25, my mother told me that I had started walking upright and was finally keeping my shoulders straight—every mother's dream," Ventsi shares.
Surprised by the results, the Totev family dove even deeper into their research, talking to a number of experts until they met Dr. Manikatov, who thoroughly explained how and why the chair has such a beneficial effect on the human body.
"During the development process, I met Dr. Manikatov, who also explained to me where and how these body benefits come from. He shared that the kneeling chair is suitable for all people with a seated working posture, and it is highly recommended for children and students because it minimizes the prerequisites for developing a number of spinal curvatures in children (scoliosis, kyphotic deformities, etc.)."
„The "miracle" happens due to the correct positioning of the body on the chair, which facilitates the correct alignment of the spinal column, preserving its normal physiological curves (lordosis and kyphosis). "He explained to me that lower back pain disappears due to the naturally achieved proper curvature of the spine. This way of sitting reduces the possibility of developing more serious conditions like disc protrusions, hernias, and others, while also reducing the tendency to slouch. This had already happened to me, and my standard 'shrimp' sitting posture had vanished." „
Other chairs
- Limited back support
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Improper body posture
- Stagnation of blood and lymph
- Low muscle activity
- Damage to the spine
Столовете на Stoleto
- Improves posture when sitting
- Activates the muscles
- Stimulates blood circulation
- Improves balance and stability
- Protects against spinal pain
- Stimulates body movements
Ventsi himself suffered from a herniated disc, which made his personal tests somewhat hesitant at first. However, after a few weeks of trying it out, he discovered that the back pain he regularly felt had decreased, and sitting on the chair did not strain him—quite the opposite.
"Through unconscious movements, the therapists' words that the kneeling chair improves coordination and balance were confirmed. This movement, which they call 'active sitting,' leads to a better oxygen supply, which in turn leads to improved concentration. Sitting in a position similar to walking frees up the lungs and helps with deeper, more fulfilling breathing."
Fast forward a few years, and the Totev family is now successfully developing their production of active sitting chairs under the brand "Stoleto". With 5 available models and 3 more on the drawing board, the family has managed to help hundreds of children and adolescents with specialized custom chairs, as well as hundreds of parents to prevent bad posture and poor health in their kids.
Dozens of kindergartens and educational institutions (such as the SMArt Children's Center) have contacted the Totev family to learn more about the chairs, and many have purchased them for their students.
"I am an example of a huge skeptic; I had to first personally convince myself of the benefits and qualities before stepping away from a successful business with a 20-year history and heading in a completely new direction. The chairs are made in collaboration with physiotherapists and specialists. They underwent one year of testing before moving into production and being offered to end customers. We have already sold over 400 units, and not a single one has been returned for any reason. They have a warranty period, but even if something happens down the line, we will fix it, because we are people who make chairs—not just for active sitting, but for other people."
