Interviews
Name: Ciara Donlon
TCD Qualification: BSc Mgmt (1999)
Title: Founder and CEO at THEYA Healthcare
About: THEYA Healthcare designs and produces post-surgery bras which are pretty, comfortable, supportive and healing. These bras are for all women who have had medical or cosmetic breast surgery or are undergoing radiotherapy.
What inspired you to set up THEYA Healthcare and where did the name come from?
I worked in corporate marketing roles for 11 years; my last corporate job was Head of the Online Channel for Vodafone Ireland. I was offered a redundancy package in 2009 and decided to take it. I always wanted my own business but didn’t know what type of business I wanted to run. A retailer in my home village of Ranelagh pointed out that there was a need for a lingerie shop in the area. Consequently, in 2010 with part funding from AIB I opened Cupcakes a lingerie shop specialising in maternity. It was a success from the start and many women who were post breast cancer surgery came into the store requesting a wireless, comfortable and attractive bra. They were willing to wear maternity bras as there was nothing else available on the market that satisfied their needs. Having discovered this gap in the market I applied to Enterprise Ireland in 2012 and was successful in attaining funding to carry out research with breast cancer survivors in the UK and Ireland. My hunch that there were very few post-surgery bras available was confirmed and THEYA Healthcare was born.
The name was chosen by me personally. I wanted a Goddess name as the women involved in the research were so strong and positive. THEYA is a Hindu Goddess and the mother of all the other Gods and Goddesses. The Rose design on all our products is in honour of my paternal grandmother Rose Donlon who survived a double mastectomy. In her day breast cancer was not discussed openly and when she had cysts removed it was not possible to purchase a pocketed bra in Ireland.
What is unique about your brand?
We listened to what our customers want in their post-surgery bra. The engineering of our competitor’s bras centres on holding the prosthesis in place. However we have looked at it from the women’s point of view and our bras incorporate aesthetics, comfort and support. Our products have no tags or seams which lessens irritation and straps are front opening or adjustable for ease of use. The bras are also pretty which is important for these women who may have lost one or both breasts and need to feel feminine again. As our bras don’t roll up or interfere with drains, nurses like them too. Theya Healthcare bras are made with the highest eco standard bamboo which is soft on the skin and hypoallergenic which may sooth any rashes. The material is also anti-bacterial which aids with post-surgical healing along with being thermally regulating which helps any burns post radiotherapy. It is 60% more absorbent than cotton which assists women on hormone treatments. A patent is pending on our bras with our unique bamboo blend.
What’s been your proudest moment since setting up THEYA Healthcare?
There are so many for example when a patient on live TV referred to our product “as a hug in a bra”, when we became a supplier to St Vincent’s Hospital, when we signed our contract with House of Fraser in the UK! That’s a few of them I could go on….
What has been your greatest challenge?
Staying the course. It’s one thing to have a business idea it’s another to undertake it and make all the sacrifices necessary to get it off the ground. I have days when I feel like packing it all in but staying focused and believing in myself and the business has kept me going.
When do you say to yourself “that makes it all worthwhile”?
We got a call a few weeks ago from an Irish hospital telling us that our bras had increased wound healing post breast cancer surgery at the first checkup. To know that Theya products are helping women to feel better physically and emotionally is what it’s all about.
What’s next for the THEYA brand?
We are expanding into the UK and France over the next 18 months with an emphasis on the healthcare market.
Who is your role model and why?
I admire many people but growing up my role model was my dad who was a very smart man and succeeded very young in life. He taught me that anything is possible and always encouraged me to push myself beyond my comfort zone which I definitely have achieved in creating THEYA Healthcare. It is his mother Rose who was the inspiration for our logo. Unfortunately, I lost my dad recently at the age of 69 to cancer and now more than ever he is my inspiration to grow THEYA Healthcare into a recognised international company.
What is your strongest memory from your Trinity days?
The Chief Justice of Ireland Judge Susan Denham conferred my degree and that is one of my greatest moments in Trinity. She is a very strong and powerful woman and I was delighted that she conferred me at my graduation ceremony.