UMi Get Funding helps Brace-Yourself secure £150,000 in time for Novak Djokovic product launch
A sports and orthopaedic supplier that is the exclusive UK distributor for a new range of products by tennis star Novak Djokovic has secured £150,000 in funding to help boost capacity.
Brace-Yourself, which is based in North Shields, has been working with UMi Get Funding to secure the loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia Business Loans as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Brace-Yourself supplied the grey knee sleeve that Djokovic famously wore at Wimbledon in 2024 while recovering from knee surgery a few weeks earlier. He was granted special permission by The All England Club to wear the grey sleeve, by the US brand Incrediwear, as it did not manufacture a white version at the time.
Djokovic was so impressed by the effect on his recovery and performance that he has now collaborated with the brand to create his own signature range of sleeves, which conform with the all-white dress code and will be launched in time for Wimbledon this year.
Brace-Yourself is the exclusive UK distributor for Incrediwear, including the Djokovic range. The funding will enable it to increase stock levels, scale its marketing and enhance fulfilment and logistics to support its own growth and that of its sister website, Nalu which offers a wider range of health and wellbeing products.
Brace-Yourself was founded in 2022 by Clive Mitchell and his son Oscar, who already ran a successful business supplying the NHS with orthopaedic supports. They saw a gap in the market for an online store supplying athletes, private clinics and individuals, selling only premium quality, science-led products. The business currently employs nine staff and occupies three units on the Orion Business Park.
Incrediwear products have Carbon and Germanium woven into the fabric which react with body heat to create infrared waves. They claim to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and pain, and speed up recovery.
Clive Mitchell, Founder of Brace-Yourself, said: “There are a myriad of sites selling cheap braces and individuals often end up with inappropriate, poor-quality products that have little, if any, effect. We offer only carefully selected, science-led products supported by independent advice to help customers make the right choice.
“We saw a significant uplift in sales after Novak wore the grey sleeve we supplied prior to Wimbledon in 2024, and we are expecting a similar effect after the launch of his new signature range. UMi Get Funding helped us navigate the options and secure the right support quickly, which has made a real difference. The funding will help us to boost capacity and support the growth of the wider business.”
Julie Cuthbertson, Chief Funding Solutions Officer at UMi Get Funding worked closely with the business to explore its options, shape the right deal and access the funding quickly, ensuring it could move forward with confidence and build on its strong growth trajectory.
Julie Cuthbertson, Chief Funding Solution Officer at UMi Get Funding said: “Businesses like Brace Yourself show what’s possible when the right support is in place. By working closely together, we’ve helped unlock the funding needed to build on an already impressive growth story.
“Our role At UMi Get Funding is to simplify what can often feel like a complex process, in this case helping Clive and the team explore their options, shape the right funding approach and connect with a lender that aligned with their needs and pace of growth.”
Ian Whitworth of Mercia Business Loans added: “Clive had years of experience supplying orthopaedic products to the NHS before joining forces with Oscar and moving into online sales. Brace Yourself has quickly established itself a trusted supplier of premium products. We are pleased to support them as they continue to grow and expand into the wider wellbeing market.”
Explore how UMi Get Funding could support you business finance needs, or speak to on of our advisers, here: www.umigetfunding.co.uk/