About Us
The Clothing Innovation Company™
DAVID M. FRANKEL
Founder and CEO
Personal Background
- Married father of six – 3 boys & 3 girls ranging from 10- 27
- Born in Cincinnati, OH
- University of South Carolina Alumnus – B.S. in Business Administration
- Moved to Charlotte, NC in 2005
Facts about Perky, LLC
- Perky, LLC was formed and the Perky Collar was invented in 2015
- Collar support for dress shirts
- Just shy of 25k sold
- 366 stores across the globe carry Perky, LLC products
- Opened Kisok at SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, NC in Dec. 2018
Auditioned for “Shark Tank” in April 2017 with his son, Bryce Frankel, when he was 15 years old. Got through 2 out of 4 rounds and is still optimistic that trip to meet the shark of Shark Tank is still a possibility.
Since auditioning, Perky, LLC has accomplished the following:
- Over 1 million is sales since inception in 2015
- 4 plus years experience at Southpark Mall in Charlotte, NC showing growth, increased revenue monthly, quarterly, and annually.
- 300 plus retailers across the globe carrying Perky, LLC products
- Perky Franchising, LLC launching in 2023
An investment and an opportunity to be on the show is much more likely. Stay tuned via social media for our latest developments.
The Perky Collar was invented to stop the droopy and saggy collar and help extend the life of your favorite dress shirts. It provides consistency for the top button region of the collar. No adhesives to apply. No sticky residue. Finally, you can look professional without the discomfort of a traditional tie.
Dress shirt collars take a lot of abuse from getting smashing in the closet, in our suitcases, carry on bags, and laundry and hanging bags.
Finally, there is a solution to help collars look good without the use of a tie. Simply add the Perky Collar under your dress shirt collar and watch your collar lift up like it did when you first bought it. You no longer need to starch your shirts at the dry cleaner to get that crisp look. No starch means your shirts will last longer because starch thins out your shirts, makes buttons fall off and frays your cuffs.
Want to learn about my invention process?
The sagging and droopy collar problem peaked for me in March of 2014 when I began wearing dress shirts every day and frequently wore a blazer as well. When getting ready each morning, I noticed that each dress shirt collar would lay slightly differently. Despite my effort to correct it, the collar returned to its saggy state seconds later. Throughout the day, I found myself adjusting my shirt collar and growing frustrated. Whether I adjusted my collar in the bathroom mirror, while sitting at my desk, or while looking in the car’s rear view mirror or window, the problem remained. I vowed to find a solution that didn’t involve wearing a tie to work. That’s when this journey began.
When I finally had enough frustration in mid-March 2014, I finally went into my 5-year-old daughter’s bedroom and grabbed several of her headbands to find a solution to the saggy collar problem I was experiencing. I tried several of her headbands around my neck, and while most were uncomfortable, they clearly helped with the saggy collar issue. I then went out and bought several different types of headbands from several area stores. Trying each of the headbands daily, I was never happy with the headband solution but felt that I was onto a possible solution. I then contacted Enventys in Charlotte, NC and met with a team of engineers. At the meeting, I explained my collar problem and the different solutions I had found.
The Enventys team and I then began several discussions over six months to determine the best angle, width, thickness, weight, color, and material for the Perky Collar. After creating several prototypes and getting feedback from several people, we decided on a transparent and thinner version of the Perky Collar than initially designed. We decided it was more important that the collar be invisible, lightweight, durable, and effectively lift the front of the collar closest to the top button of the collar.
Perky, LLC was born in January 2015, and the catchphrase “The Clothing Innovation Company” was born. It is important to us to not just have an invention or a “patent pending” but to continue to innovate and develop a clothing innovation company. The Perky Collar will simply be our first product and significant modification to the dress shirt since the Collar Stay was invented in 1955. Collar Stays are still encouraged to be worn in the collar along with the Perky Collar to prevent curling.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Perky, LLC and our business. Please help me spread the word about the Perky Collar, and together we CAN revolutionize the dress shirt industry. More great clothing innovations are around the corner.
FAQ’s
Q: Can I wash the dress shirt with the Perky Collar installed?
A: No – It is made of plastic. It is NOT intended to go in the washer or dryer.
Q: Should I remove the Perky Collar before dry cleaning?
A: Yes – It is made of plastic. It is NOT intended to go in the washer or dryer at the dry cleaner.
Q: Does it work the same as a collar stay?
A: No – It works WITH collar stays. Collar stays plan an important role of preventing collars from curling. It is still important to prevent that curling from occurring.
Q: What exactly does the Perky Collar do?
A: The Perky Collar is a collar support system. Therefore, its primary role is to lift the front of the collar, the area around the top button, to avoid sagging and droopy collars.
Q: Is the Perky Collar intended to be worn?
A: Yes – It is clear, lightweight, and should be worn under the collar.
Q: Is this more effective than button down collars?
A: Yes – Even button down collars will begin to sag over time. The Perky Collar should be worn with button down collar shirts as well to maximize effectiveness.
Q: Does the Perky Collar come in different sizes?
A: No. It is one size fits most. It is designed for neck sizes 15-19. It is still effective with larger necks, it is simply less comfortable and feel a bit short. It is still better than nothing and still more comfortable than a tie.
Q: Is there a Perky Collar for kids?
A: Not officially. However, since it is made of plastic it can be trimmed down slightly so it does not stick out of their collar. When trimming, try and keep the tip contoured as much as possible. I was able to trim a perky collar down for my 13 year old and 9 year old son. It was very effective for both of them. Not sure how effective it will be if you trim it down for kids under 9.
Q: Where is the best place to store the Perky Collar?
A: Wherever is convenient for you. I keep mine on the master bath counter. Others keep it in a bathroom drawer, on a nightstand, or wherever is not exposed to extreme heat.
Q: Should I buy more than 1 Perky Collar?
A: Of Course! Since there are so many different types and sizes of collars, most people find it nice to customize their Perky Collars a bit. You will also find they make great gifts for family members and friends. You may also want to keep one at the office, in the car, or in a suitcase so that you always have one when needed.
