Today we’d like to introduce you to Magnus and Karin Jansson.
One might wonder what would have happened if the commercial fair in Karlstad had been canceled in 1987. They will never know. Because it was there, in April of 1987, that Magnus, a salesman from Skara, met with the inventor Ingemar Mählkvist.
Magnus had for some time been looking for “The Product”; that one item that would make him risk everything and start a business of his own. He had set up some criteria for this product and he was yet to find one that met them all.
It should have unique qualities, be easy to use, be good for the customer, with no complicated service, be in a price range that most people could afford and be something almost everyone would need.
A college with a back problem had seen and tested a device for pain relief at the fair in Karlstad and suggested Magnus go try it. He finally went and that is when he met Ingemar Mählkvist to see the prototype of the Mastercare Back-A-Traction – a self-treatment device for back, neck, shoulder- and knee problems.
Magnus Jansson tried the Mastercare Back-A-Traction and he knew that he had found “The Product”. Now all he had to do was to convince the family.
His wife Marie-Anne had suffered from back issues for years. Recurrent attacks of Sciatica, tennis elbow and wryneck; all caused by a dislocated pelvis when giving birth to their daughters. Magnus brought her with him for his first visit to the inventor and after trying it she was convinced. This was a product worth working with. Marie-Anne continued using the Mastercare Back-A-Traction and she experienced immediate improvement and after a short time she had recovered up to 95% of her functions and strength. This was proof enough that the Mastercare Back-A-Traction really worked.
In June 1987, an agreement was signed that gave Magnus Jansson the exclusive sales rights worldwide. Soon after that he also obtained the manufacturing license.
The production was located in Sweden and the prices were too high for mass production. After some research they found a factory nearby Novi Sad in former Yugoslavia that had standards high enough to make the Mastercare Back-A-Traction. With some minor start-up hassles, the company was on its way. The demand for the Mastercare Back-A-Traction kept getting higher.
Some weeks before the war in Yugoslavia broke out, Magnus and Marie-Anne had been down to see the factory and realized that with all the tension in the area, it was time to pull out. The manufacturing was moved to Czechoslovakia for some years but in 1993 they moved the entire production back to Sweden. However, to meet the demand from Asia and especially USA the production was moved to China in 2003-2004, where it currently is being manufactured.
Today, Mastercare AB is a company that sells products to most countries in the world and has major dealers in about 20 nations.
From that first table in Karlstad, there now is a range of different models for different needs, as well as accessories. The Mastercare Back-A-Traction has been improved through the years.
The reward of all the hard work is all the testimonials that come to the office. People with incurable conditions who have been helped back to a functioning life thanks to the Mastercare Back-A-Traction. Athletes, farmers, teachers, conveyor belt workers – the list goes on and on proving that the Mastercare really was the product to fill all those criteria, to have unique qualities and proved to give extraordinary treatment results.
Mastercare AB, Sweden, has been working ever since 1987 to help people all over the world with their backs, necks, shoulders, and knees.
With this long time of experiences – with Therapeutic Exercises developed together with PT and MD and scientifically tested – Mastercare has also shown to be beneficial within Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, Athletic Training, Industrial Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine rendering great results!
Just a link to the sport section: http://mastercare.se/users-voices/sport.html
In 1996, Magnus decided to start a company in Florida to provide Mastercare Products to the US market. In 2004 the company was moved to Georgia and is now in Cumming selling Mastercare through distributors and retail stores. Mastercare was prior to this sold by an independent dealer in Minneapolis since 1991.
Magnus and his daughter Karin (who is Vice President for the Swedish company Mastercare AB and Operational Manager for the US company Swedish Backcare System, Inc) commutes between Sweden and USA several times per year.
Both with 30 years of experience, working with the Mastercare® Back-A-Traction® in co-operation with medical professionals, they have built a reputation of outstanding treatment results, product performance and breakthroughs in the field of occupational health care, clinical use and self-treatment in the home.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No it has not been a smooth road – it has been hard work from beginning and still is!
You constantly have to keep up and promote the product…
The hardest was to break through to the medical field in Sweden as there first was some opposition as Mastercare seemed to “threaten” their work… However, not the same opposition in USA as they are more open to alternative treatments!
Moving the manufacturing several times was also a challenge – but at the same time learning to improve production methods!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are proud to be one of the world’s leading companies in the specialty of traction tables, designed for professional use and self-treatment – providing Mastercare Back-A-Traction – The Swedish Back Care System.
Which offers Natural Spinal Decompression in a 15-degree inclination – in combination with Therapeutic Exercises – which sets us apart from “similar” products.
We are proud to have been on the market- helping people for 30 years!
Article from March 2017 from local News Paper in Skara, Sweden: https://www.skaraborgslanstidning.se/article/firar-30-ar-med-unik-halsobank/
English Translation of Headline: “Celebrating 30 years with unique Health Table”
What were you like growing up?
Magnus liked sports – especially Ice hockey and soccer and flying – flew gliders (sailplanes) by himself at 15 years old! His strength was mathematics in school which has helped him in the business…
His daughter, Karin, was an exchange student in Snellville, GA, at the age of 16… going to Gwinnett High School for a year. She has had USA in her heart ever since, so when starting the company in USA; it was an easy move for her!
Pricing:
- Different Models from $469.00 to $1,995.00 + accessories
Contact Info:
- Address: Swedish Backcare System, Inc
Cumming, GA - Website: www.mastercare.se
- Phone: 770-888-9796
- Email: backcare@usa.mastercare.se
Image Credit:
Mastercare AB
Karin Jansson
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