Lexie B2 Hearing Aids powered by Bose.
Courtesy of Lexie Hearing

Millions of Americans who could benefit from hearing aids don’t use them because of issues like stigma and cost, so when the FDA approved over-the-counter sales of hearing devices for the first time in 2022, experts hailed it as an opportunity to expand access and save customers thousands of dollars. A shrewd partnership with Bose and distribution in 12,000 stores across the U.S. helped hearing-aid maker Lexie Hearing leap ahead of the pack. It now expects to earn $60 million in revenue and expand to many more stores this year. But COO Seline van der Wat says customer service is key to Lexie’s success. “We don’t just get hearing aids into people’s ears,” she says. “We keep them there.”

A weekly newsletter featuring conversations with the world’s top CEOs, managers, and founders. Join the Leadership Brief.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

Major League Baseball
Kim Kardashian Loves Your Body
Novo Nordisk
Kia America
Apple
EDIT POST