Five Questions with Kathleen and Jeff Hale of Rebel Desk

Kathleen Hale and the Rebel Desk. Photo courtesy of Rebel Desk.

You don’t have to spend much time on Capitol Hill before you learn two valuable lessons: Hill residents like to work have to work and they love to exercise.

Head out early in the morning, and you’ll see people making their way to offices across the city. At the same time, the sidewalks, parks and gyms are filled with people just as determined to get in their daily dose of cardio.

Jeff and Kathleen Hale had that same sense of personal fitness, but when the couple realized their hard work was being undermined by hours spent sitting at a desk, they knew they had to do something about it. And, so the treadmill desk, called Rebel Desk, was born.

Kathleen, together with her husband, Jeff, shares the story behind their company Rebel Desk as well as a bit about the treadmill desk itself.

What is a Rebel Desk, and why should [we] buy one? 

Rebel Desk sells treadmill desks so you can work while you’re walking. A treadmill desk is a standing desk and a treadmill designed specifically for walking that fits underneath the standing desk. You control the treadmill with a console that sits on the desktop. So while you are doing work at your desk, whether working on a computer, taking phone calls, or reviewing documents, you can be walking at a slow pace. The Rebel Treadmill doesn’t have arms and its top speed is 2 MPH.

If you sit at your desk for several hours a day, then a treadmill desk is for you. The average adult in the U.S. sits for over 9 hours per day, and research has shown that prolonged sitting can have all kinds of terrible effects on your health. In fact, sitting all day can be as bad for your health as smoking. Just like smoking, sitting can increase your risk of developing chronic diseases and heart problems, even if you exercise. Sitting also can contribute to weight gain, back problems, and leg pain. Add more movement into your day with a treadmill desk though and you can feel great while you work.

What was your inspiration for the Rebel Desk?

I was a practicing attorney, so I spent most of my days–and many of my nights–firmly planted in my office chair. I just accepted that sitting was a big part of my life without giving it much thought. Then, my husband Jeff went back to work after a few years at home with our kids, and he really noticed a difference in how he felt as he spent more time behind a desk.

One day, Jeff read about how bad sitting can be for you, even if you exercise. Studies have shown that people who sit the most are at greatest risk developing chronic diseases and dying early, regardless of their fitness level. In one study, relatively healthy and active men reduced the number of steps they took each day and within just two weeks, their bodies became worse at processing fats and sugars. We tried to be healthy and active and felt frustrated when we learned that our efforts may be set back by time spent sitting. We knew we had to do something about it. So we got treadmill desks and fell in love with walking while working. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to walk and work and how much more energized and productive I felt.

I remember one of the first days that I used a treadmill desk after eating a big lunch. Normally I would have felt that awful post-lunch drag. But because I could walk at a slow pace rather than be slumped in my chair, I felt alert and focused. It was one of those “where have you been all my life” moments! We knew that treadmill desk-ing could be life changing, yet it seemed like so few people were aware of the concept and so few product options existed. We wanted to spread the word about how awesome treadmill desks are and help more people feel better.

What separates the Rebel Desk from the products of your competitors?

Value, style, and flexibility. Think of Rebel Desk as the Trader Joe’s of treadmill desks – we offer a high-quality product at great price point. Treadmill desks can run you as much as $4,000! A treadmill desk by Rebel Desk is about $1,500, with high-quality components and engineering.

Competitors’ treadmill desks also look like they were plucked from a gym and plopped in an office. We know that many folks take pride in how their office looks, so we designed our products together to create a gorgeous, coordinated look. Our desk tops come in glass and a teak finish and include handy features, like built-in USB outlets and electrical receptacles, and organizer trays.

Rebel Desk also gives you the flexibility to walk, stand, or sit at the desk. Leading health professionals recommend that you change your movement throughout the day but it can be hard to find a way to do it all. Our desk adjusts from sitting to standing height, and we offer a sleek chair that you can use right next to the treadmill when you want a break from walking or standing.

What was the biggest challenge when starting the business?

Meeting the aggressive timeline we set for ourselves required a lot of hard work and focus. When we committed to launching the business, we knew that we wanted to have a product available to sell for the holiday season. We have put in many hours since the spring to make that happen and are proud to say that we met our goal. Our treadmills have been shipping since mid-October and our desks can be ordered now and will ship in mid-December.

How does living and working on Capitol Hill influence your business?

Jeff and I love living on Capitol Hill. We had the opportunity to move anywhere when we started our business this past spring but we didn’t want to leave the amazing Hill community. We know that lots of folks who live on Capitol Hill are putting in long hours behind a desk. Go to Lincoln Park any morning and you can see how many people also are trying to stay healthy. We know that Rebel Desk can help many of our neighbors feel better while working. The stories that we hear from Hill friends about struggles to find a standing desks, or aching backs from working too long help inform our product development and outreach. For anyone who wants to take a Rebel Desk for a “test walk” just reach out and we can make that happen!