Northeastern graduate is revolutionizing dental hygiene, starting with your toothbrush
“I believe that what we’re building is the future of toothbrush storage products,” says Northeastern graduate and inventor Brian Gellman.
Northeastern University graduate Brian Gellman admitted that the pitch for his Nook toothbrush holder is “a little jarring.”
Gellman said he likes to start with what he calls a science lesson, and explains that a toothbrush can have particles of human waste. “Literal poop from germs, bacteria and viruses and, if your toothbrush is gross, you’re gross,” he said.
But with honors under the company’s belt, including a Good Housekeeping 2025 Bath Award, and a first production run just completed, Gellman is ready to “make Nook a household name,” and save users from grossness.
“I believe that what we’re building is the future of toothbrush storage products,” Gellman said. “I want to revolutionize how people store their toothbrushes.”
The Nook toothbrush holder is essentially a three-sided holster that suspends either a manual or electric toothbrush over the inside of a sink, allowing the toothbrush to drip dry. The cover protects the toothbrush from any “splashback” stemming from other washing and a suction cup attaches the Nook to the sink.
“It is the simplest, most hygienic toothbrush holder on the market,” Gellman says.
But that simple device took a rather long and circuitous route to fruition.
Gellman graduated from Northeastern in 2005, studying business administration with a focus on marketing and entrepreneurship.
“The curriculum, the professors and how smart and how motivated other students were really helped me prepare for after college,” Gellman said. “Northeastern was an incredible experience. It was the perfect place for me.”
Following graduation, Gellman started a career in medical device sales. But his mother’s death after a 30-year battle with breast cancer made him reevaluate his future, inspiring him to follow his dream of becoming a college basketball coach.
So, Gellman found a volunteer position as an assistant coach at Stevens Institute of Technology, blocks from his home in Hoboken, New Jersey.
He also found a need for dog-walking services. So, he started Ducks Walking Dogs, borrowing from the name of the school mascot — the Ducks — to come up with the company name. He hired college students to walk pets.
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He ran the company and coached for almost five years, but realized he wanted something more.
“I said ‘I have to invent something,’” Gellman said. “I’ve always been looking for an invention ever since I was a young kid, but I never had a really good idea.”
That is, until the COVID pandemic, when, while staying at home, he noticed that his father was a “Sink-er” — someone who stores their toothbrush on the sink.
“He was an ‘Offender,’” Gellman says, laughing. Gellman has characterized the toothbrush storage “Offenders” as including a “Sink-er,” “Cup-er,” “Cap-er” and “Crust-er” (referencing that crust of disgustingness that forms at the base of your electric toothbrush and charger).
But an idea was born, and Gellman’s father, an architect, became the company’s product designer.
“It evolved, it evolved, it evolved, and it kept on evolving,” Marc Gellman said. “It’s just what I’ve been doing my whole lifetime, letting a design evolve.”
Roughly 60 prototypes later, discrete product testing on the sinks in Home Depot and Lowe’s, and countless lessons learned in topics ranging from sourcing products to injection molding, the Nook toothbrush holder was produced.
“It really has been a learning experience for myself, but also the manufacturers,” Gellman says. “It’s just part of inventing and creating something that’s never been created before, there’s going to be obstacles — but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Nor would his father, who is now an adviser for the company.
“After working in the corporate world for 46 years, now I work for my son,” Marc Gellman said. “And let me tell you something: working for my son is a lot better because he’s my son. And I love him. And it’s been a wonderful experience.”
The product is available on the Nook website for $10 or two for $19.
In honor of his mother, the company donates regularly to a local metastatic breast cancer research organization.
Gellman has high aspirations for the company — and the future of your bathroom hygiene.
“We don’t want to be a one-product company,” Gellman said. “We want to be a brand.”
In addition to Nook, Gellman is releasing four more products this fall and winter that are all focused on bathroom storage.
“We believe that we’re creating the next great American brand,” Gellman said.
“I want you to walk into a grocery store, a Target, a Walgreens, and I want you to see all our products on the shelf,” Gellman continued. “I want to take over that space.”
