Fine Fittings is a family company which started with Benjamin Smith and his 1st wife, Ilana Smith, and Ilana’s mother Pamela Brown. Its humble beginnings started as an effort to provide breast prosthetics to patients at the Mayo Clinic Breast cancer center who were not a candidate for breast reconstruction. The service began to grow to fill the need. Soon Medicare regulations changed and now required that a facility must operate in its own building. Ben realized the business must either grow to meet new requirements or die. Ben had picked up building skills through the years and began to work with family to architect, design, and build a store that would not only provide the services, but also be a beautiful place where the women would feel confident and feminine once again. The location in the valley chosen for this service was Surprise, AZ, as it was the most underserved in this capacity. The build-out was not without its challenges, trying to meet regulations from numerous governing bodies, obtaining insurance contracts, and meeting accreditation and certification requirements. Once open in March of 2008, the country found itself in the middle of an economic collapse.
Fine Fittings, just as other small businesses was facing the struggle to keep its doors open. As the healthcare industry was undergoing radical change at the time with uncertain directions, Fine Fittings began to add other services to the community to stay afloat in the potential absence of the insurance industry. Fine Fittings began to provide wigs, swimwear, compression garments, hats, and numerous other items to meet more needs of not just of the cancer community, but all individuals of the local area. In December of 2010, Ben and Ilana had their second son. Shortly afterward she was diagnosed with lymphoma. It quickly spread to her spine and after fighting for only 11 more months; she passed away, leaving behind 2 sons, an 11 month old and a 2 year old. Still aching from the wake of an economic collapse, this was a devastating time. As the owner of Fine Fittings, Ben was facing the struggle of being a single dad and running the store. Thankfully, Ben’s mother-in-law, Pamela Brown, was willing and able to leave her job at Mayo Clinic so she could help out in the store during this horrific time. She played a huge role in keeping the store running, and it would not have been possible without her. Even though there was some help at the store, it was still next to impossible to juggle both the store and raise 2 such small children with no mother. Through some act of God, Ben met Marina Portillo almost 1 year later.
Marina came into his life with two boys of her own. So the tiny family doubled in size over night. She immediately began to work to help keep things running. Ben and Marina realized how well both of their lives worked together and soon decided to have another child of their own. Everything seemed to be picture perfect. Then the baby was born 3 months before his due date. Again, they were facing the unknown. As the new one stayed in the hospital NICU for 1 ½ months, they again found themselves juggling between raising 4 boys at home, one boy in the hospital, and running the store, as well as Marina maintaining full-time employment as a substance abuse counselor. Regardless of all these and numerous other obstacles, not only has Fine Fittings been able to keep the doors open, but it has grown to provide the largest selections of wigs in the West Valley and recently has added an esthetician room.
Fine Fittings now offers 3D eyebrow tattooing (Microblading) to those who are in need of eyebrows, eyelash extensions, and microneedling. Marina has been phenomenal having to obtain certifications in every part of the business and presently is back in school. This time, she is getting her esthetician license to bring even more services to their store. Whether for medical reason, or to enhance one’s own personal beauty, Fine Fittings has now become the most complete and comprehensive mastectomy, wig, and beauty services store in the country. Fine Fittings could not have done this without such amazing team members who are not only caring, but also incredible in what they bring to the store on a daily basis.
Fine Fittings is a provider of most insurance companies and works closely with physicians to ensure customers have all their wigs, eyebrows, lashes, and mastectomy needs met. The products presently carried have been extensively reviewed by physicians to make sure they meet or surpass the goals of expected care without adverse effects. The services and inventory have further evolved through patient feedback on comfort and feel to provide top quality products to Arizonans at a cost that can adapt to individual budget.
Fine Fittings – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Fine Fittings provides full mastectomy products which include bras, prosthetics, post-surgical garments, swimwear, compression garments, hats, scarves, wigs (synthetic and human hair-pieces), accessories, care products. We also provide esthetician and beauty services such as 3D eyebrow microblading (tattooing), eyelash extensions, lift, and tint, waxing services, as well as CIT – collagen induction therapy (aka microneedling). Soon, we will be offering facials, customized facials and chemical peels.
Fine Fittings is one of a kind as we are the only mastectomy shop that not only accepts insurance, but also provides all the beauty supplies, wigs and services to under one roof.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The most proud moment occurs at the end of almost every day at closing time. It is difficult to not take a moment and look back at such a beautiful store, now quiet. I reflect on how the store started as nothing but cinder blocks and dirt floor and see what it has become. So many people gave so much to make the store what it is today. There is almost a gratefulness and majesty in it.