Sue Chen believes every grandma wants to be “a hot grandma.” So as chief executive of Nova, a Carson company, she’s making independent-living devices that are a bit more rakish and interesting than the standard-issue aluminum walker.

In fact, the city of Carson is giving Nova access to senior events and drop-off points so she can give away Walker Glide Skis, which are small, ski-shaped plastic caps that Chen claims are both more attractive and functional than the tennis balls often found on the bottom of walkers.

“The walker ski is our No. 1 selling product, and yet everywhere I go, people don’t know that there is an alternative to tennis balls,” Chen said.

She said the items are durable, easy to attach and allow the walkers to glide more smoothly than tennis balls.

Chen staged a giveaway at a community center and fitted about 30 walkers with the skis earlier this month, and Nova is planning several more events at nursing homes and senior care facilities.

Usually, her skis retail for $12.95. The goal, she said, is to make Carson “America’s first city free of walkers with tennis balls.”

It’s not just walkers Chen wants to beautify. She started Nova in 1993 as a 23-year-old when she noticed a dearth of attractive alternatives to what she saw as the drab products on the senior market. Since then, she has built the company up to 65 employees and manufactures leopard-print canes that list for $29.95 and red walkers that sell for up to $200 – much higher than the cost for standard items.

Chen said the higher price point isn’t an issue for style-minded seniors.

“We really look at our product like a retail product or a car,” she said. “We consider ourselves the BMW of walkers.”