Advice on a new product please

[Mrq6]

Hi everyone, I have just had my patent published on a new kind of shower screen, I also have a prototype of said product. A large DIY chain have stated they would be interested in stocking my product once manufactured the same goes for a large hotel chain as well as independent bathroom showrooms. All the companies I have approached state they love the idea but feel it still needs development before they would do a licencing deal ( basically they want to see the finished product) As you can imagine I have spent thousands on my product so far and need investment to take it to next stage. Any ideas

 

[Mrq6]

Have a look and tell me what you think qscreen.co.uk

 

[MikeJ]

Having spent thousands on this, why don't you at least finish the website before you try to sell the thing? Most of the site is empty.

All I can see is a shower screen. I can't see what makes it different to any other.

 

[Mrq6]

Hi Mike Thanks for your reply, The web site is on my to do list. My shower screen lives within the side of the bath when your not using it. It is raised and lowered by a rodless piston which if powered by mains water pressure. If you look at small picture you can see the screen is gone so you don't have anything blocking access to the bath when not having a shower

 

[MikeJ]

Ok, thanks - you've summarised the difference quite well there, but all I can see on the photos is "bath with shower screen" and "bath without shower screen".

 

[Mrq6]

The bath without the shower screen is the bath that has the screen stowed away that's what you see when not using the shower

 

[impreza280]

A clever concept. I could imagine this on Dragon's Den. Why not approach a company such as Quincom(.co.uk)?

 

[matt seymour]

So, it's a solid screen that basically folds away when not being used - much like a shower curtain? Fully retractable as opposed to the ones that essentially fold back?

Quite a good idea. In fact, it's one of those ideas that makes me think it must have already been done. If it hasn't already been done, I do believe you are a pretty shrewd person.

Depending on the price, I can see it being a good seller.

 

[Mrq6]

Hi, Not been done had patent searches done and also have a published patent

 

[Mrq6]

Thanks for the link a email has been sent

Q

 

[Frictiontech]

whats the screen made of?

 

[Mrq6]

Toughened glass

Q

 

[Mrq6]

3 sheets to be precise

Q

 

[Mrq6]

Hi All,

here is a update from all messages I have been getting
,
I hve spent tens of thousands so far on patent costs and building a prototype to prove the product works. I have a meeting with B&Q who have said they will stock the product once manufactured (as long as all the i's are dotted and tee's are crossed) I also had a meeting with Aqulux who said that they wanted to work with me to develop the screen further unfortunately they had to withdraw their offer due to lack of resources at the time ( I have copies of all these emails) I have also had expressions of interest from independent plumbers merchants stating they would stock the product.

Basically I need investment to move it on from the prototype stage with a view to manufacturing.

Cheers

Darren

PS you can email me at darren at qscreen. co . uk

also look at website
qscreen co uk

 

[Mrq6]

Anyone who views my web site could you please be so kind as to let me know what you think of my product

Thnkyou in advance

Q

 

[Rookery]

Its hard to see exactly how it works. It looks like the top screen slides down behind the middle screen and they, in turn, slide down behind the bottom screen. After that, I cant tell where they go. Are the screens framed? What is the overall thickness of the 3 screens together?

 

[Mrq6]

Hi Rookery,

Your right that they all slide down, they then go into the void of the side of the bath into their own basin which has its own drain to allow water the drain off. They are all frameless and each sheet is 4mm thick

 

[Deleted member 120503]

Hello there

Does the bath need something doing to it then for the screen to go into it?

Did I read that right?

Dan

PS: I like it. Got a Youtube video? Make one and stick it on the site. 30 secs tops.

 

[Mrq6]

Hi Dan,

Initially it was going to be a basin you put into a bath but looks like it is going to be a complete unit including the bath and screen.

Cheers

Q

 

[benjihubbs]

I quite like the product, maybe a video of how it works? To post on the website, so people can see it working.

Ben

 

[Mrq6]

Just uploading a video on youtube

Q

 

[Deleted member 120503]

So if I wanted to get rid of my current screen for example, instead of paying maybe £30 for a new one I would have to get a new bath which would require a plumber and mess and serious cost.

Is that right?

So your market is to wholesalers like Bathstore for when someone replaces their current bathroom, rather than the 30 million existing properties you could sell to if the bath didn't need to be changed?

Is that right?

Dan

PS: Just saw your youti=ube post so i'll look in a minute then I wont be guessing. lol

 

[Mrq6]

When I was first developing the product the intention was that the screen would be sold as a unit that customers could retro-fit to their existing baths. However, after carrying out market research it became apparent that customers would be reluctant to do this as it would require them to cut a rectangular shape out of the ledge on the top of their bath. Not everyone has the skill/confidence to do this themselves, and if they mess it up then they have ruined their bath! After speaking to various suppliers, they recommended that it came as a complete unit. I realise that this take the cost of the product up, and means that customers have to replace their bath however, all the suppliers that I spoke to said that this would be the best option.

Q

 

[Deleted member 120503]

Wasn't their money though.

To me it is a James Bond gadget. So I can see high end developers putting these into new flats and homes.

Not sure about hotels off the top of my head because it is not a problem for guests.

Room gets cleaned by the cleaners everyday.

So if the pressure makes it go up and down that means it is wet when in it's basin does it?

I live in a hard water area. How would I squirt the limescale stuff or whatever it is I spray before it had dissapperaed into its recess?

What I mean is, how would I clean it? Moment shower is off it is folding up.

Dan

 

[Mrq6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2yo-xP-UQE

 

[Mrq6]

Each pane of glass is fitted with squeegies that clean the glass of excess water as it retracts into the basin. The bottom of the basin collects any excess water which drains away through the main bath waste. Also the top of the basin has vents to allow any excess water to evaporate.

Q

 

[benjihubbs]

I can see the unit in the video, is there no way of just having that free standing next to the bath and then connected up to the mains water through a small pipe (simple hole in corner of bath panel), with something to ensure water doesn't run in between (squidgy sort of thing).

Most people would be confident doing that, I know I would and I'm only 16!

And what about a tray at the bottom to collect excess water rather then having it, and this is just removed and emptied when full.

Lowers costs, but then you still have your USP!!

Ben

 

[Deleted member 120503]

Okay yes I saw that. Very neat.

I like it.

I have no experience of manufacturing though so have no idea gow you raise the money.

Do you need lots? Would a manufacturer do it for a % of your company?

Dan

 

[silvermusic]

Knowing nothing about your potential market place I can only give my opinion as a possible customer.

The first two things things that come to mind is how much would it retail at with a standard bath and how easy would it be to fit.

Next I can't help wondering if you've made a solution for a non-existant problem?

 

[Mrq6]

I can see the unit in the video, is there no way of just having that free standing next to the bath and then connected up to the mains water through a small pipe (simple hole in corner of bath panel), with something to ensure water doesn't run in between (squidgy sort of thing).

Most people would be confident doing that, I know I would and I'm only 16!

And what about a tray at the bottom to collect excess water rather then having it, and this is just removed and emptied when full.

Lowers costs, but then you still have your USP!!

Ben

The whole idea is to make it look sleek and pleasing to the eye and people wont want to be emptying a tray of water.

Q

 

[Mrq6]

Okay yes I saw that. Very neat.

I like it.

I have no experience of manufacturing though so have no idea gow you raise the money.

Do you need lots? Would a manufacturer do it for a % of your company?

Dan

Hi Dan
Yes it needs quite a bit of investment and I would be open to do a licencing deal with with a manufacturer. Glad you like it.

Q

 

[Mrq6]

Knowing nothing about your potential market place I can only give my opinion as a possible customer.

The first two things things that come to mind is how much would it retail at with a standard bath and how easy would it be to fit.

Next I can't help wondering if you've made a solution for a non-existant problem?

Hi,
The price is still hard to say and yes it would be very easy to fit. I have been in plumbing business for last 23 yrs and the census I get is my customers do not like curtains or screens. B&Q, Aqulux, A latge hotel chain and various bathroom outlets all love the idea.Health care people also love it for ease of access to bath when not in use and it is 100% water tight

Q

 

[benjihubbs]

The whole idea is to make it look sleek and pleasing to the eye and people wont want to be emptying a tray of water.

Q

But surely there has to be a compromise between price, ease and sleekness (if that's even a word)

Could a free standing version not be developed as an alternative?

I just think that ripping out an entire bath just to have a shower screen which folds out of the way, like a shower curtain, is just too much hassle. The only real market you have is people who are ripping out their entire bathroom anyway, but how often do people actually do that? And how many potential customers is that a year?

I like the product, but I'm just thinking practically.

Ben

 

[Matthew_28]

Neat idea.

Over time is there any chance of build up of soaps, residue, or stagnant water smells coming from the basin? Obviously the water would drain away freely into the same waste pipe as the bath. Any chance of bad waste pipe odours? When not in use and bath is used, when bath plug is pulled out could it flood the basin where the screen is concealed?

Cheers
Matt

 

[Deleted member 120503]

What sort of showers do they have in South Korea and Japan?

They love gadgets in the bathroom. Have you seen Japanese toilets for example?

I live in Wokingham near Reading and building projects are starting up again down here after a quiet couple of years and all houses are marketed as Executive now aren't they.

They love showing things like TVs coming out of the bed and that sort of thing so I am confident they will like this too.

I'd actually like to sell it.

Dan

 

[Mrq6]

But surely there has to be a compromise between price, ease and sleekness (if that's even a word)

Could a free standing version not be developed as an alternative?

I just think that ripping out an entire bath just to have a shower screen which folds out of the way, like a shower curtain, is just too much hassle. The only real market you have is people who are ripping out their entire bathroom anyway, but how often do people actually do that? And how many potential customers is that a year?

I like the product, but I'm just thinking practically.

Ben

Hi Ben,
Loving the input and it is still early Days and it is being constantly developed. Thanks for your feed back.

Q

 

[Mrq6]

What sort of showers do they have in South Korea and Japan?

They love gadgets in the bathroom. Have you seen Japanese toilets for example?

I live in Wokingham near Reading and building projects are starting up again down here after a quiet couple of years and all houses are marketed as Executive now aren't they.

They love showing things like TVs coming out of the bed and that sort of thing so I am confident they will like this too.

I'd actually like to sell it.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Yeah the Japanese toilets are cool a little ott though lol. When you say you would like to sell it what do you mean?

Q

 

[Mrq6]

Neat idea.

Over time is there any chance of build up of soaps, residue, or stagnant water smells coming from the basin? Obviously the water would drain away freely into the same waste pipe as the bath. Any chance of bad waste pipe odours? When not in use and bath is used, when bath plug is pulled out could it flood the basin where the screen is concealed?

Cheers
Matt

Hi Matt,

The basin is designed to be cleaned with ease and it will have own u bend to stop smells and a double check valve to stop water going back into basin.

Q

 

[Deleted member 120503]

To wholesalers and hotels and developers.

Dan

 

[Deleted member 120503]

To wholesalers and hotels and developers and care homes etc.

Dan