It seems that yet another intrepid inventor has been fascinated by the business opportunities offered by wobbly tables and chairs. First there was Stabletable which featured on Dragon’s Den where it didn’t get any investment because it was too likely to be copied. Although it’s since been claimed that the Dragons were wrong about Stabletable. Ex-Dragon Rachel Elnaugh then said:
…and if the product takes off you can be sure it will be slightly adapted and then ripped off by some Chinese manufacturer who will be impossible to sue.
Almost immediately Chen from China turned up with TableNoWobble proving Elnaugh right.
Now we have WOBBLEG created by Julian Bradbrook from West Yorkshire who was kind enough to email me and draw my attention to his recent launch. According to his press release:
There is nothing more annoying for diners than to be seated at a table or chair that rocks and rolls around – and that’s before you’ve had a drink! Indeed a recent survey of over 500 diners revealed that wobbly tables rank as the number one gripe. A staggering 89% called for the abolition of wobbly tables in restaurants while only 13% said that children under 12 in restaurants are a big turn off.
Interesting stats, but I just don’t get the attraction of this business and I’m not convinced there’s enough global demand to make the fortunes of any one of them let alone all three of them. I think Bradbrook’s solution looks to be the best, shame the colours aren’t a bit brighter though.
So in the fiercely contested business of wobbly tables who is your money on?
This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
Thanks for the mention in your blog about my new invention, wobbleg.
I have had a really good reaction from the product which was only launched about a week ago – coverage in national press, paid for orders, discussing an order which has potential to be massive – all within a week.
It is a problem which many people put up with but I believe wobbleg is a neat solution which people seem to like and hopefully will buy.
The added benefit of my solution is that being made from rubber, it is fantastic at stopping furniture sliding or ‘creeping’ across laminate flooring – I was forever pulling my sofa of the wall but now, with wobbleg below the back legs, it stays put.
Would love to hear your other readers comments.
Thanks for letting me know about it and commenting. So why compete in this marketplace? What’s the attraction?
The basic answer is that I think I have a better product.
I also think there is a big market for such a product if the right market is targetted – although don’t want to give too much away
It may be a better product, but at £1.25 retail you’ve got to sell a LOT to make your fortune.
I hope you’ll pop by in a year or two and let us know how you get on.
Just to update you :-
I have a full page article about me and my new invention, Wobbleg, in today’s Daily Express (Wed 5 Dec, page 44).
Julian,
Do you have a link to the article on their website?
http://www.express.co.uk/money/view/27356/A-final-fix-for-wobbly-tables
Thanks.