Skizmo Set to Scale Ski Market

Wednesday 12th March 2008

A Richmond based company has developed a new tool designed to remove ski boots without having to sit down or twist your back.
 
The Skizmo - the ultimate ski boot remover - is the brain child of Luxmi Selvarajah, who got the idea from her own personal experience removing ski boots after a tough day skiing.
 
Says Luxmi:
“There’s always a struggle taking boots off at the end of a day, so I looked for a product that could make the job easier. I couldn’t find one and that’s when I started the research that led to the creation of the Skizmo.�
 
So last year Luxmi formed Airborn Products to produce and promote the Skizmo – and now the company is receiving help from the London Manufacturing Advisory Service to bring the tool to market.
 
Although Luxmi had ample experience in the area of business and finance, she realised that she lacked expertise in areas such as product design and production.
 
Says Luxmi,
“As a start up it is critical to ensure that the idea is brought to market before the competition can take a hold, so I asked the London MAS for assistance in product design and manufacturing.�
 
Says Mark Brown, Manufacturing Specialist at London MAS:
“We recognised the potential of the Skizmo, not only as a product on its own for the ski industry but more broadly for other leisure and industrial markets where boots need to be removed in a mobile environment.
 
“We were able to provide Airborn Products with assistance in developing an injection moulded Skizmo product, significantly reducing the unit cost of manufacture and providing enhanced product functionality and quality.
 
“This activity has enabled the unit production cost to be reduced to potentially 30% of its current price and also to be made 50% lighter and therefore more marketable.�
 
Says Luxmi,
“Without the help of London MAS would not have been able to finalise the design and get engineering drawings to the manufacturers for estimates. This help has been invaluable and underpins the successful launch of the Skizmo into the market. The activity has freed up £5000 of my time as the search for appropriate suppliers and discussing design options with several other suppliers was taken care of.�
 
The new model will enable Airborn Products to launch the Skizmo into the market via retail outlets in the next 12 months ready for the next snow sports season in 2008/2009.


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