€80,000 investment begins to reap rewards
AN ingenious but simple idea from Murroe based Pat Madigan and Noel Regan, has captured the imagination of luggage companies and airlines.
They have devised a self-weighing luggage – and the surprise is that it hadn’t been thought of before.
Pat and Noel struck about the idea when flying to Spain with Ryanair.
Pat’s luggage was overweight and he was forced to move personal items from one bag to another in front of a long queue of passengers.
“I thought: ‘This is going to be a big problem for people, there has to be a solution’”, Pat told the Limerick Post.
That was three years ago, and the pair have now achieved €100,000 worth of sales worldwide through their company Flylight, an online based retailer.
Speaking to designer friends, Noel and Pat discovered that a weighing mechanism could easily be built-in to the inside of a piece of luggage.
The handle then works as a weighing scales and a button is pressed to activate an LCD screen, where the weight is displayed in kilos. “It wasn’t difficult,” explained Noel. “It took eight or nine months to get the working model together and we started trading in November ‘09”.
Noel and Pat are both married and each have three children.
They say their families have been very supportive of the venture.
The luggage is available to comply with check-in and cabin baggage size requirements for most airlines.
Each product comes with batteries and two spares, which are easily replaced, and last for 32,000 hours in standby mode.
The production of the suitcases has been contracted to China, while work is also taking place in the old Ferenka plant in Annacotty on new developments for the baggage that will make it more streamlined.
Most sales are currently from individuals, but they are looking to expand into the commercial side of the market.
“We are working on a major development that will allow us to expand,” Noel explained.
“This new innovation will be patented so no other companies can copy it.
“We have had interest from luggage companies and airlines. Aer Lingus are very interested and we have made a prototype in their colours that they are looking at for promotions, or for their gold members club”.
Before venturing into the luggage sector, Noel was self-employed, working in marketing and promotions, while Pat worked for O2 in detail excellence.
The duo now draw on their skills to constantly develop their new company.
They put €80,000 investment into the business, and had help with setting up their website from Ballyhoura.
Profits are currently going back into the company.
They have made sales in China, Australia, Canada, and even sold to a soldier based in Iraq, though 80% of sales are Irish.
“We did very well at the Holiday World Show in Dublin. We sold everything we brought with us,” added Pat.
“And we have already been short-listed for a number of awards, including the JFC Innovation Awards 2010 and the Duty Free News International magazine award 2010, for best new fashion/accessories product.
“LongChamp won this category so we were delighted to be held in such high regard”.
He added that the company are going through “peaks and troughs”, but knew that it would be a popular invention.
