Wednesday 27 July 2011
Profile on… U-Fit
Kim Salthouse, Director at Australian U-Fit Security and AIC Innovation Coaching client, recently spoke to the AIC about the company’s journey along the commercialisation pathway. U-Fit has designed and developed an innovative DIY security door which enables home and business owners to fit their own security doors quickly and easily.
1. Briefly describe your business
U-Fit has designed and developed a DIY security door which is fully adjustable for home installation.
2. How did you generate the idea?
There was no way to mass produce security doors and I wanted to develop a way to do this. I firstly developed a security door that could be DIY installed and later developed a way to mass produce it.
3. What made you decide to progress it from just an idea to a real business?
Once I perfected the idea for mass produced DIY security doors on paper I then confirmed that the idea worked through the development of prototypes which provided the confidence to progress the idea in to a real product.
4. What were the main challenges faced?
Key challenges included protecting the idea and proving that the market for the product existed. Allocating sufficient time to progress the idea was also a key challenge.
5. What tips would you pass on to other entrepreneurs who are starting out?
Expert support is vital to turn your idea in to a reality. You must be open minded to other ways of looking at things too.
6. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?
I would have allocated my time better. Initially I was unclear as the direction I wanted to take so I wasted some time. As a new project it was also too easy to put it to one side – I would ensure it got the attention it deserved.
7. Where do you see the business in 5 years’ time?
I see the product being sold Australia-wide. I would also like to see it being sold internationally. I also see a range of products being developed to complement the inaugural U-Fit product.
8. What would you suggest that AIC strives to tell government in Australia about commercialisation?
It is very important for support services to support business in re-affirming ideas and providing confidence. This was true of the AIC in guiding us and giving us a clear vision of where we wanted to go.
9. If you could have been responsible for any innovation, what would it be and why?
The Cochlear implant – a great innovation for the hard of hearing and a truly fascinating project.
10. Which entrepreneur do you most admire and why?
Richard Branson – he always puts ideas out there and follows through. Great at the ideas and the execution.
