DD: Potential Pitcher #11: Ice Shark Blades

Why do you have to buy your kids both Ice Skates and InLine Skates? Why can't you just swap the blade for wheels....well now you can if Renny, our next potential pitcher gets to market.

Why do you want to be on the Den? Pure and simple, the Ice Shark Skate Blade is a dynamite product in the prototype stage. I have a patent for it in hand. I do not have the funds necessary to take my prototype, tweak it, manufacture it and market it to the end user. I can show the Dragons that it's a money-maker, that the ROI is potentially HUGE.

Why would you be a good bet for the Dragons to invest in? I have a patent. I have owned an engineering company that brought other technology to the marketplace. I understand marketing and sales, both domestic and international. I know that it's one thing to have a dream but it takes brains, a lot of drive and a ton of sweat to make that dream become a reality. This is not done alone. It requires a proper team and a clear goal. A goal whose strategy usually needs to be rewritten at least once a day until success is achieved.

Why do you want to bring your product to market? The Ice Shark Skate Blades have been designed to retro-fit over 95% of all existing in-line skates. Anyone with in-line skates can convert them to ice skates easily and quickly. If you can rotate your in-line skate wheels, you can install an Ice Shark Blade. These are aimed at the recreational skater and the parents of growing children. No more having to buy a pair of in-lines and a pair of ice skates as the kids grow out of their skates. In the end, it's all about cost. Buy a pair of Ice Sharks for $75 and save half of the price of a new pair of ice skates. Spend a few more bucks on a really comfy in-line skate boot and voila, your ice skates are really comfy!

How do you describe your product? The Ice Shark Skate Blade is an ice skate blade designed to use the axles of an existing in-line skate as an attachment point. The axles support the wheels and they also support the Ice Shark Skate Blade. The boot has now become a dual purpose unit. I envision the Ice Shark in a sexy anodized moulded aluminium body, high density, high molecular weight polyethylene slider attachments and a high carbon skate blade. This is all part of the claims in the patent.

How did you come up with the idea? It occurred to me after having to deal with equipping my growing twin daughters with two sets of skates, both in-line and ice, times two.

In closing, what message would you like to send to the Dragons? With a world skating market of over 31 million and steadily growing, The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association survey (as of 2003) indicates that in-line skating now has more participation than football, softball, skiing, and snowboarding combined. The breakdown of participation in in-line skating is as follows: 1+% speed (growing), 8% hockey (declining), 7% extreme/aggressive (declining), 22% fitness (nearly 7 million--the fastest growing), and 61% recreational (first-timers). The Ice Shark Skate Blade is targeting the fitness and recreational groups, as they are the fastest growing. These groups are gearing themselves towards health and fitness, and combined, they can easily grow to 85% (or 26 million) of the market in the next five years. Now imagine going after just 1% of that total market. That's 310,000 pairs of Ice Sharks. At $75/pair, that's sales potential of over $23 million. Maybe 2% is a reasonable target? What do you think?

note: as always this poll is not binding on the CBC nor the Producers of the Dragons' Den

Comments

[Hughena Anderson]

I actually have seen Renny Whipp demonstrate his Ice Sharks. I was amazed at how easy the blades adapted to in-line skates. I was really impressed at how they performed on the ice. There was absolutely no difference on their performance over regular ice skates. I can't wait until he gets the Ice Sharks Ice Blade to market. My family alone needs three pairs.

[Anthony]

Great idea! Savings for the user and profit for the inventor.

[Ruth McNab]

I helped Renny conduct a marketing survey over three weekends at a busy London bikepath. Our positive responses were overwhelming! Virtually everyone who wore inline skates wanted to buy a pair! It is a great idea.

[Renny Whipp]

Thanks for the positive comments folks. A note to those people about the in-line skates that do not easily adapt to the Ice Shark. They are the "hybrid skates", an extreme skate with one large wheel and three smaller ones. The axles on this skate are not in a straight line but are offset, making it impossible to fit an Ice Shark. The good news is that there are very, very few of this type of skate in the marketplace. It would not make economic sense to make an Ice Shark for such a small segment of the market.

[Sean Harris]

I have seen the Ice Shark Blades up close and they are amazing. I think it is about time for a product like this. The adaptabilty of these blades will certainly be attractive to a large part of the population. I would love to see these on the shevles in retail stores around Canada and beyond.

[M.A Racz]

Growing up and being one of those "twin daughters" constantly outgrowing their skates; i say kudos to you renny for actually going forward with this.
i actually watch this program now just to see if you'll end up. we agreed it was a brilliant project from day one and i still remember the "demo" prototypes sitting in the basement.
good luck, dad.

[Natalie Racz]

Being the other of the "twin daughters" I just have to also give you kudos on actually following through with this idea.

I find it quite commical that all the comments here are from either your girlfriends (presuming Hughena is still your girlfriend) or yourself and see that ruth is back in the picture as she helps you with it.

But as i said, goodluck.
I will watch Dragons Den to see if your pitch makes the television program.
As well as Id love to see if you "mention" either of your daughters, seeing as we were your "inspiration" when really we only ever had one pair of skates and you haven't spoken to us in several years.

Goodluck "dad".

[Chris Roberts]

Looks like an amazing idea :)
only one thing i have noticed, looking at the picture i cant see how the blades would be held 100% securely and was thinking maybe it would be better to have the rear bolt hole solid and the other three moveable for the different blades.
good luck anyway :)
Chris