Business Information Centre Visit To Omagh

The Business Information Centre

Invest NI’s Business Information Centre (BIC) helps businesses of any size, including start-ups, to develop their business by providing them with high quality market research and business information. In 2013 it carried out 1288 enquiries, and welcomed 948 visitors to the Information Centre.

The Company – Rolltack

Dromara-based Rolltack Ltd. has developed an innovative product that makes transporting heavy and awkward equestrian equipment easier and safer.

The small company, established in December 2011 by Clare Medland, used a range of Invest NI programmes to develop the Rolltack, a versatile saddle trolley, that’s now attracting enquiries from equestrian enthusiasts, stables and equipment suppliers in Australia, Dubai, the US, Japan, Britain and other parts of Europe.

The Challenge

Miss Medland said: “The idea for Rolltack came from our own experiences in handling heavy and awkward riding tack. Putting a saddle, for example, into the back of a vehicle can result in damage and additional cost to repair. Lifting it into and from a vehicle can also cause back, arm and shoulder injuries.

These problems led me to check with equestrian suppliers and on the internet to see if anyone had come up with a solution. When I discovered that there wasn’t a suitable product I decided to design and make my own. I hadn’t any design or manufacturing experience and turned to Invest NI for help.”

How the Business Information Centre helped

“The advice and practical support I received was fantastic at every level….the Business Information Centre provided a huge amount of data about the market opportunity and the best events, especially BETA, the main international equestrian exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham, at which to show the new product. Taking part in the show gave me invaluable feedback from potential customers.”

The Result

“This led to a number of approaches and orders. I’ve recently supplied the product to Britain and Australia. In addition, taking part in the show enabled me to identify an opportunity for a different product.”

Make Appointment

If you have an hour to spare on Tuesday 24th June, please give Mandy Mills a ring to arrange a time to visit. Call Mandy on 028 9069 8129, or email at mandy.mills@investni.com.