A BROMSGROVE man inspired by his avid-knitter wife to invent a new pom pom maker is looking for shops to stock his new and innovative product.
It all began when David Northcote’s wife June asked him to make some pom poms for her baby knitting.
In his search for pom pom making devices, he discovered one store had sold out and found a pom pom maker he did buy was ‘well beyond him to operate’ as it was extremely difficult to use.
So he headed to his garden shed at his home in Lickey, cut up some plastic and made his own version of the pom pom maker.
David, who is 80 and long retired, told the Standard: “My wife was well pleased and told a few other family knitters about them,
“They were interested and so I made some more and sent them to her knitting friends. The comments which came back said they were ‘easy peasy to use’.”
This was enough to encourage David to patent his design. He sent off the forms and after just four weeks it was accepted and his design was registered.
Over time, he experimented with different materials and, on the advice of the patent officer, has since submitted the patents for six variations of his creation.
He added: “Again during this time I have shown more friends and other family members who have all congratulated me and said how fantastic they are.”
He is now hoping to start a new business and is looking for outlets to stock his Easy Peasy pom pom makers.
“My wife said: ‘David, you are 80’ but I have purchased machines, printers, papers, hanging bags and have now produced many thousands of four different versions.”
David has written to a number of outlets, including Dunelm, B&M, The Range, Hobbycraft and more, explaining his journey and offering them the chance to try out his pom pom makers with a view to stocking them.
But, he said, he was disappointed to not have received one reply.
Picture by Marcus Mingins.
He contacted the Standard in a bid to ‘tell his story’ to our readers and to see if we could help find a stockist for Easy Peasy pom pom makers.
“This reminds me of when Mr Dyson started with his first invention – no one would listen to him so he invested in himself – and look at him now.
“I have financed all my invention and have now invested well over £4,000 from our OAP savings but I am struggling to get anyone to give me a chance of even showing them my product or how good and easy my invention is.
“It makes single and double pom poms and in 3D – something no other pom pom maker can do.
“I have also developed an extra large pom pom maker designed for arthritic hands so it could be used as part of activity sessions in care homes but still no-one seems interested.
“Research on the Internet stresses the importance of getting kids away from watching TV and also that pom pom making is up 26 per cent in the last nine months.
“It has also increased its popularity on TikTok.”
Any shops or outlets interested in trying David’s Easy Peasy pom pom makers with a view to stocking them can contact the Standard by emailing: [email protected] or by calling 01527 588657.
