Liquid Holster - the New Kiwi Innovation

24th August 2004

Liquid Holster - the New Kiwi Innovation

In today’s busy and mobile world keeping your drink upright, stable and within arm’s length while you’re on the move is important and until now it has been hard to do.

Kiwi mum Carissa Gordon has come up with a solution after needing somewhere to carry her water bottle while pushing her baby daughter in her mountain buggy. Carissa’s frustrations to find somewhere for the water bottle got her thinking and she came up with an idea to make life a lot easier – not only for her, but also cyclists, boaties, golfers and people in wheelchairs.

Her innovative idea was carried forward into the development phase by her husband Craig and business partner Kent Nixon, and then over the next 12 months designs evolved and prototypes were built.

Called ‘Liquid Holster’ the end result is new to the market and the latest Kiwi innovation. The Liquid Holster has three distinct functions which means it can be used in diverse applications;

LIQUID HOLSTER attaches to all tubes round, square and rectangular from 10mm through to 33mm LIQUID HOLSTER accommodates as many bottles, cups and cans as were available in the marketplace to test the functionality. Kent and Craig tested over 28 different containers – ultimately they all fitted! LIQUID HOLSTER is self-levelling and swivels on one axis to adjust to level – regardless of the installed angle - regardless of terrain.

Craig Gordon says, “We manufactured versions of prototypes which were tested on various golf carts, baby buggies and marine applications with great results. Throughout this process we were protecting the intellectual property on Liquid Holster as well as trade marking our name ‘Liquid Holster’ here in New Zealand and overseas.

“We acknowledge New Zealand Trade and Enterprise for assisting us throughout the design and IP process,” he says.

Kent Nixon says, “Once we had all these processes in place we commissioned Design Engineers to prepare the product for manufacture. We really wanted to keep manufacturing in New Zealand and were pleased to find a local injection moulding factory that competes with products manufactured in the East.”

Distributors for what was now not only the baby market but also the marine, golf, bike, wheelchair and gym markets were actively sought. The duo where pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm expressed by the many distributors that wanted to take on the Liquid Holster.

“All distributors have been very excited by the Liquid Holster which then gave us the platform and confidence to move forward and make the decision to tool up,” Mr Nixon says.

Craig and Kent are soon heading off to one of the largest Baby Expos in the USA, which is renowned to be amongst one of the two largest shows its type in the world. “The aim with this event is to align ourselves with similar distributors for the US market with an intent to be supplying the US market in time for their spring – already we have had enquiries from some distributors from the US and Singapore,” Mr Gordon says.

“Through this process we have met many innovative Kiwi companies and individuals who have helped, and in varying ways guided us to where we are today, and we are very grateful,” Mr Nixon says.

ENDS

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