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Chocbox manufacturer on Dragons' Den

O

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Tonight's programme saw the owner of the UK 'chocbox' rights asking for £150k for 10% of his business. I think he ended up giving 30-36%. I know nothing about non-UK markets but the UK market potential seems to me to be huge. In particular, the arrival of HIPs will (I imagine) increase need for PIRs and that will produce countless applications for chocboxes as quick fix to unshielded choc blocks.

Any views from you professionals?
 
Yes, you should look at what a HIP contains and who does it. Regrettably there is no requirement for a full electrical survey in a HIP.
Even worse IMO electrical certificates (past or present) are not a required component of the HIP.

So will HIPs mean more ChocBoxes? No.
Will I get more inspection work because of HIPs? No.
 
There is a requirement in HIP to include copies of BC Building Regs Conformity Certs

I've had two jobs to PIR recently to certify conformity with Part P

Chocboxes are great for enclosing crimped joints under floorboards
 
Does anyone know the cost of chocbox as compared to conventional jb's?
 
Are choc strips and boxes accepted as perfectly reasonable things to use in domestic wiring? I've got quite a few tails to extend and these would be a lot neater than lods of JBs. I've seen a 60A choc strip too which would be handy for the cooker feed.

Cheers,
Kingsley.
 
In ref the "Tails to extend".... You say you have many, may we ask why?
and tails, i asume you means spurs?

Anyway on to the TV prog last night, Ive never seen such a wasted piece of tv in my life... the program is usualy interesting, however, this guy, who only had the item patented in the UK (Or so he said) seemed to be hiding something. He potential said he had two business, both making a profit of 300k a year, he last night gave away 36% of the Chock box business, for a 160k investment, when he said he had 250K sat in the bank.
either he is not a business man, but im sure he is, as the two businesses according to what he said are doing well. Surely it would of been better and cheaper for him to hire someone, pay them 30k a year to work full time marketing and distributing the product.

I cant wait to see the revisted version of this investment. Id put my house on it not happening....
 
MasterA I absolutely agree with you.

My wife and I were watching this and the TV screen was by the end covered in Clementine pips. :x

Our out loud questions.

1) Why not hire an intellectual property lawyer to sort out International patents. (Few thousand quid maybe). He had a UK patent so he is fully aware what a patent is. He would had been advised about international patents when doing UK one. (Hense you see patent pending on new products.

2) Why not hire a PR agency.

3) Why not just Franchise out making in international markets.

4) You claim to earn thousands you must know all of the above. Surely.

I smell something a foot here. Perhaps he knows that choc blocks and the liek are going to be banned and all joints have to be soldered or crimped?
 
rjb said:
MasterA I absolutely agree with you.

My wife and I were watching this and the TV screen was by the end covered in Clementine pips. :x

Our out loud questions.

1) Why not hire an intellectual property lawyer to sort out International patents. (Few thousand quid maybe). He had a UK patent so he is fully aware what a patent is. He would had been advised about international patents when doing UK one. (Hense you see patent pending on new products.

2) Why not hire a PR agency.

3) Why not just Franchise out making in international markets.

4) You claim to earn thousands you must know all of the above. Surely.

I smell something a foot here. Perhaps he knows that choc blocks and the liek are going to be banned and all joints have to be soldered or crimped?
Click to expand...

You may be right but I am more inclined to accept what he said at face value.

Don't underestimate the general business ineptitude of many inventors and other people who have a good business idea but simply don't know how to bring it to market or how to run a business, or are simply too busy focussing on the customer facing bits to develop necessary business infrastructure and controls. This is not being unkind to them. They are very good at what they do but most people are not good at everything. Technical people, in particular, often have very limited experience (and therefore grasp) of (say) business finance and commercial contracts.

The chocbox man made it quite clear he was after the Dragons' expertise, more than their money. That is unusual, for the programme, but the connections and general business expertise of a committed, active investor with a successful business background are, in fact, worth much more than the money they invest.

Your comment about chocboxes being banned - I assume that's not really likely (I don't see how they could be 'banned' anyway, perhaps not 'approved' for purposes of 17th edition). Was it a throw away comment or do you have some actual information? Do you have a technical objection to the chocbox?
 
Was it a throw away comment
Click to expand...

Oh yes.

or do you have some actual information?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not. Or I could say yes and start some great rumours off!!

Do you have a technical objection to the chocbox?
Click to expand...

Any joint is only as good as the joiner. Isn't a crimped joint better for permanent joints?

The last owner of my house had a good method. He joined the two lengths by cunningly twisted them together and then wrapped it in tape. :shock: If I could only patent that method!!

Oh and the tin foil fuse I found in the 3036 5A fuse too was good.
 
Apparently theres a piece in one of the dailys today saying that last nights was filmed 6 months ago, and last week they secured a global deal worth 25million for the chocboxes..... one of the biggest deals done in the den...
 
Well it goes to show what my mother / children / wife have always said

"If I've learnt one thing. That's never to listen to you son / dad / useless git [delete as appropriate]" :oops:
 
Have a look at the Chocbox website - its full of Dragons information.

Interesting that it costs him 12p to make; he sells at 36p and they are at the wholesalers for around £1. Surprised he's not making more money. I would have thought that anyone who had got a UK patent would have taken it worldwide - in the same way that when I bought my business name domain I bought half a dozen other similar ones to protect my business. Dont use them but for a few quid a year it stops some other bugger using something similar to my business name.

Personally I find a good old fashioned junction box easier to use than a chocbox.
 
Cremeegg said:
Have a look at the Chocbox website - its full of Dragons information.

Interesting that it costs him 12p to make; he sells at 36p and they are at the wholesalers for around £1. Surprised he's not making more money. I would have thought that anyone who had got a UK patent would have taken it worldwide - in the same way that when I bought my business name domain I bought half a dozen other similar ones to protect my business. Dont use them but for a few quid a year it stops some other b*****r using something similar to my business name.

Personally I find a good old fashioned junction box easier to use than a chocbox.
Click to expand...

Eh? Really? Easier to terminate (say) 12 cores (3 cables + flex) in a 5A JB than terminate the same number in a 4-gang connector block and snap a chocbox over the join?

However, I'm now a bit doubtful about how robust their patent protection is. Just been to an electrical wholesale and asked for a dozen only to be given a Greenbrook look-alike (possibly a slightly better design).

BTW, patent protection is a LOT more difficult (and expensive) than a trademark and that is in turn a LOT more difficult and expensive than simply registering an internet domain. Holding the domain is one thing. It doesn't stop anyone from registering your domain identity as a trademark.
 
May I ask a obvious question.

What does chocbox give you that a normal 30p round junction box doesn't?

I really don't see how chocbox is a 'relvolution'.

Please advise if different.
 

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