How many times have you heard or thought "I wish I had..." or "I've got this awesome IDEA". Where do you start? How do you turn a idea into a business? It's easier now more than ever to turn a dream into reality. All you need to do is pick up the phone and start calling. Everything starts with a phone call! You are able to do a lot of research on the internet in the comfort of your own home before you pick up the phone but everything starts with a phone call. The first phone call you make may not be to the right person...but they will pass you onto someone who knows someone and eventually you will be talking to the right person who can help you to develop your idea.

I knew that I wanted to combine a fence tester with a cell phone case. I just didn't know how. I came across a company in Palmerston North called BETA SOLUTIONS while I was searching the internet one day. My first thought was "Palmy why the F are they in Palmy" anyway, I gave them a call and arranged a meeting.

I arrived at this meeting with some sketches on a notebook, of four possible ways we could combine the two existing products. After 3 hours of good honest discussions, we had both agreed that it was possible, we knew which option was the most viable and I was given a ball park figure on how much the R&D would cost, how much each unit would cost to produce and how much profit I could make of each unit sold.

To say my brain was about to explode with information and possibilities and questions is a understatement. This was the first time I had ever gotten serious about an idea and I was shitting myself.

I have no doubt in my mind that luck played a big part in me calling BETA Solutions first, but what I like about working with Terry and his team, is that I never felt like a dumb farmer. They took the time to explain the process and how everything was going to come together. They were also open to any suggestions I had and kept me informed 100% of the way.

I was originally surprised at how long the research and development process is, but with good reason. There is soooo much that needs to be considered when developing a product. Little things that you don't even think of until you come across it, and that's just the electronic side of things. You then have the plastic housing that the device is protected by.

Luckily for me BETA Solutions knew of a really good company called Idea Developments who specialise in plastics. Once again I felt really comfortable working with them because they listened to what I was wanting to achieve and they had a lot of great advice and suggestions.

It's been an amazing journey so far and I have learnt so much in the past 6 months. Between Broken Compass, BETA Solutions and Idea Development, I believe that we have created something truly unique. The G Case was designed so farmers wouldn't have to carry so many devices. As long as they had their cell phone they would have a fence tester. If you have electric fences and carry a cell phone the G Case will save you time and money.

Please don't under estimate the significance of combining two existing product that have never been joined before. Take for example combining an internal combustion engine and a cart, you now have a motor car. Add a motor to a row boat, you now have a motor boat. Combine Ma'a Nonu with Conrad Smith, you now have the best mid field combination in rugby history.

I came up with the idea for Handy Andy out of sheer frustration. Changing cow shed inflations (liners) is not a very fun job, especially if you have 200 of them to do. You either had to use brute strength to pull them off the cluster or use a screw driver to pry them off. If you were using a screw driver you knew that it was only a matter of time before the screw driver slipped and dug straight into your thumb or hand. If you were trying to be the tough guy and just pull them off the cluster, it wouldn't take long before your hands were sore and your arms were like jelly. "There must be a better way".

I was around at a friend's house one day. Their child was playing with a toy wooden hammer, the hammer had a groove in it roughly the same size that the inflation slips onto. I asked if I could have the hammer, and with a very confused look she said yes. BOOM!!! the first ANDY was born. I took the hammer home and cut out a number of replicas, changing the angle and size on each one slightly. I knew I was on the right track but it just wasn't quite there so I kind of parked the idea and the wooden hammer joined a pile of unfinished projects in my garage.

A couple of months later I was wandering around Bunnings as most blokes do, looking for some thing that I thought I needed, I just didn't know what it was.

I then came across a tool that looked nothing like the ANDY but for some reason I thought "that's it".

I visited a local metal fabricator, APEX metal services. with this tool that looked nothing like what I needed. I explained to Scott what I was needing and what it was used for. With a rather confused look on his face Scott agreed to whip something up. A few days later I received a phone call from Kate his wife saying " that milking tool thing is ready". I raced out to APEX to pick it up and as soon as I saw what Scott had made I knew that we were onto a winner.

I raced home to test it, and with a couple of minor adjustments I had the tool I had been dreaming of for so long.

No more bleeding fingers. No more jelly arms. It was a amazing day.

I love how inspiration can come from anywhere. You just have to listen to what your eyes are seeing and then translate it back into the real world.

The A-PRON has been a really interesting process. My idea was simple.

To produce a good quality apron and put a print on the front to give them a bit of personality. Simple idea difficult to execute.

I had been working with a Chinese manufacturer for a couple of months, trying to produce a arm band for my waterproof notebook to sit in. The arm band just wasn't working, so I asked them if they could make aprons? And to my surprise they said "yes no problem". I thought great this should be easy. I got a piece of paper at the cow shed, drew an apron, added some measurements, took a photo of my drawing and emailed it to them. I received an email back saying "No problem. I make sample $50 USD post you." I thought gees $75 NZD that's a bit steep? "Ok I'll transfer the money".

This is called a leap of faith.

4 months later, I had sent about 1000 emails received two samples and had paid over $200 NZD but we were getting closer to the finished product.

This process has taught me a few things about dealing with Chinese manufacturers.

- They will never say no (even if they have not done it before).

- Communicating via email can be very frustrating and it's amazing how many different ways a sentence can be interpreted.

- Photos are the key, but can also be misinterpreted.

- Allow plenty of time to get the product that you want.

- Their work is of high standards. I'm sure there are cow boys, but they have I whole industry relying on their workmanship.

- The quantities the Chinese deal in are staggering. A thousand units is just the starting point.

- Don't be afraid to get amongst it.

I was once told " If you don't ask, you don't get "

Printing

Ahh my local screen printer should be able to knock out a couple of hundred different prints in no time. WRONG. Bugger, back to the telephone. After a number of phone calls I had finally found a printer in Auckland that will take care of all my printing needs. Thanks Print & Supply. Now you can wear an A-PRON that might make you feel a little bit special, or just put a little smile on your face every time you wear it.