Rockit is the Bristol based start-up behind the award winning rocket-shaped portable baby rocker that attaches to any pram or pushchair.
It was an awardee in the 2016 Design Council Spark accelerator programme and has come a long way in the subsequent 18 months. With help from their Design Council Spark mentor they fast-tracked the design development, manufactured the Rockit and are now selling it all over the world.
Nick Webb, Rockit inventor, comments, “Winning the Design Council Spark Award was a massive boost to us both in terms of the advice and mentoring, but also the funding, which enabled us to produce the tooling to manufacture the Rockit and expand our IP protection.”
The trade launch took place at the world’s largest nursery trade show in Cologne where distributors from Australia and New Zealand placed orders. This was followed by orders from Canada, Taiwan and Israel. Over 14,000 Rockits have been sold so far with many other territories currently under negotiation. Subsequently Rockit had its public unveiling at the Olympia Baby Show last October, where it received critical acclaim.
Director, Matt Sparrow adds, “It’s been a whirlwind 6 months since the Rockit launch with sales into independent nursery retailers and major high street stores including John Lewis. Mums and dads have been raving about it and it has won 3 gold consumer awards already this year. Rockit is about to get its first TV airing on a new Channel 4 show called ‘Buy it Now’. The show involves pitching new products and inventions to a studio audience of shoppers. If the pitch is successful, the inventors get a chance to secure orders from major retailers
“It was whilst at the TV studios, that we bumped into Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who was in London at the time filming the latest offering from the Mission Impossible franchise. We were so focused on the filming for the show that we didn’t recognise him! We walked straight past, despite him stopping us to comment on the spaceman costumes we were wearing as part of our pitch for the show” said Webb.
Rockit will feature in episode 11 on Channel 4 at 5.30pm on Monday 30th April. The team behind Rockit are building a sustainable business and have ambitious plans for expansion. Matt Dyson CEO at Rockit concludes, “We are currently working on some really innovative follow-up products, all focusing on different child sleep issues. It is a really exciting phase for the business and we are raising investment via an equity crowdfunding campaign. This will enable us to fast-track our new product development and invest in the marketing of Rockit and future products in the UK and abroad.
Anyone interested in the crowdfunding campaign can find out more at www.crowdcube.com/rockit “ To learn more about the Rockit visit www.rockitrocker.com www.facebook.com/wearerockit www.twitter.com/wearerockit www.instagram.com/rockitrocker
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