Students have devised an innovative pannier bag they hope to bring to the commuter cyclist market.
One of the four teams shortlisted for the 1985 Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Student Enterprise Award comes from the College of Marketing and Design in Parnell Square, Dublin. Team members, Ann McDonald from Monaghan and Helene Broderick from Sandymount, have devised a new type of pannier bag for cyclists, which they have christened Pedal Pack.
Helene Broderick is a keen cyclist, and the idea for the pannier came from her frustration with the existing bags on the market. Her thinking led her to ask,
What does the cyclist really need when they're commuting?
She drew up the basic design for Pedal Pack.
Ann McDonald demonstrates the versatile features of the Pedal Pack. Additional research behind the Design drew on a consumer survey. Over the course of two weekends, she surveyed 200 people in Dublin, and their feedback was incorporated into the Pedal Pack design.
Ann McDonald and Helene Broderick approached retailers with their design to see if there was a gap in the commuter cyclist market for the product, and discovered there was.
Pedal Pack is an innovative idea; there is no other commuter bag on the market that caters to the everyday cyclist's needs, and this is what we're aiming at.
The duo hold a provisional patent on Pedal Pack, which will cover them for 15 months so they can modify the bag. After this point, if they continue with the business, they can take out a full patent.
Ann McDonald and Helene Broderick have established a company, Broadmac, which they intend to start up in 1986. They plan to carry out the marketing and administration while employing five people to manufacture the bags.
To start up the business, they will need around £18,000. Helene Broderick calculates that after the first year, they should have a £9,000 profit.
The five year plan is to diversify into other bags and accessories for bicycles. Their sights are set on exporting to European Economic Community (EEC) countries, especially to West Germany and Holland where cycling is popular and there is a market need for something like Peddle Pack.
The final of the 1985 IDA Student Enterprise Award was televised live on 'Today Tonight'. Ann McDonald and Helene Broderick were announced winners and presented with the Student Enterprise Trophy and a £1,500 cheque. In all, 96 projects from 14 colleges entered the competition, with over 750 students involved. The awards, which are co-sponsored by RTÉ, are open to all students in full-time third-level education.
This episode of 'Today Tonight' was broadcast on 23 October 1985. The reporter is Pat Kenny.
