Innovator sees his bike design go on sale

Argos worker sees design go on sale

A BURTON innovator has become the first Argos worker in the country to design a product to be sold in the company's catalogue.

Keen biker Gary Seal spent three years perfecting the Go-pod, a motorcycle cover designed for riders on the go.

Following negotiations, the 41-year-old, of Bearwood Hill Road, Winshill, has had the product patented and it is now being sold for £39.99 in Argos Extras stores.

The audio team member at the firm's Barton-under-Needwood depot is delighted his design has gone all the way to the top.

He said: "I've been told that I am the first Argos employee to have his own invented product put in store. When I was told I was euphoric.

"I have been a biker for 23 years and I have always been an ideas man. I have been designing this for three years and six months and it is fantastic to see it in store.

"I approached the Argos head office and they really liked the idea."

The Go-pod is being marketed as 'a unique concept of motorcycle cover that is totally portable and specifically designed and manufactured for riders on the go.

'This means a bike can be fully covered anywhere, anytime, and any place, whether it is at home, work, college or touring.'

Special features include a waterproof cover with waist straps, heat reflective exhaust panels and an ability to fit most sport type motorcycles up to 1000cc.

Mr Seal, who set up Go-pod UK Ltd with Nottinghamshire-based businessman Simon Towel, is now hoping to raise the profile of his product.

The duo are in negotiations with company Touratech about the possibility of biking and travel celebrities Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor, stars of the BBC's Long Way Down, endorsing the product.

They are also hoping to appear on BBC2's Dragon's Den, where entrepreneurs pitch for investment from five venture capitalists willing to invest their own money in exchange for equity.

Mr Seal, who has ploughed a 'surmountable' amount of funds into the project, said: "Go-pod's unique methods of portability and ease of deployment can easily cover any bike or scooter anywhere in seconds and act as a theft deterrent.

"The aim is to get as much exposure as possible. Anything that happens is a bonus."

Plans are now in the pipeline to introduce medium and large size scooter and touring covers into the marketplace within the next few months.

It is also hoped to introduce new products into the Go-pod brand name in the near future, such as security chains, side stand stabilizers, tank protection pads, neck buffs, tax disc holders and possibly a clothing range.

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