Simple sock solution sees students scoop prestigious enterprise award
However, an intrepid bunch of pupils from a West Cork school are hoping a simple idea they’ve tested will prove a hit in the shops.
Transition year students from Scoil Phobail Bhéara, Castletownbere, have won the West Cork Schools’ Enterprise Programme with an idea to keep socks in pairs while in the wash.
They are hoping to market the gadget ahead of the national finals which take place in Dublin next month.
Their mini-company, Simple Solutionz, designed a washable product which keeps pairs of socks together, be it in a washing machine or tumble dryer.
The idea for the product began when the mini-company’s managing director Ryan O’Sullivan saw his mother throwing out a bag of mismatched socks.
Ryan, with the help of Declan Barry, the production and quality control manager, designed the product using the PC software programme Coral Drawing.
After running off various prototype batches with the aid of laser technology, the group finally obtained a product that worked.
The material used to manufacture Sock Savers is called high impact polystyrene and, as the name suggests, it is very durable and can withstand high temperatures.
The product has been tried and tested in washes, many times, of up to 60C.
According to the mini-company, Sock Savers have proven themselves time and time again.
Ryan said they were working on new branding for their product which they will have completed in the next few weeks.
They’re also looking into outsourcing to allow the product to be mass-produced as they plan to stock it in shops in their area.
He said they had great feedback about Sock Savers from teachers, parents and the general public so far, and have plans to eventually sell it nationwide.
* The Sock Savers, which cost €5 for five, can be obtained at Scoil Phobail Bhéara on 027 70177, or on the mini-company’s website, www.SimpleSolutionz.weebly.com
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