Rob McAlister Ltd is parent company to Cave Innovations, Splash Innovations, Umbrella Heaven and other trading entities. The core of our business is product innovation. Our vision is to become first choice for retailers and consumers looking for new ideas. Not necessarily hi-tech, but simple, common-sense products that can make a difference to everyday living.
We are a private limited company, and we welcome investors interested in joining our journey. Contact the CEO directly at Rob@RobMcAlister.com or call 07881 677929 (+44 7881 677929).
Update: April 2024
By way of example: we have invented another new product. It’s a new outdoor laundry drying system – a vented clear plastic umbrella with a drop-down zip-detachable side curtain and a universal clamp which attaches to customers’ existing rotary clothes airers.
Additional heat, beneath the canopy and within the side curtain, trapped air, warmed in effect by the greenhouse effect, removes water molecules from wet laundry. Rising warm moist air escapes from the vents in the canopy or condenses on the inner surface of the clear plastic side curtain. We’re also exploring methods to cause the assembly to rotate in the wind to further aid the drying process. We are considering two sizes, a smaller one to fit camping clothes airers and a larger to fit residential clothes airers.
Electric tumble dryers are expensive to run and carry a high carbon footprint. This new product will enable washing to be dried outside even in the rain at zero energy cost, using the power of nature only.
We can either develop this as another Cave Innovations/Umbrella Heaven/Rob McAlister Ltd product or set up a new company dedicated to this new concept/product line. We could bootstrap it but to do justice to the product we really think it needs some investment behind it prior to launching. If you’re interested in becoming an early-stage investor, contact the CEO directly at Rob@RobMcAlister.com or call 07881 677929 (+44 7881 677929).
Note: Investing involves risks, including loss of capital, illiquidity, lack of dividends and dilution, and is best done as part of a diversified portfolio. Investments should only be made by investors who understand these risks.
What is the current status of this project?
Over the last 2 years we’ve built and tested various prototypes (see images attached) and are now close to being ready to move to production. The product is now patent-pending and we’re starting to consider the best way to market it.
What’s it called?
We haven’t finalised the name for the product yet, though we quite like “EcoDry” and “LaundryDome”. We’ve developed many new products over the years, but we really think this one has huge potential.
What’s the deal? How much of the business do I get if I invest?
Depends – just looking for expressions of interest at this stage.
What is the status of your intellectual property?
We have a UK patent application in place and plan to expand protection with international patents using the priority date from this.
Does it really work? Does it really dry the clothes?
Yes, it really does, even in the rain. We’ve tested it.
This may work for people in houses with gardens but what about people who live in apartment blocks?
We have plans for a whole range of products which work in the same way, including a wall-mounted product and a product that will work on balconies.
What’s it made of?
Clear PVC or POE.
What will the investment be spent on?
Mainly on design finalisation, marketing, website development, initial inventory purchase and intellectual property.
How do you propose to sell it?
Not ruling out selling through distributors and retailers, but we think initially the best strategy will be to sell direct to the consumer online. We think the product lends itself to gaining exposure through social media and perhaps TV sales channels.
How big is the market for this product?
Source: Cognitive Market Research https://www.cognitivemarketresearch.com/rotary-washing-line-market-report
According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Rotary washing line market size is USD 102.5 million* in 2024 and will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.80% from 2024 to 2031. *At an estimated average sales value of $50 each, that’s over 2 million new units in 2024. Bear in mind the average life of a rotary clothes airer is probably 5 to 10 years, so that equates to 10 to 20 million units already likely to be in people’s homes in addition to new sales.
Who will your customers be?
Initially, we are proposing to sell it as an aftersales accessory to people who already own a rotary clothes airer. In the second phase we may sell our own brand rotary clothes airers fitted with the new umbrella attachment.
Who are the main players in the market, and will you sell to them under licence?
We believe the main brands of rotary clothes airers are Vileda, Brabantia, Daytek, Whitmor, Air Dry, Ames, Austral, Minky, Cleva Cover, Evolution, Retractaline plus many retailers own brands – and yes we propose to sell our invention to them under licence.
Where are the main markets globally?
Cognitive Market Research
North America is the major market, accounting for more than 40% of global revenue. With a market size of USD 41.00 million in 2024, it will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0% from 2024 to 2031. Europe accounts for a share of over 30% of the global market size of USD 30.75 million. Asia Pacific has a market of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 23.58 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% from 2024 to 2031.
| LaundyDome Projected Market Share and Sales Analysis | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | ||
| Clothes Airer New Sales Market Value $ | $102,500,000 | $110,495,000 | $119,113,610 | $128,404,472 | $138,420,020 | $149,216,782 | $160,855,691 | |
| Compound Growth Rate | 7.80% | |||||||
| Assumed average unit new sales value $ | $50.00 | |||||||
| Clothes Airer Market Value New Sales (Units) | 2,050,000 | 2,209,900 | 2,382,272 | 2,568,089 | 2,768,400 | 2,984,336 | 3,217,114 | |
| Extant Market – Assumed product life (years) | 5 | |||||||
| Extant Market Value (Units) | 12,300,000 | 13,259,400 | 14,293,633 | 15,408,537 | 16,610,402 | 17,906,014 | 19,302,683 | |
| LaundryDome Market Share Assumption % | 0.01% | 0.10% | 0.50% | 1.00% | 2.00% | 3.00% | 5.00% | |
| Assumed average LaundryDome sales value £ | 80 | 80 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 75 | |
| LaundryDome Sales Units | 1,230 | 13,259 | 71,468 | 154,085 | 332,208 | 537,180 | 965,134 | |
| LaundryDome Sales £ | £98,400 | £1,060,752 | £5,360,112 | £11,556,402 | £23,254,563 | £37,602,629 | £72,385,061 | |
| Product Gross Profit | 55% | £54,120 | £583,414 | £2,948,062 | £6,356,021 | £12,790,010 | £20,681,446 | £39,811,784 |
| Product Net Profit | 25% | £24,600 | £265,188 | £1,340,028 | £2,889,101 | £5,813,641 | £9,400,657 | £18,096,265 |
| Product Cumulative Net Profit | £24,600 | £289,788 | £1,629,816 | £4,518,917 | £10,332,558 | £19,733,215 | £37,829,480 | |