My daughter slipped on some concrete pavers we had just installed outside our house in 2020 – it was a pretty nasty fall that left her bruised and sore. I wanted to prevent this from happening again and was shocked that there were no easily accessible solutions available here in New Zealand that would maintain the aesthetic integrity whilst also improving the slip resistance of the pavers, so I started researching other solutions far and wide. I found some incredibly innovative and proven anti-slip treatments and coatings, and it made sense to me to make them available to everyone in New Zealand.
What did you do before starting SlipSafe?
I have been in the flooring industry my entire working life. Most recently, I owned a flooring business, which I sold in 2022 so I could fully focus on SlipSafe. I have really enjoyed “filling a gap” – offering solutions to problems where no one else can. It is much more rewarding than just going into a business for the numbers. If my heart is in something then the business becomes much more enjoyable.
What products do you sell and where can they typically be used?
We specialize in non-slip coatings and treatments that can be used in a variety of locations and situations. One product is developed specifically for stone, ceramic and porcelain tile, terrazzo and concrete, while another can be used on any surface: bathrooms, parking lots, hotel lobbies, office lobbies, entrances, outdoor paths…anywhere you can be slippery when wet.
We have just added a coloured anti-slip coating for concrete, if you want to change or enhance the colour of the surface, which comes in a range of colours. The products are suitable for indoor and outdoor surfaces.
How do SlipSafe products work to prevent people from slipping?
The technology behind the products modifies the surface of many products at a granular level to create a non-slip surface. It’s very clever, it aesthetically complements the existing floor and, most importantly, it works. Our products come from all over Europe and we are exclusive distributors.
How big is your team?
We are a team of 11 people and we are growing rapidly. We are incredibly selective about who we work with: they have to be motivated and driven, showing the same level of passion and focus on solutions as us. Lack of passion stops success.
How have you financed the business to date?
Personal financing.
What have been your biggest challenges in business?
The biggest challenge so far is the fact that we are promoting preventive measures and yet most companies contact us after incidents have occurred. People with broken limbs and concussions – really serious injuries. We want people to be proactive to avoid or significantly reduce the risk of this happening in the first place.
Prevention and compliance testing to ensure companies meet their local standards is very common in countries such as Australia and the US, mainly due to the possibility of suing when an accident occurs. While I respect that we want to avoid that culture of lawsuits, it’s important that companies are more motivated to protect and prevent significant harm than to come to us only after it has occurred.
What have been your highlights in the business so far?
We love hearing about the reduction in slipping that occurs after installing our products. It is very satisfying to know that our coatings are making a difference.
A good example is when we were asked to help at a public pool; Kids regularly slipped and hurt themselves, and they put down huge rubber mats that weren’t very effective or clean. A non-slip colored coating has solved their problems, making the premises look much more aesthetically pleasing and easier to keep clean, which has had a positive impact on their business: fewer slips, happier parents and safer children.
Where do you see the business in the next two or three years?
We operate in all major regions of New Zealand but would like to expand to all corners through our franchise business system.
What is your advice to others considering starting their own business?
Be passionate about what you are getting into. Passion helps everything grow.
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