Hi my names Gregory,
I have written some history of the Togglemaster and how it all started.
I am a chef, I have 2 boys who I love dearly Dylan and Ethan to whom i have dedicated the Togglemaster to, Hello boys.
In march 2007, I was in between jobs, playing fifa in my spare time, I had found that every time I was in a scoring position, I would have to realign my thumb on the controller in order to aim for the goal and score.
I had found that once I managed to align my thumb, I would miss the shot, resulting in lots of frustations and a sore thumb after playing for a few hours.
So that's how the Togglemaster started, most people i had explained my idea to thought I was crazy. Not all but most.
I came up with the idea of using chicken wire, Am I mad maybe, but it worked!!!!! Well for about 9 seconds but it was enough.
I got a new job by summer 2007, flat out working so hard I almost forgot about the idea. Until my polish friend challenged me to a footie match on the Xbox 360, not long Into the game I had the same problem as before. This managed to get me motivated again, so I set my mind to solving the problem.
I went down to my local B&Q, Homebase, Wickes, in fact any where I thought I might find answers, after trying jubilee clips, coat hangers, super glue, nothing was working. until I went to craft world for some cake decorating materials and sore model latex.
Well I went mad for about 6 months, shapping everything from my thumb to the toggle head to both together. I then tried Velcro in a wrap around strap type thing that still wasn't working. Work changed again so I had to move, by now it's late 2008 and am home just before christmas.
I was introduced to Marcos (a pro-type designer). Marcos set the wheels in motion, I started a uk patent for my design. Marcos went of on another project. but was given the number of a company called Gemini, I meet two guys Richard and john from Gemini. These guys were amazing the ideas pinged around and they seemed to be able to read my mind.
It's early 2010 my auntie Kelly and her business partner karen are going to help (financing), I drove to Cornwall to meet the people who will design the logo, very nice guys. After seing the logo, was very impressed, looks good but I am a cook, so what do I know?.
By now Gemini have done a sketch of the new improved model,see Design Drawing's
We crated a proto-type of the design (see prototype), small changes where needed to be made but so far looking great and just what i was looking for.
A new proto-type was created with ken at Plasticom in ashford with is colleague make the small but very needed changes.
At this point i was looking for somwhere to sell my design, i tried several companies, including Game, they had turned me down as they didn't think this would sell.
I came accross Game World Direct, they where perfect and had the right target customers.
After speaking to Karl from Game World Direct, decides he likes that idea and then shows Ben also from Game World Direct. Ben calls me and we discused this further, after a several calls i decided these were the right people to sell my idea.
We had decided to start selling the Togglemaster asap, After the first batch left, late June / Early July, we realised how popular the Togglemaster was going to be.
And there you have it.
Gregory