Peninsula product makes its debut

A product invented by a Peninsula resident is set to make its debut appearance at the Australian Fitness Expo in Sydney from April 20 to 22.

The product, Lacemates, features a pair of lace retainers and sock garters, replacing the electrical tape used by many sportspeople to cover laces and socks.

Woy Woy resident and inventor of Lacemates Ms Lisa Louden said she came across the idea after noticing the amount of electrical tape littering local sports fields.

"When my sons finished their football games, it would be the club members and parents left to clean up the field," Ms Louden said.

"And most of the rubbish was electrical tape that the kids had used to fasten their laces and socks with."

Ms Louden said she spent the next 15 years developing a product that would be stronger and more aesthetic for all sportspeople.

Ms Louden said that one of the major difficulties she came across was finding a durable fabric that stretched and was waterproof.

"Owning an upholstery business allowed me to investigate all the different fabrics available on the market," Ms Louden said.

"There was nothing available when I came up with the idea, which I could use.

"I had to wait all that time for someone to invent the fabric.

Ms Louden said she is "very excited" and "looking forward" to showing her new product at the Australian Fitness Expo at the end of April.

"It has been a hard slog, especially financially to get Lacemates up and running," Ms Louden said.

"But I have no doubts in the potential of my product to the sports market in Australia and overseas.

Ms Louden said she hopes to expand Lacemates to countries all across the world since the product is suitable to a range of international sports including soccer, rugby league, rugby union, baseball, gridiron and hockey.

Ms Louden said she has gained "tremendous support" from the Federal Government and Austrade in her journey to succeed.

"I knew it was going to be tough to try and break into the Australian and international market so I sought help from the Government," Ms Louden said.

"They gave me all the help I needed to protect Lacemates from being reproduced.

"I am very lucky to have them on board."

Ms Louden said she hopes to expand the product in the near future and set up production here on the Peninsula to help employment growth.

"The business would create a lot of jobs for the area," Ms Louden said.

"I would need at least 10 machinists, a screen printer and laser cutter to handle the workload."

Clare Graham, 12 Apr 2007