Personalised Switch Covers

Erin Chambers of Personalised Switch Covers

Switch Your Covers - Cover Your Switches

Erin Chambers

So how did a medical laboratory technician end up designing and developing a product that customises the look of your home by such a simple thing as personalising your switch covers?

Hi, I'm Erin Chambers and that is a very long story but here is the "Readers Digest" version.

Back in 2004 I became a mum and was lucky enough to be able to stay at home with our lovely daughter, as time went on and school days and time to myself approached I realised that whilst I would love to go back to work the traditional 9-5 or 9-3 juggling school holidays and four weeks leave just wasn't going to work for us as a family. Basically the only person that was going to employ me with my extensive list of do's and don'ts was me!

So began the quest to find something that I could do myself, initially I thought to import something and market, sell and distribute it but I never could find the right product. During this time at home I enrolled in an Interior Design course (which I am still completing, why did I think that I would have so much spare time?), I have always liked colour and have decorated a house or two along the way so when I saw a printed light switch cover an idea was born.

Then began the lengthy process of how to go about it, in-mould printing perhaps - too difficult and costly for me to set up; stickers - too flimsy and cheap looking; stickers with something on them to bulk them up - what is that called (it's resin doming I now know); what vinyl to use - I can bore you senseless on that subject alone; who knew that there were so many types/brands of switch covers in the market - which ones to target? On and on it went but finally we decided on a vinyl, I found  printers and domers in New Zealand to do the work, yes we are proudly Made In New Zealand, I got the product protected as a Registered Design from IPONZ (Intellectual Property Office of NZ) so that no-one can steal the idea, got the website done, the images sorted and here we are - finally.

The Personalised Switch Cover as it is today has been a huge learning curve, truly having a baby was easier - not to mention quicker. Many people have helped along the way, my family and friends have been quizzed and nagged, suppliers have been asked some truly dumb questions, others have offered me good rates because I am new to it all and needed a break, after being out of the work force for some years I had forgotten how willing people are to help if you just ask. There has been lots of trial and error, many sleepless nights and highs and lows but all in all it has been fun and I am very proud of what has been created.

Thanks to all who helped I couldn't have done it without you.

That is the story then I hope that you like the product, feedback is always valuable, if you would like an image and it isn't available yet email me and I will see what I can do or if you have something else that you want covered (like your alarm keypad or the sensors) ask me about that too and yes if you don't like it I would like to know about that as well. In the meantime though Switch Your Covers and Cover Your Switches.

Erin

If you have any queries or comments please feel free to contact us by one of the methods listed below.
Email: sales@personalisedswitchcovers.com
Phone: +64 (0)210 651 619
Fax: + 64 (0)9 309 0541
Post: P.O. Box 137296, Parnell 1151, Auckland, NZ.
www.personalisedswitchcovers.com