Milestones

2005 – An Idea is born – Founder Charles Ejogo, while walking home in the rain, realises that he doesn’t enjoy getting soaked, and wishes a vending machine would appear and sell him an umbrella!

2006 – She’s alive! – The first prototypes are finished

2006 – Do they work? - Machines are tested at a handful of London-based locations – sales are great, but the early morning starts to refill are not!

2006 – Into the Dragons Den – the concept of umbrella vending hits the nation’s conscious

2006 – Our first award! The umbrella vending machine is named ‘Innovation of the Year’ by BT Redcare.

2006 – Pen and paper - Seymour Powell design and prototype an early version of the Mini machine (the same guys that designed Richard Branson’s Space Plane)

2006 – Another award! Charles Ejogo, named Innovator of the Year by the Department of Trade and Industry

2007 - Down tools - Flaws are uncovered in the original Mini machine, and a complete redesign is undertaken.

2007 – Up tools - Manufacturers for the new Mini Machine are appointed and production gets underway.

2007 – Time to grow! - Numerous customers are found, and we start to rollout the service in limited numbers.

2007 – Another award! The Mini machine is named Runner-Up ‘Product of the Year’ by Auto Vending Magazine

2007 – Time to go national - Exclusive operating/servicing deal is struck enabling us to site machines anywhere in the UK!

2007 - Time to grow again! With a national service partner in place, we start to find customers all over the UK

2007 – Cap in Hand - Burlington Investment Partners take a significant minority stake in us, to facilitate UK and overseas growth.

2007 – Can umbrellas swim? – Overseas interest grows and we start to listen to offers to grow abroad.

2007 – Another award – the Mini machine is named Runner-Up ‘Product of the Year’ by Vending International Magazine

2007 - Umbrellas can swim! - Our first machines arrive in Germany.

2007 - Umbrella like to swim! - Machines are delivered to the US.

2007 – Umbrellas can also fly! – Further overseas deals mean we need to get passports for our vending machines!

2008 – Another birth in the family! – Our latest machine is almost ready for launch-all will be revealed on July 1st 2008!