Cactus Products Limited

Where did the Cactus come from?
Three years ago I took ownership of my first home. The house I chose bordered a public footpath that links the local park

I was quite concerned about this footpath and was my only issue with the house

Soon after buying the house I saw a publication in the Hartlepool Mail about using prickly plants to defend against intruders. A schedule of dates where the public could gain information about prickly plants where listed. It was hosted by Hartlepool Crime Prevention

After visiting the event I gained some knowledge of what the plants could do for the property but the down side was:

Cost £ 300
Take 2-3 days to plant
Plant inside my property and not outside – planned to start family!
3-5 years growth required to give desired protection

From here I spoke to some relatives about my concerns and they told me to put up carpet grippers. This was not a consideration as would not want to cause serious injury and they look terrible

I thought some more about the problem and as I owned a injection moulding company I came up with a plastic spiky strip the would give human intruders, cats and birds something to think about

Why did it take three years to develop?
At the time of the Cactus idea the moulding company I owed, Solutions-Injection Moulding Ltd was still in phase one of start up. We where reporting high sales but it was hard work keeping on top of the production side. Coupled with a new home with no lawn, floor coverings, curtain and blinds I was rather busy!

The Cactus came alive six months ago with the economic down turn ‘Credit Crunch’. Rather than sit and do nothing when sales where down 80% and customers decided not to pay invoices I decided it was time to motivate myself and stimulate some activity by coming up with our own product.

My Uncle Brian had told me previously that he’d ‘invested in the last recession and it got him through……’

Where is the Cactus now?
Now in production, and we have the capability to manufacture 4,000 Strips per day in any colour

Sales so far are over 14,000 strips

Stocked in ten local shops. Middlesbrough – Seaham. Available on Ebay and have reported sales every day since first listing.

Great response from everyone approached and feedback of, ‘it’s the cheapest, legal, easy to fit device that has been seen…’

Achieved grant funding to produce a dedicated on-line web-site with buy now facility and have already made investment in conventional marketing tools to aid bulk sales