How to bring a unique invention to market successfully

Coming up with an innovative solution to a common problem has provided the foundation for many businesses – but developing a viable venture requires more than just a good idea. For Kieran Pye, the founder of Chump Tools, based at Capital Business Centre in Croydon, developing, patenting and marketing his award-winning invention successfully has meant drawing upon the skills and experience he has honed as both a chartered accountant and a business owner. 

Problem-solving solution provides the basis for a new business venture

For Kieran Pye, the idea behind Chump Tools didn’t come from a boardroom brainstorming session – it was born from real‑world frustration on the job. As an electrician, he encountered a persistent problem when installing ceiling fittings and decided to create his own solution.  

“I couldn’t get a light on the ceiling,” he explains. “The issue is in the types of ceilings many electricians encounter, particularly older lath and plaster ceilings, which can be fragile and difficult to work with. Traditional methods require access above the ceiling to secure heavier light fittings or to reinforce weak plasterboard edges — something that is often time‑consuming, disruptive or simply not possible.” 

So he devised a solution: a unique ceiling fixing product that allows electricians to work entirely from below the ceiling, strengthening the ceiling structure in seconds without needing to climb into loft spaces or remove sections of ceiling to access it from above. 

Like the best inventions, it’s a simple one: a piece of plastic with multiple holes in it, with a pivoting handle. By lying the handle flat against the tool, the electrician can insert the device into a small access hole, such as the hole required for the electric cable. When the plate passes through the hole it sits flat against the top of the surface, providing a strong material into which screws can be fixed. And the magic of the design is that the electrician doesn’t need to worry about lining up the screws perfectly with one of the holes in the tool: “If you put a screw in slightly out, it will find the nearest hole and work into it – any screw hitting the surface will naturally gravitate towards a hole.” 

Having come up with the idea, Kieran printed a 3D version and showed it to an electrician friend, whose response was: “I need some!”  

As Kieran puts it, the aim of Chump Tools is simple: “To share ideas to fix problems that I have come across during my time in the industry.” 

Previous professional experience creates strong foundations for business success  

Kieran’s journey into entrepreneurship is anything but conventional. After studying mathematics at Bristol University and qualifying as a chartered accountant, he spent time working in corporate environments before deciding to change direction entirely: “I needed more flexibility for family reasons. I couldn’t work five days a week consistently, and it wasn’t fair to the team for there always to be one member who needed to keep taking half days off. So when redundancies were being made, I put my hand up and retrained as an electrician.” 

Over the next 20 years, he built and ran a successful electrical business, at one point managing multiple vans and a team of staff. 

This varied background has proven invaluable in launching Chump Tools. His accountancy experience has enabled him to create robust systems and plan for growth, while his time as an electrician ensures every product is grounded in real customer needs: “My experience as an accountant has taught me that you need to manage the business, you need to forecast, you need to actually know where you’re going before you start the journey.” 

This strategic mindset has helped him build a business that is ready to scale from day one, supported by automated processes that streamline order handling and operations: “If an order comes through from a wholesaler, I type something on my computer, it appears on a different computer, emails get sent round and it all gets sent out without me lifting a finger. Once I’ve taken the initial order, I press a go button, sit back and don’t worry about it. The systems are already there for us to scale – and ultimately for me to be less hands-on in the business.” 

Taking the plunge to invest in the new invention  

Launching Chump Tools required Kieran to step away from his previous business and fully commit to bringing his invention to market. Having sold most of his electrical company, he now focuses primarily on growing the new venture while providing occasional technical advice during the handover phase: “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve been able to sell most of the electrical business, so I am a backseat electrician at the moment.”

The journey from idea to product involved securing patents, sourcing trusted partners and making key decisions about production. One of the most important was choosing to manufacture in the UK to maintain quality and reliability: “We looked at manufacturing abroad, including China, but the issue is quality control – you get a prototype to your specification and then they start to cut corners. That’s one reason why we decided to stay within the UK. I toured around many plastics manufacturers in the local and not so local area. I feel we’ve fallen on our feet with Modern Moulds in Basingstoke because these guys do seem to care.” 

Even the company name reflects the brand’s personality and ambition: “We wanted a name that would be both memorable and familiar.  There are a number of words such as mate or friend that have been used by many other businesses, which got us thinking along the line of a companionship.  When we came across the word chump, we realised that this would be perfect in that it is a word that is known, but not too common, it is easy to read and pronounce, it implies good humour, as you could easily call your friend a chump without offence, and most of all it is memorable.  

“With all these qualities, and especially the memorability of the word, we are very pleased with this choice.  Indeed, we have had a lot of people ask about the name, and each time we ask if they will remember the name the following day or the following week.  The universal answer is yes.” 

Spreading the word: creating awareness of the new product   

Like many small businesses, one of the biggest challenges for Chump Tools has been building awareness. Kieran is clear about the reality facing founders: “The biggest challenge is to get your name and product known, to create the volume of sales that will create a viable business.” 

To overcome this, the company has adopted a multi‑channel marketing strategy, combining social media, email marketing, industry press and face‑to‑face engagement at trade shows: “We have linked up with Hamerville Media Group, who publish Professional Electrician and Professional Builder.  They also manage the ELEX Shows, which are a series of six exhibitions around the country where we can meet and talk to many electricians and other trades. We are also now working with tradespeople who are on social media to continue to grow the business.” 

The focus is on education rather than hard selling, with plans for video content that shares practical advice for electricians: “Rather than going off in a sales pitch, we show them how other people get over problems, and show our product at the end.” 

This approach, combined with strong word‑of‑mouth recommendations and industry recognition – including a Professional Electrician Top Product Award for 2025 – is helping to build credibility and momentum, delivering a series of highlights: “Each landmark sales, such as the first online order, the first wholesale agreement with the subsequent order, the repeat orders from individuals online and the wholesalers.  We have also linked up with a distributor and they have placed repeat orders, which show that the products are useful for tradespeople.  We also celebrate each review that we receive.” 

Finding the right Croydon workspace for business launch and growth  

Having the right workspace has played an important role in supporting Chump Tools’ growth. Based at Capital Business Centre in Croydon, the business operates from a compact unit that functions as both office and distribution hub: “I took the decision very early on to take a professional workspace, as I realised we needed the space and staff.  There is too much activity to manage this on my own.” Just a year in, Kieran already has a colleague dedicated to fulfilment.  

“We chose Capital Space because my electrician’s business has been a customer with a virtual office for about two decades. During our time we entered the competition to name the meeting rooms.  Our suggestion was successful and the rooms are now named after the crocus, which is part of the foundation of the town of Croydon,” he recalls. 

This long‑standing relationship gave him the confidence to expand into a physical workspace as the business grew. The flexibility and supportive environment have allowed him to focus on what matters most – developing the business: “The ease of working here is ideal for us – everything has been friendly and the processes smooth. We can focus on running our business rather than managing the property.” 

Beyond the practical benefits, Kieran also highlights the value of being surrounded by like‑minded businesses: “Working in a business centre has non‑quantifiable benefits: a positive environment of people with an attitude to work and succeed. An example is the additional, undocumented, security as a result of the attitude of the occupants which creates additional relaxation when working here.  This is greatly beneficial.  There is a positive energy here.” 

Future plans 

Looking ahead, Kieran has ambitious plans to grow Chump Tools into a recognised brand within the electrical trade. With new products already in development, the business is focused on building a broader portfolio rather than relying on a single innovation: “We’ve got another product already in development and we’ve got other products coming out. I’m not going to rely on one product to sustain the business.” 

Over the next five years, the goal is to expand the product range, increase brand awareness and move into a larger workspace as demand grows. 

Ultimately, success will be defined by visibility and trust within the trade: “If we can get it that a significant number of electricians in the UK know about it, that will give us a thriving business.” 

Kieran’s top business tips 

For other entrepreneurs and inventors, Kieran has the following advice: “Keep working, if you can believe in your product or service, you should be able to convince enough people to buy it and maintain your business.  This is often a product of hard work, certainly more likely than just by luck and chance.  If you can find good and reliable suppliers and employees the journey will be easier.” 

From solving a single on‑site problem to building an award‑winning product and growing brand, Chump Tools shows how practical innovation, strong systems and the right workspace can turn a good idea into a scalable business success. 

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