TVNZ covered Locus Research in their 'Growing Business' segment on AMP Business. Managing Director, Timothy Allan explains what Locus Research does and how it works to business anchor, Nadine Chalmers-Ross. Watch the interview to hear more about how Locus works with clients to achieve results.

 

 

A development company that creates products for other firms wants to establish a hub in the Bay of Plenty where people can develop new ideas and opportunities.

 

Locus Research has designed and created everything from chainsaw chaps and a surfboard bag that doubles as a sleeping bag, to award-winning compression socks.

 

Founder and Managing Director Timothy Allan told AMP Business Locus Research is based predominantly in the Tauranga-Bay of Plenty area and the company's plan is to grow through the companies it works with in New Zealand.

"So we want to create a hub there where people can actually come and I guess give them a place where you can create new ideas and work with us to develop a range of new opportunities," he said.

 

Allan said Locus Research helps companies to create products and take them to market. That could include anything from research to help them make a decision on what they should be doing and whether or not it's a good idea to take to the market, through to the actual development of the idea, production, and putting the product on the retail shelf. 

And it often doesn't stop there. "Often we're working with companies in an ongoing partnership. So we're supporting them once they're in the market as well. I mean often products only reach maturity once they're in generation two, three, four down the track."

"So we sort of stay engaged and try and support them to help improve the product." He said feedback on the product can be used to improve its technical features and sustainability. 

 

Allan said Locus Research has two ways of doing business. One was a conventional model of simply doing work for contract. "The other model is what we call cost plus where we're supplying in effect a full development team. But it's at a significantly reduced cost. And that one is in lieu of royalties downstream."

 

Allan said Locus Research gets some "pretty weird and wonderful" products and ideas coming through.

"Some entrepreneurs have got some pretty amazing ideas. But I guess we can help them with the realisation."