Bringing an idea or concept for a consumer product to life is a challenge. And almost impossible to achieve without help. Which is why I set up Pro-Dev – to turn product dreams into reality. In the near decade since, I've weathered all manner of business storms, including Covid lockdowns. The business leadership and management skills I've learned have been invaluable. I've been sharing what I know through mentoring and more recently governance. While design and engineering are our specialities, we are also well-known for our product manufacturing in China where we have a network of factories with which we work very closely. Currently, 15 people report directly to me. I’ve travelled to China many times and have an in-depth understanding of how business is done there. As well, we work with in-house manufacturing teams all over the world.My secret skill is in using Agile business processes at the heart of everything we do. I apply Agile principles on every project and at every step of every project to ensure a successful outcome for all parties. Product development is about more than design and manufacture. Market research needs to be undertaken, prototypes need to be made, compliance must be taken into account and quality manufacturing organised and overseen. Packaging, now a sustainability issue, is also high on many people’s lists of concerns. All these aspects of product development mean that strong management is needed to ensure budgets are adhered to and timeframes are met. This is where I excel. Pro-Dev clients report that the unique process we have developed works well. Donald Hillis, founder of Kindling Collector says, ‘The Pro-Dev team are highly knowledgeable, professional, friendly and have a diverse range of experience to draw on. They made themselves at all hours and have adapted to challenges presented over the Covid-19 pandemic.’And Anna Bordignon of Munch Cupboard says, ‘Pro-Dev think logically about the design process. They identify opportunities on how we could do things better and are realistic about viability.’The Pro-Dev team and I are based in Wellington but work remotely anywhere – in New Zealand and overseas. Together we have decades of product design and manufacture experience so we know all the ins and outs, giving you peace of mind that your product project is in good hands. If you have an idea for what might be a world-changing product, do get in touch and let’s talk.