Student entrepreneur makes rich gadgets affordable (From Echo)
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Student entrepreneur makes rich gadgets affordable
6:10am Sunday 3rd January 2010 in News
Entrepreneur – Tom Kadwill is selling gadgets online
A UNIVERSITY student has set up a new business to bring the gadgets of the rich and famous to a wider market.
Tom Kadwill, 19, is in the early days of an online venture called Tekrux, supplying automated technology for lighting and other electrical appliances around the home.
He has two suppliers, one in the UK and another in the Netherlands. Their gadgetry enables people to use items such as a £15 keyring, which can operate lights and switch the television on or off.
Tom, of Harley Street, Leigh, said: “Usually this technology is found in rich homes, but my aim is to bring to everyone at a price they can afford.
“The keyring item can turn lights on as you arrive home at night and is more energy saving than leaving a light on while you are out.
“It’s good for older people and those with mobility problems.
“My nan uses the light and TV controller from her bed.”
Tom, a former Deanes School pupil and Seevic student, also works part time at Little Havens Children’s Hospice.
He is currently studying for a degree in economics, at the University of Hertfordshire, and is into the second round of their Flare business competition, with a £15,000 prize up for grabs.
Comments(15)
springthing
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11:17am Sun 3 Jan 10
152
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2:15pm Sun 3 Jan 10
152
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2:15pm Sun 3 Jan 10
essexlad08
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3:29pm Sun 3 Jan 10
152 wrote:Do you not have anything better to do other than scrutinise this young lads efforts, at least he is having a go and not selling drugs or sitting at home on the dole like most Essex youngsters his age! Good luck to him! And jealousy gets you no where!
Having looked at the site, where it says he can only take orders over the phone, where there is no display of company registration details as required by law, where it is hacked together from generic CMS's or the suchlike, and where the prices are more expensive than those available on ebay, I smell a rat like Gary Cooper.
Soozie
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4:19pm Sun 3 Jan 10
essexlad08 wrote:LOL you tell him!
152 wrote: Having looked at the site, where it says he can only take orders over the phone, where there is no display of company registration details as required by law, where it is hacked together from generic CMS's or the suchlike, and where the prices are more expensive than those available on ebay, I smell a rat like Gary Cooper.Do you not have anything better to do other than scrutinise this young lads efforts, at least he is having a go and not selling drugs or sitting at home on the dole like most Essex youngsters his age! Good luck to him! And jealousy gets you no where!
yayyay
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5:27pm Sun 3 Jan 10
152 wrote:I'm sure if he was not abiding by the law he wouldn't allow a newspaper article to be published about his business! As for the prices being dearer then e-bay, I'd rather buy from a business than from any old Tom, Dick or Harry! Also who is Gary Cooper? The only one I know is the actor!!
Having looked at the site, where it says he can only take orders over the phone, where there is no display of company registration details as required by law, where it is hacked together from generic CMS's or the suchlike, and where the prices are more expensive than those available on ebay, I smell a rat like Gary Cooper.
Tomk
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6:02pm Sun 3 Jan 10
I believe that prices are very competitive and inline with other retailers of automation technologies.
My aim for Tekrux is to offer fantastic customer service and I would like to apologise for any confusion.
- Tom Kadwill
152
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7:54pm Sun 3 Jan 10
yayyay wrote:Gary Cooper was the wideboy who appeared to want to generate more orders and free advertising for his website by having an article about his business published in the Echo. Other national newspapers, perhaps most notably The Sun, picked up the story which about how the kid was making £30000 a month. However, when these articles appeared, many angry customers posted comments and then joined discussions on a couple of forums about his 'Trading Standards' approved terms and conditions, his charging their cards more than the price on his website, not fulfillinf orders etc. See http://bit.ly/5tFhDK
152 wrote:I'm sure if he was not abiding by the law he wouldn't allow a newspaper article to be published about his business! As for the prices being dearer then e-bay, I'd rather buy from a business than from any old Tom, Dick or Harry! Also who is Gary Cooper? The only one I know is the actor!!
Having looked at the site, where it says he can only take orders over the phone, where there is no display of company registration details as required by law, where it is hacked together from generic CMS's or the suchlike, and where the prices are more expensive than those available on ebay, I smell a rat like Gary Cooper.
tttutor
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10:12pm Sun 3 Jan 10
Soozie
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7:39am Mon 4 Jan 10
Good luck Tom, I hope you inspire a lot of the lazy layabouts to get off their duffs and make something of themselves like you have!
radioman
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11:12am Mon 4 Jan 10
vangebasildon
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8:39pm Mon 4 Jan 10
Tomk
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9:38pm Mon 4 Jan 10
vangebasildon wrote:Thank you for your advice. I would like to point out that my business is not currently trading and therefore I am not required to comply with the Distance Trading Regulations. When I do start allowing customers to make purchases, I will be sure to provide the necessary information.
Yes Tom should be applauded for starting his business, however it is important that both he and us, his potential customers take heed that his site does not comply to even the basic Distance Selling Regulations leaving Tom open to serious issues from the Ofice of Fair Trading.
Cynical_cyril
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12:21pm Wed 13 Jan 10
Tomk wrote:"Student Entrepreneur uses web-page template and registers a domain name to create 'online business' that isn't currently selling anything".
vangebasildon wrote: Yes Tom should be applauded for starting his business, however it is important that both he and us, his potential customers take heed that his site does not comply to even the basic Distance Selling Regulations leaving Tom open to serious issues from the Ofice of Fair Trading.Thank you for your advice. I would like to point out that my business is not currently trading and therefore I am not required to comply with the Distance Trading Regulations. When I do start allowing customers to make purchases, I will be sure to provide the necessary information.
From the paper that brought you GCsPCs!
How can I get a job as a reporter for the Echo?
152 says...
10:37am Sun 3 Jan 10