Exporting Case Study: Tectores Ltd

PelliTec is a unique blister prevention pad, invented on the Wirral by two building industry workers who spotted a clear gap in the market.

Friends Karl Ormond and Lenny Waters decided to develop the pad after realising that current offerings to help treat those with blisters were simply not doing the job well enough – they wanted to create something which would prevent the problem happening in the first place.

In 2019, after teaming up with now co-director Peter Broxton, Tectores Ltd launched PelliTec – a pad that sticks to the inside of footwear not on the skin. The patented gel technology in the pad cushions and moves with the foot to prevent the friction which causes blisters.

Following a series of trials with athletes, walkers, boxers and military personnel, PelliTec became available to buy through distributors to the podiatry sector, specialist outdoor and running retail outlets and online via well-known marketplaces and the PelliTec website.

The product, which is manufactured in China before coming over to the Tectores HQ at Thornton Science Park for distribution, was first sold in the UK and the USA, before being taken to Ireland, Australia, Germany and Japan.

As part of their growth journey, Peter and the team sought advice from Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub, who signposted them to the Department for International Trade (DIT) for exporting support.

Through DIT they were able to access the guidance of an International Trade Adviser (ITA), who worked closely with the business on export training, offered connections to potential overseas partners facilitated by DIT’s overseas teams and, helped them to raise brand awareness through recommendations on relevant overseas virtual and in-person healthcare events.

The business also took advantage of DIT’s Internationalisation Fund, using this towards the costs of translation, advice on protecting intellectual property in overseas markets, website optimisation and exhibiting at trade shows

Now, Tectores Ltd has earmarked expansion to runners in the USA as its next milestone, with plans to also roll out new lines in 2023.

Peter said: “Karl and Lenny spotted an opportunity and grabbed it – the result is PelliTec, an innovative product that has been shown to prevent blisters as well as treating them.

“We’re pleased with our export progress so far and have established our brand in Japan, a market that is notoriously difficult to crack due to the exceptionally high standards and quality control. It has been a success though and we now distribute to the outdoor market and Japanese military.

“Working with the Department for International Trade is something we would recommend to any business wanting to expand their offering and understand how to break into new territories. They have a great team who are always available to offer advice that you know is reliable and well-informed built on many years of experience.

“Looking forward to the rest of 2022, we will be expanding our international marketplace presence and independent UK Pharmacy channel and be more consumer facing in the USA.  

“From there, we’ll continue to take advice from our International Trade Adviser at DIT as we map out further expansion particularly across Europe.”

For further information about Pellitec, visit: www.pellitec.co.uk

Find out more about exporting support here