Ski-gadget puts business on slippery slopes to success overseas Skiing enthusiasts won't want to hit the slopes without the latest gadget that makes for effortless mobility with those ungainly skis and poles. With Portaski (www.portaski.com) a pocket-size gadget that takes just seconds to attach to your ski equipment, skiers can have as smooth a run with their skis off, as they do with them on downhill.
Portaski based in Barnsley is the invention of Yorkshire businessman and former farmer, Mike Johnston, who spent several years designing the compact, lightweight gadget that is durable enough to withstand all-kinds of terrain and weather conditions:
Says Mike: "It all started when a friend of mine took his two kids on a skiing holiday and ended up carrying his own as well as both the kids' skis and poles while slogging through the snow in his ski boots. Once I had the idea, I was lucky enough to get a grant from Doncaster Business Link to develop it and I set up the company in 2003. However, I always knew that the major market for Portaski was likely to be overseas and with that in mind I signed up to do UK Trade & Investment's Passport to Export programme in June last year. It turned out to be just the beginning of a fantastic overseas support network for my business".
While attending the Passport training Mike was also introduced to other UK Trade & Investment services such as New Products from Britain (NPfB).