Couple are switched on to a bright idea

A NEW Oldham company has started trading in decorative light switches offering a range of colourful, imaginative alternatives to the traditional white, brass and chrome models.

Royton man Robert Holt, (35), has set up The Decorative Light Switch Company Ltd in Booth House, Featherstall Road, Oldham.

A web-based operation, the business offers light switches, plug sockets, dimmers, aerial and telephone outlets.

“Instead of the normal, everyday finishes you see in DIY stores, such as white, black, brass, chrome and so on, we are offering these products with exciting finishes such as zebra stripes, snakeskin, wood, marble, children’s designs and much, much more.

“We also have a ‘Design Your Own’ facility where people can upload their own image — www.dec switch.com — and have custom-made switches on their walls within five days,” says Rob, who is enlisting the help of wife Jeanette in running the new enterprise, alongside another director, Carl Hanson, from Bolton.

Technical director Rob and Carl used to work together in the prison and police cell door industry before investing £50,000 to set up the new enterprise. Rob estimates the light switch industry to be worth in excess of £100 million a year, adding: “If we can get to 1 per cent of that market then we will have a healthy business.”

His products range in price from £14.99 to £99.99, plus VAT.

But for that you get a for a crystal light switch embellished with Swarovski crystals and which Rob, not surprisingly describes as unique to the market.

Rob and his partners have been in talks with some of the multiples about stocking the range but these are in the early stages and, at the moment, the decorative switches are available via the website only.

The whole light switch comes as package and in a design arrangement with Oldham injection moulding business P and R Ltd.

The covers are a simple click-on fitting enabling switches to be easily changed when a room decor has a makeover.