Town & Country

April 2017

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Country Town & MANITOBA Editor: Pat St. Germain – pdstgermain@gmail.com PG 6 DRIVING TOURISM Turning a corner to showcase Portage attractions PG 2 Saturday, April 22, 2017 PG 5 PG 3 PG 4 Visit our website at: www.portagemutual.com We'll be there when you need us most. For top-notch home and personal property coverage, backed by top-notch claims service, get the Residential Pro package from Portage Mutual Insurance. 1200 Saskatchewan Avenue East Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0K1 HOURS – Mon-Sat: 8 aM-10 pM / Sun: noon-8 pM Custom Truck & Trailer Washes • Self-Serve (204) 857-3554 • prairierock@live.com SISTERS CREATED TECHDRYER TO RESCUE WET ELECTRONIC DEVICES Mothers of Invention BY WENDY KING H andheld electronic technology and water don't mix, but since what can go wrong will go wrong that mix not is not only possible — it's inevitable. If it hasn't happened to you, it's happened to a co-worker, or maybe one of your kids: A device that ends up in the drink. Brandon entrepreneurs Susan Hunter and her sister Patti Hooker, each with kids of their own, had seen it one too many times. Their solution? They created techdryer — a moisture removal system in a portable package that will dry out any small electronics. "I was fed up with replacing another iPhone for my kids because it went through the wash or was dropped in the toilet or whatever," says Hunter. "Patti and I are both science nerds who are inquisitive — we just felt there had to be something that could dry them out." They started, like all good science nerds (one a nurse, one a pharmacist and both with MBAs), with a testable hypothesis they could research. "We realized that if the electronics aren't damaged from exposure to water then it stands to reason that if we could get the moisture out and then reactivate the electronic circuitry, it should be fine." Hunter took a year, bought used cell phones at garage sales to use as guinea pigs, and researched desiccants (materials that absorb water and humidity) to find one they could use. Then the sisters figured out to apply and package it. "We worked out the best moisture- removing desiccant and found out that we could wrap that in a one-way semi- permeable membrane — an already existing technology — where moisture can go out but cannot come back in," says Hunter. Into the mix, they brought in Laura Hooker, Patti's daughter. Armed with a marketing degree, she was also eligible for funding as an under-30 entrepreneur, add- ing some financial traction along with the perspective of their younger demographic. Their research identifies two types of customers: Under 30s who are reflexive, meaning they have an incident like being pushed into a pool and then seek the solution; and over 30s, who purchase in advance because, for example, they have children who, well, might get pushed into a pool. "We went to different industry trade shows because in developing our marketing plan it was difficult to figure out where this product fits," Hunter says. "The variety of indications is just crazy." One entirely unforeseen use: American law enforcement uses techdryer for their guns … and their dogs. "The dogs in the K-9 units wear electronic collars and they will follow anyone through anything so if they go into a swamp, the dog goes in, their collar goes in, the handler goes in — anything can get wet," says Hunter. "They have techdryer in their standard issue so they can throw the dog collars in and their guns, too, so they don't corrode." They've sold techdryer to waterparks and resort gift stores; corporations that distribute them as a first line of replacement defence and cost-reduction when assigning new cell phones; insurance groups purchasing them as client gifts; the travel and recreation industry for hiking, camping, boating and sportfishing; even to folks who use techdryer to maintain their hearing aids in humid climates. Hunter says it's really important to know that if you get your tech wet, it's not the water itself that wrecks your phone — it's the short-circuiting. "As your phone is exposed to water it kind of shuts down — it doesn't short circuit, it only shorts out if you turn it on after it's wet," she says. "The trick is to have the fortitude not to turn it on!" Instead, you should dry off the excess water, stick the phone in the techdryer bag, seal it up and leave it alone for a minimum of 24 hours — 9.9 times out of 10, it will be fine. Hunter says half her sales work is dispelling the myth that rice is an effective desiccant. "If you leave your electronics in rice, it's not going to do anything. It's the air around it that dries it and the fine dust particles in rice can do more damage than good." The company has room to grow with their next production run including a larger bag to accommodate tablets and camera equipment. Techdryer is in some Manitoba retailers like MTS Communications Plus. It can also be purchased online at www.techdryer.com, where you'll find complete details on using the product. "I'm the kind of person who really has to understand something before I sell it," says Hunter. "I know all of the science behind techdryer, and I know it works." "As your phone is exposed to water it kind of shuts down — it doesn't short circuit, it only shorts out if you turn it on after it's wet," she says. "The trick is to have the fortitude not to turn it on!" Hunter says half her sales work is dispelling the myth that rice is an effective desiccant. "If you leave your electronics in rice, it's not going to do anything. It's the air around it that dries it and the fine dust particles in rice can do more damage than good." CLEARLY VISIONARY Optometrist has farsighted plans for business GREAT ESCAPE ROOMS Brandon business attracts puzzle lovers of all ages GUIDING LIGHTS Consultants specialize in business

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