When Sarah joined Birmingham Inventors, she had a simple but powerful idea — a compact indoor clothes dryer that used natural airflow instead of electricity. Inspired by the need for energy-saving household products, Sarah began developing early sketches and cardboard prototypes at home.
Through BI’s Product Evaluation and Appraisal sessions, she received valuable feedback on design efficiency and material choices. Fellow members suggested practical ways to reduce manufacturing costs and improve stability. A guest engineer introduced her to a local prototype workshop, where she built a fully functional model using recycled aluminium and bamboo components.
With encouragement from the BI network, Sarah presented her concept at a regional Green Innovation Fair, where it drew strong public interest. She later filed a UK design registration with help from contacts introduced through BI and secured a small business grant to support further development.
Today, the EcoDry design is being trialled with a local manufacturer, and Sarah continues to refine her product with input from other BI members.
