This week’s pitch is from Simon Matthews.

THE PITCH

Matthews has created three different inflatable pools for children in the belief that today’s kids are bored by traditional paddling pools.

The first has a lumpy base, the second has sides 4ft high, and the last has a clear surround that can be filled with water so that goldfish can swim round the outside of the pool.

The idea behind lumps in the base is that children will feel as if they are on little islands. The high sides are because Matthews reckons children would like to climb the sides.

He would like to create a brand name like “Paddle” or “Fish Island” and mass market the product, retailing the pools at £60 to £125 for the goldfish version.

So has Matthews got a great idea or is he out of his depth?

PETER’S VERDICT

With the current hot weather, thousands of children either have a paddling pool or are trying to persuade their parents to buy one.

Let’s face it, pools are great fun and come in many different designs. But will Matthews’s three paddling pools become market leaders and make a pile of money? In a word, no.

One of the great attractions of the traditional paddling pool is being able to jump in and out of it. Making the base uncomfortable and the sides too high for parents to be able to see their child just doesn’t work for me. And the thought of trying to get goldfish into the sides of a pool without all the water coming out at the same time doesn’t appeal either.

Matthews clearly has great imagination, but I don’t think he has an eye for a brilliant business opportunity. Sorry. Traditional paddling pools are fun and, more importantly, do not cost an arm and a leg, so they sell well.

If Matthews produces his pools, I think a lot of them will be left on the shelves.

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