The Wand Company

The Wand Company
The Wand Company Ltd
Industry Universal Remote Controls and Prop Replicas
Founded 2009
Founder Richard Blakesley and Chris Barnardo
Number of locations
 Cambridge
Website thewandcompany.com

The Wand Company is a United Kingdom company that designs and manufactures universal remote control prop replicas in varying designs. The company was featured on Dragons' Den in 2010, demonstrating its "Kymera Magic Wand Universal Remote Control", and accepted an offer of financial backing of £200,000. Since then, The Wand Company has created additional Universal remote control products in the form of the Tenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver, the Eleventh Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver, the Twelfth Doctor's extending Sonic Screwdriver and two Star Trek replicas: a Star Trek: The Original Series phaser released in November 2014 and a Star Trek Bluetooth communicator, which was released in June 2016.

History

The Wand Company was found in 2009 by Richard Blakesley and Chris Barnardo who wanted to combine their forty years of design, development and electronic development experience and make magical/surprising themed products that work as universal remote controls.[1] The company's first product was the "Kymera Magic Wand Universal Remote Control" that is in the style of a wizard's wand and in the first year the product sold 10,300 units.[1]

In 2010 the company went onto the television show Dragons' Den on BBC Two to ask for financial backing, Duncan Bannatyne agreed to invest £200,000 for 10%.[1] Later, the Wand Company turned down the investment. In 2011 Bannatyne announced that The Wand Company had grossed £1 million in the first year.[2]

In 2012 the company manufactured a new product in the form of the Eleventh Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver,[3] later in 2013 the Tenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver was released. A 3D Scan was taken of David Tennant's Sonic Screwdriver (which is the last remaining screen used prop from that series) to create the body of the Tenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver.[4]

In July 2014 it was revealed on the company's Facebook page, that the next product they would be releasing would be a Star Trek phaser replica.[5] Later that month the phaser replica was shown at San Diego Comic-Con by co-founder Chris Barnardo, The Wand Company stated that it used the same technology as the Sonic Screwdriver remotes and that a 3D scan was taken of the original prop to produce this replica.[6]

In July 2015, they revealed they would be releasing a fully functioning Star Trek Bluetooth communicator. The item was released in June 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Richard Blakesley & Chris Barnardo The Wand Company". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Dragons' Den What Happened Next– Some Success Stories Kymera Magic Wand". dragonsdeninvestors.com. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "The Wand Company and BBC Worldwide Unveil The Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "The Wand Company presents two new Doctor Who Sonic Screwdrivers at San Diego Comic-Con 2013". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Wand Company July 15". The Wand Company. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Grady, Lora (25 July 2014). "Star Trek Phaser Remote Revealed at Comic Con 2014". bigpicturebigsound.com. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
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