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Here’s a proudly South African good news story of old friends and new friends coming together to help each other and their businesses during some bad times, by Rich Pickering founder of Xtend Elements
Our small business makes Xtend elements, an energy efficient, durable and cost-effective alternative to heating your geyser. In 2019, after three years of product development, market testing and improvements we were finally selling more and more Xtend elements every month. Thanks to Plumblink’s support in the early stages we were on the go and just when South Africa needed solutions the most. We were delighted.
But then, disaster struck. COVID. Our supply chain and manufacturing processing in China were hit by lockdowns, loadshedding (yes, them too!) and supply chain issues. We had no stock for six months. A soul-destroying sucker-punch.
In the midst of this despair, I found myself chatting to local comedian celebrity, Stuart Taylor, at my son’s school camp out. Talk about good fortune and a great guy. Stuart explained that the comedy circuit had also been horrendously affected, and over an XTEND lager (thanks VJ @ Woodstock Brewery!) we discussed how we could work together and have some fun getting our livelihoods back in order. I was blown away by his willingness to collaborate with us. Who would’ve thought that plumbing and comedy could ever meet with such synchronicity?
Another good friend who happens to be a London-based ad-executive, Alan Grove, came up with a hilarious script for our first video. When he warned that ‘This must be done by professionals’, we weren’t worried even though our budget was laughable – we had the best. Stuart called in the big guns Rob Van Vuuren and Kenwyn Davids to star in our new collaboration called: ‘Willie and Dan stick it to the man’. The day of filming was a treat. These guys are professionals, and we were spectacularly clueless. To watch this legendary team at work was pure class and a day to remember.
We really loved the ‘stick it to the man’ theme because that is essentially why we have worked so hard to bring this product to the market, to literally stick it to the man. XTEND draws less power and uses less energy, two to three fewer units per day for an average family, saving you hard cash. If you use XTEND with solar panels or batteries, it will make your system even more efficient and your home more self-reliant. The more geysers you use with XTEND elements the more the positive impact multiplies.
We are all very relieved that Xtend elements are once again available nationally at all Plumblink branches, as well as independent retailers and wholesalers, and we hope you’ll watch this fantastic – and very funny – video. Performed by the best comedy talent in the country and superbly edited by Grant. We felt so honoured and grateful to have such talented and good friends who stepped up when we needed them most. We can’t thank them enough.
When you’re done laughing, we hope you’ll see that Xtend elements solve many of the problems we face in South Africa today. They are durable and will last longer than a normal element, even in the hardest of water., and it uses less electricity to heat your geyser. It will not break if they geyser empties, which is happening more and more due to load-shedding and water related issues. Don’t let your geyser stress you out when you’re trying to maximise your expensive Eskom power or solar. Install an Xtend element today and stick it to the man! As Willie says, “Eskommon sense!”.
Check out our first video in the Willie and Dan series here: Willie and Dan - Stick it to the man!
See Stuart Taylor’s information here: @taylorMade.productions @stuart_taylor_comic
See Kenwyn Davids information here: @Kenwyntheking
See Rob Van Vuuren information here: @robvanvuuren (namastebae)
Camera: @danielalbertse
DOP: @graaaaant
