SplashMaps will be on Radio Solent’s Steve Harris show at 5:40 pm Today! Listen live at https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_solent for a SplashMaps update with the BBC.
Steve last interviewed me in December last year when we were still attracting Crowd Funding from our 101 backers.
A competition for you, a challenge for me;
So what can I talk about today? Below’s an update of we think is important. I will try and get all these main points across and as many of the examples underneath each header. Total them up as I say them, then fill in our contacts form with your results! The prize? One of our fabulous maps from the store (you choose!). There may be a bonus for most amusing observation in the event of a tie.
My challenge? This is the BBC so this can’t sound like advertising, no repetition and no umming and erring ;-). Okay, here’s what I want to say;
A) We are a thriving business making waterproof fabric maps covering the main outdoor enthusiasts needs around the country.
i) We won our Kickstarter funding! And other small investors have come on-board.
ii) We’ve been selling maps ever since (over 400 maps have now been distributed)
iii) We are now retailing at visitor centres in New Forest and South Downs plus bike shops, hire shops and now in advanced negotiation with Stanfords (UK’s leading specialist retailer of maps with flagship stores in Covent Garden, London and Bistol)
iv) We have broken-even despite an unfriendly outdoor season
B) We have future plans that keep the mapping as useful as possible for mountain bikers, horse riders, walkers, sailors and paddlers.
i) We provide maps of every National Park through splashmaps.net
ii) We’re bidding for work on some of the new long distance trails in Scotland and Northern England.
iii) We’re going international with maps of Yosemite, African maps for a consultant at the World bank and historic maps of Helsinki!
iv) We have just won funding to advance our web site to allow users to select their own map areas simply.
v) We are working with New Forest District Council to help with mapping needs that sit behind their services too.
C) We have engaged with a thriving community of enthusiasts and we have a number of up-coming events that people will want to come to
i) We had an excellent Outdoors Show in London in January, through which we made a lot of contacts that have helped us reach this point
ii) We are at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park Cyclefest 18/19th May, Bournemouth Family Adventure Festival (1st June), Oxfam Trail Walker (27/28th July).
iii) Plus, our newest map is of the whole of the Isle of Wight including the entire solent area between Portsmouth and Christchurch. Great for the Solent Challenges, on bike, by boat and on-foot.
D) We are helping keep the Solent THE area for innovation on maps.
i) We’ve been invited to give key-note presentations at the UK’s premier Mapping institutions & events (AGI, FOSS4G, British Cartographic Society).
ii) We’ve covered the whole of the Southdowns Way, New Forest, Purbeck, Quantocks, Exmoor and Dartmoor to give superb coverage of the key outdoor destinations for the outdoor adventurer in the South.
Enjoy listening!
David
