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Ten years ago, Ben Kraucevs bought a new home with a garden bore out the front. He searched high and low for a bore cover that was affordable, lockable and complied with Australian safety standards, but he couldn’t find one. So, he decided to make it himself.
“I started working in my garage making different prototypes because I really wanted to make a safe and lockable bore cover,” Ben said.
After two years of prototyping and experimenting, Ben had developed a range of products that he was proud of and Matrix Bore Covers was born.
A bore is a deep hole made in the ground for extracting groundwater from the shallow water table to irrigate home gardens and lawns. An estimated one in four properties across Perth have a garden bore, representing a massive market for safe and affordable covers.
“Initially I just wanted to make one so that we could have it for our property, but it turned into something that I wanted to sell.”
The business now manufactures and sells an aluminium bore cover and a poly plastic bore cover, both of which are fully recyclable, customisable and built for WA conditions.
Safety first
Ben’s mission has always remained clear: to provide the safest bore cover on the market.
When Ben first started researching the industry, he realised that there were very few safety requirements for bore covers. He came across many that were installed back in the fifties and sixties and made from thin, corrosive materials. Needless to say, they didn’t meet his expectations when it came to safety.
“Very few old bore covers are lockable, and they don’t even have supporting frames underneath them,” Ben explained.
“Bore holes can be up to 15 metres deep, and the only thing protecting someone from falling is an old, unlocked, rusty cover.”
“This is simply dangerous, and I really wanted to make things safer and more secure for families and communities.”
This mission is so important to Ben that the purchase of one of Matrix’s bore covers includes delivery and proper installation, as well as the removal and disposal of the old, unsafe cover.
Covering new ground with the SBDC
Ben first got in touch with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) mid-2024, when he was still at the prototype stage of his bore cover design. Being located in the Peel region, he was connected with SBDC Regional business adviser Carly, who helped him develop a business plan and kick start the manufacturing process.
“I met with my business adviser almost weekly for about a year,” Ben explained.
“Now we have gone all the way from a prototype to manufacturing and selling our product.”
“Carly and the SBDC have helped me form local contacts that have assisted me with my business. They’ve also kept me on track and encouraged me to meet my business goals.”
“It really felt like they wanted to see me succeed, so I get the benefits of working with people who have the same goal as I do.”
Challenges along the way
Running a small business is not always smooth sailing, and Ben has faced his fair share of challenges along the way.
“The main challenge for me was logistics – getting our products up to the metro area given that’s where our main customer base is – so we’ve been working on that with the SBDC.”
“We’ve tried to solve that problem by creating hubs in the metropolitan area where our customers can purchase our products from.”
“It has relieved a lot of pressure now that we don’t need to get our products up to our customers on a weekly basis.”
Certified excellence
The business hit a major milestone recently when they passed the Australian standard compliancy load testing.
Ben knew that this certification was something to aim for as it sets Matrix Bore Covers apart from other available products, and with safety a key driving factor, this was a really proud moment.
"We think we have the best bore covers on the market, and the reason for that is because they’re safe and they have that Australian standard approval.”
“We are a family-owned business, and we manufacture locally, plus all of our products are recyclable at the end of their lifespan even though they are made from non-corrosive materials.”
“We’ve hit on all those good things that a small business should try to achieve.”
The positive customer feedback and success of the business so far has made all the hard work worth it. Ben and his team are excited to keep bringing safer, more sustainable bore covers to homes and gardens across Western Australia.
More information
- Connect with an SBDC business adviser to help on your small business journey
- Find out everything you need to know about the supply chain
- Learn what questions you should ask to find the right suppliers
- Understand what to consider when setting up a family business.
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