My fascination for squatting came in 1991 after five months travelling through Asia and using the squat toilets there. I even looked at buying a squat toilet and taking it home with me! Having an interest in complementary medicines, I knew of the health benefits of good elimination and that is what I was achieving with the squat position (and the curries!). Perched, squatting on a western toilet while working on a building site in central Australia, I figured that some support under my feet would make the whole squatting experience more comfortable. This was my eureka moment.
On my return home to New Zealand I began to make my first Lillipad. I was naive enough to think that within two months I would have some ready for sale and that the complementary health community would snap them up. Hmmm...sadly not the case. However, body therapy practitioners were early supporters of the Lillipad.
How could I make an environmentally friendly product to fit all toilets...if only the design was better? This question obsessed me but I had to get on with being a carpenter. The Lillipad's design evolved with my carpentry and joinery skills. Set building in Germany introduced me to templates and curves, and it was in Munich in 1997 that the design changed radically. I returned to New Zealand and with the help of a government start up grant produced a number of Lillipads which I tried, with modest results, to sell at a music festival. I took a job on the Lord of the Rings films and Lillipad went into hiatus.
In 2003 I resurrected the business using the internet and found a discrete and effective way of reaching my market. Business has grown at a pace suiting design developments and my lifestyle. Life is for living and not getting too bogged down, so my wife Katherine and I pursued our dream of doing development aid work, supported through Volunteer Service Abroad New Zealand for two years.
During that time I advised the Vila Ebule Rural Training Centre Workshop in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Training was given to students in carpentry, joinery and small business management. The Lillipad slotted into that environment and gave the students the opportunity to produce a quality product for export. All profits from Lillipad sales up until July 2009 year were fed back into the workshop — contributing to wages, student allowances, maintenance and improvements to facilities.
In May 2009 I started another assignment establishing a rehabilitation programe at a local prison. With the help of detainees we built a wooden workshop and I trained those interested in carpentry and joinery (we made a lot of bunk-beds). I loved it, never a dull moment! Katherine taught art techniques to detainees.
It was a privilege to pass on the joinery skills I’ve learnt in my quest to produce a product I am proud of. I throughly recommend volunteering, and I link to the organisation we worked for on the links page above.
Our contract in Vanuatu came to an end in December 2009 when we returned to New Zealand where we continue producing Lillipads. After the time away I’m really happy to be back in my workshop producing the best Lillipads yet. They now come in short and tall sizes. You can order by sending us an email from the contact page. Perhaps you could make a squatting platform with help from the plans we offer.
I would like to thank all Lillipad customers who have invested in the development of this product. The Lillipad will continue to evolve with your support and ideas.
We look forward to your custom.
Warm regards,
Robert Wait
Lillipad
Jan 2010
