Fighting back against cable clutter

A growing demand for cable management products among SMEs and consumers has prompted tech entrepreneur Nicole Kersh to launch a new consumer-friendly shopping website - CableManagement.com.au.

The founder and Managing Director of The 4Cabling Group began noticing a change in purchasing patterns and customer demographics, so decided to meet the rising demand head on.

“In recent years we’ve seen a steady rise in one-time enquiries from small business owners and private customers searching for cable management solutions for their homes and offices,” Nicole said.

“Traditionally, 4Cabling has focused on servicing the needs of IT contractors and network administrators, and this remains our core business. But the growing demand for cable management purchases drew our attention to the lack of options currently available for Australians searching for these kinds of products, so we decided to dip our toes in the water.”

Nicole, who estimates that cable management products make up about 10% of the company’s total sales volume, linked the growing demand to a rise in occupational health and safety concerns among small businesses.

“There are over two million SMEs in Australia, each with their own IT requirements and cable management needs. Employers are understandably keen to protect their employees from the hazards of the workplace and these days most have OHS as a high priority,” Nicole said.

With ‘slip and trip’ injuries accounting for an estimated a third of workplace injuries, Nicole said uncovered cables were as much a threat to employees as they were to employers, who risked not only losing staff while they recovered from injuries, but attracting hefty workers compensation claims.

“Environments with a high exposure to cable clutter, such as government departments and education facilities, have understandably been the most eager to get their cables under control. Now, more businesses are taking a flexible and mobile approach to working environments, purchasing smart and simple cable management solutions like the cable box and cable clamps.”

Nicole said aside from the office, there had been a lot of one-off purchases and enquiries from everyday consumers, particularly parents with young children looking to eliminate household hazards.

Nicole also said a broader move towards wireless products and technology had resulted in consumers becoming more eager to remove cables from sight.

“There’s been a huge push towards wireless in recent years, but most electronic products still require cables at some point - even if just for charging.

“Simple and stylish solutions to hide cables and keep them under control, like the SyncCharger and Cable Box, have also been really popular,” Nicole said.

“It doesn’t really surprise me, to be honest. I work with cables all day long and they’re not the most aesthetically pleasing object. They’re great for transmitting data and powering devices, but I don’t think they should be a major feature of anyone’s interior design plan.”