DRENCHINGS on Dartmoor may just be a typical Saturday for many of us, but for one South Zeal woman, they provide the inspiration for a new business venture. After countless wet camping excursions, picnics, and trips to the beach with her two children, Jacci Jourdan decided there had to be a better alternative to sitting on damp picnic rugs, wrapping shivering children in a soggy towel, and protecting the inside of her car with an old blanket. While working on another project, she inherited a large sheet of neoprene — the material used to make wetsuits — and remembering its waterproof and insulating qualities from her youth as a Scuba diver, started using it as a makeshift picnic mat. 'I was soon wrapping things up in it, draping it over equipment, and making shelters out of it too,' Jacci said. 'In fact, before long I couldn't live without it!' That was where the idea for Nomadic Mats sprang from. Within months, Jacci had developed a state-of-the-art picnic rug that doubles as a 100% waterproof kit cover, and warm emergency cloak. Incorporating eyelets, bungee cords and anchor pegs it can also easily be turned into a simple shelter or bespoke wildlife-watching hide, using branches and trees. 'It's only half a millimetre thick, so it's very light to carry around, but it's incredibly tough, easy to keep clean, and quick drying,' Jacci said. Her customers now range from hikers, campers, boaters and surfers — who use the mats to protect valuable equipment — to families who just use them as 'a fun garden tent to keep young children and overheated dogs out of the sun'. 'People have also told me that they're perfect for outdoor theatre events. 'I designed them with their own back-pack, and with a pocket which it turns out is just big enough for a couple of glasses and a bottle of champagne!' After having an initial test batch of the mats produced in Cornwall, and piloting them on a stall at last year's Dartmoor Folk Festival, Jacci is now going into large-scale production. 'This first big batch of mats had to be produced overseas, but my ultimate aim is to make the whole operation as local as possible.' She's currently selling the mats online from her website, but is also approaching both local and national outlets about stocking them. BlueZoo in Chagford is one outlet that has agreed to stock the product. 'Lots of local shops are really impressed by them, and I've also had interest from a national chain of outdoor shops,' she said. Jacci received guidance in how best to approach retailers from West Devon Business Information Point: 'I went on one of their marketing courses, which was brilliant. And they've also really helped me to cope with all the financial aspect — figures aren't my cup of tea at all. 'It's brilliant having a mentor from the information point too — it's really helped me to juggle a husband, a house and two children with a new business.' For more information about Jacci's Nomadic Mats call 01837 840919, or email sales@nomadic mats.com