Fitness Apparel & Accessories Store

Richard has stayed active from a young age, playing football, then boxing, and picking up casual weightlifting along the way. After being advised early on to give up several contact sports, he needed an alternative that would keep him moving. Fitness quickly became more than exercise for him - a stress reliever, a focus booster, and a way to stay connected with friends.

Richard trained as an engineer and was later hired as a design engineer for a technology company. He loved the problem-solving side of the job, but long hours at a desk took their toll and an old back issue resurfaced. A physiotherapist he'd seen years earlier had recommended resistance band training to help with posture, flexibility and core strength, so Richard picked up a set of high-quality latex bands. Within a few weeks his energy levels improved and his aches eased off.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, Richard's job moved fully remote. With his daily walk to the office and weekend sports gone, he was determined not to let his fitness slide, so he added a compact aerobic stepper to his home set-up alongside his resistance band routine.

As an engineer, Richard knew resistance bands needed secure anchor points to be used safely. Without proper gym equipment, he improvised - looping bands around furniture legs or holding the ends himself. It wasn't ideal, and one day a band came loose and knocked a tooth out.

That mishap sparked an idea: could his stepper double as a safe, adjustable anchor point for the bands? Richard measured his stepper platform, sketched attachment designs, and used CAD software and a 3D printer to prototype and test them for durability. After several iterations, he'd designed mounts that could be fitted onto the stepper - with slots at different heights and angles to keep the bands taut and under control, whatever the exercise.

The RARP-ID Platform and Step accessory was born - a direct replacement or supplementary addition to existing steppers and height adjusters. It expands the range of possible exercises, keeps constant tension on the band for maximum effect, and gives users adjustable resistance and multiple positions for a comfortable workout. Most importantly, it minimises the risk of injury caused by improper band positioning or bands slipping and striking the user.

Happy with the design's safety and functionality, Richard produced additional units to help others struggling to use bands properly at home. He branded the product RARP-ID - taking his initials and the idea of Innovate Design - and spent early mornings and late nights refining it, all while continuing his full-time engineering job remotely.

When pandemic restrictions lifted in 2021, Richard's employer wanted staff back in the office full-time, and the long commute started eating into his personal time again. He wanted a career built around his two great loves - engineering and fitness - and a business of his own that could work around his family rather than the other way round. He dedicated mornings, evenings and weekdays to RARP-ID, keeping weekends free for family and friends, and the brand grew steadily through word of mouth and social media.

Today, Richard is proud to share the RARP-ID stepper accessory with home fitness enthusiasts everywhere - turning a personal fix for his own workout problems into a growing business and a new career. He's already looking at what's next: a 2.0 resistance band step, adjustable storage solutions, and other products designed to bring more convenience and versatility to home gyms.

As RARP-ID grows, the mission stays the same: inventing fitness solutions that help people exercise safely at home and live more active lives.