At first glance, it seems a slightly odd choice that entrepreneur Amanda Lintott should enter the fray against the plague of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) that could devastate up to 99 per cent of mainland Australia if left unchecked.
After all, here is an experienced businessperson with a long history of senior roles in the automotive industry. One of those roles was Dealer Principal of Porsche Centre Sydney South, which she helped build from scratch to become one of best performing Porsche dealerships in the Southern Hemisphere before selling it to the Porsche factory.
Like her well-respected industry legend father, Ray Lintott, Amanda wasn't one to let the grass grow under her feet. After negotiating the sale of Porsche Centre Sydney South, she launched a specialist automotive recruitment agency, Career Driven, supplying staff to staff to the likes of Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Toyota and many independent and factory-owned dealerships. She later successfully sold this business as well.
In 2022, Amanda launched another new automotive based business - this time leading her into the unlikely world of pest control. She developed a product called RoadBlock – Spider and Ant Automotive Treatment designed to treat and prevent spiders, ants and cockroaches in vehicles including cars, caravans, campers, trucks, machinery and more.
Red Imported Fire Ants
"The idea for RoadBlock came from a very small frustration I had as a driver. I didn't like cobwebs in my side mirrors! I got sick of trying to wipe or wash them out, only for them to come back again. Then, I started noticing the countless cars on the street with the same problem, did a small survey, and RoadBlock developed from there.
My research identified what is now an obvious gap… there was no effective household pest control treatment for vehicles. After months of testing and approvals, the product hit the market in 2023 and, despite a tiny marketing budget, was immediately popular.
Not long afterwards, I started noticing several news reports about the dangerous spread of Imported Red Fire Ants in Australia – often via vehicles – and it occurred to me that RoadBlock could help to manage this problem as well. That led me to make a successful application to the Australian Pest and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to extend the product claims to Fire Ants.
So long story short, I now have the only product of its kind in Australia that provides a lasting barrier treatment against spiders, ants (including Fire Ants) and cockroaches in vehicles.
So here are my top tips for anyone hoping to bring a unique product or business idea to life.
- Firstly, start with a small problem and see where it leads. Invariably the better you understand and tackle a small problem, the bigger the opportunities that emerge.
- Secondly, filter feedback from people who don't see what you see. That is crucial.
- Don't be afraid of change and don't attach your professional value to someone else's brand. Of course, I loved being part of the Porsche network and all the glamour associated with that, but ultimately there is no greater freedom that building your own brand and own opportunities. Yes, it requires you to step off a cliff and risk being judged professionally but you have to look beyond that.
- Be realistic. Building a new business or product alone takes money and time. So much more than you think. Do your budgets and brace yourself for a long, hard, lonely slog. There is absolutely no way to get around that I'm afraid.
It's still very early days for RoadBlock but I am genuinely excited to have brought something new to the market that can possibly help in the front-line fight against Fire Ants in Australia but also keep cobwebs out of my side mirrors!
"The better you understand a small problem, the bigger the opportunities that emerge," Amanda Lintott.
About us:
About Autonomy
Autonomy is an Australian brand of products for cars, caravans and campers.
Founded by Amanda Lintott, Autonomy launched in 2022. Amanda has a long history in the automotive industry in Australia and is based in Sydney. RoadBlock is available online at www.autonomyco.com.au, on Amazon, and at select retailers.
