Hi everyone,
This is Eric Hinkel and for my product I decided to create a light-weight travel hammock with a connected deflatable air pad/mattress. I used to go backpacking a lot, and I usually use a hammock to sleep in. I found out the hard way that if you do not have padding or something to block the wind from the bottom, you could be very cold and comfortable at night. Therefore, I have a used a pad since then; the only problem is that the pads tend to slip and slide, sometimes out of the hammock. I want to create a hammock that has the pad already connected and is still light-weight and efficient for a backpacker.
My new product strategy is to focus on selling to outdoor camping companies that already sell travel hammocks. I would also advertise on outdoor websites, as well as backpacking and camping magazines. Eventually, depending on the sales and other factors, I would use endorsements, incentives and development to make the product better. The other main strategy is to create a unique way to add the pad so that we can patent the product, and give it a fighting chance before the bigger companies make their own similiar products.
The idea generation for this product was from my own experience, and finding a need for improvement in an existing product.
For idea screening, I would have a team created that would be in charge of in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of each design idea, so that when the product is created, it would have the best chance for success.
The next step would be to analyze the possible business for the product which would include the possible prices, as well as competition, which is fairly high in the leight-weight hammock industry, with there being many companies.
The next step would be to research and develop the best possible way to make the product. This includes designing the unique method of securing the pad which could be patented.
Once a prototype is made, it will be tested by people within the company as well as a testgroup of backpackers to analyze what difference is made by implementing the air pad.
If the test marketing is successful, I will then commercialize the product which would include the manufactering components such as the production equipment, building and materials such as the pad, and the leight-weight nylon matierial that would need to be bought.
After all that is done, the product would be ready to be introduced to the market!
-Eric Hinkel
