products « a quirky blog

Posts Tagged ‘products’

Mon, Apr 25 2011

This Week’s Quirky Brief: Let’s Attack Dryer Lint (And Other Garment Upkeep Issues)
By jess at 12:36 pm

There hasn’t been much innovation in garment upkeep since the invention of the lint brush. This week, we’re going to change that.

Let’s make a product that helps you care for and maintain your garments.

In this brief, we’re going to attack dryer lint, pet hair, cotton fuzz, and everything else that keeps your clothes from looking the best they possibly can. Let’s create solution-oriented products that help your clothes keep longer, so you can get more use out of them. Consider the wide variety of fibers and materials out there, as well as the different methods of upkeep.

Deadline for submissions is Monday, May 2, at 12 noon ET and submissions are free! Submit your idea here.
- Tags:
- garment upkeep,
- p132,
- products,
- quirky brief
Fri, Apr 22 2011

Congrats Jim & Gideon!
By gaz at 5:41 pm

Congratulations to our two eval selections this week, announced live on HSN!

Eval 123 (regular eval)
Selected: Car Wash Sponge System
Inventor: Jim Siegrist

Picked as a wild card, this submission was an interesting twist on car cleaning. Market felt that it has mass appeal, and Design is interested in its potential as a line extension to Sudsi. We think there is plenty for the community to get involved with here, and now that it is warming up a bit, everyone can get outside and experiment with ways to improve Jim’s submission.

Eval 124 (Paper Towel Holder brief)
Selected: Spin And Lock Holder
Inventor: Gideon Weinwerth

This stimulated a lot of debate. It’s a complex patent landscape when it comes to mechanized paper towel holders, but we felt this submission was a great starting point. Recently, two extremely talented engineers joined our New York office, so we are confident that we will be able to take this interesting places.

Note from Jess: From now on, we’ll be posting quick blog entries announcing each week’s winners instead of posting eval recap videos. Previous eval recap videos will still be available on the blog and YouTube, and they’re a great resource for those seeking to learn more about why we choose the products we choose.
- Tags:
- eval recap,
- p123,
- p124,
- products
Thu, Apr 21 2011

Introducing… Sudsi
By jess at 3:59 pm

Scrubbing the bathtub? So last millennium. Instead, use Sudsi for a squeaky clean bathroom, minimal effort required. Sudsi is an electric cleaning tool with three interchangeable heads, so you can polish every part of your bathroom, from your tiles to your toilet, without getting on your hands and knees.

Plus, Sudsi’s so versatile, it works outside the bathroom too. Once you see how easy it is to use, you’ll never clean manually again.

Sudsi is now available in the Quirky store for a presale price of $65.99 (retail $69.99) and a threshold of 3000. Big props to Michael Mattox a.k.a. Popeye (argh!) and the 494 community members who threw down for this product!

Features:
– Three interchangeable heads: brush for scrubbing, sponge for scouring, and microfiber cloth for polishing.
– Electric scrubber uses a back-and-forth motion with two modes: soft and hard.
– Ergonomic handle, which allows you to put more downward force on the head.
– Flexible neck, so you can maneuver the head into tight spots and hard-to-reach areas.
– Telescoping handle, which extends up to 48″.
– Head has four anchors to hold microfiber and other cleaning cloths securely.
– Rechargeable battery lasts up to 30 minutes when fully charged.
– Sturdy plastic construction, with silicone neck and rubber-coated handle.

Dimensions:
48″ extended, 23″ collapsed, 7″ tall
- Tags:
- p65,
- products,
- sales,
- sudsi
Mon, Apr 18 2011

This Week’s Quirky Brief: Let’s Make A Pod Coffee Machine Accessory
By jess at 12:19 pm

Pod coffee machines are the fastest, easiest way to prepare a quality cup of coffee, and new offerings from companies like Keurig, Cuisinart, Krups, and Black & Decker are more affordable than ever.

But even though these machines make the process of brewing coffee easier, they introduce other problems. Like the “K-Cup” pods, for example. Where do you put them? And clean-up. How do you keep the system gunk-free?

This week’s brief will answer these questions, and more.

Let’s come up with a problem-solving accessory for pod coffee machines.

In this brief, we’re going to examine the whole process of using pod coffee machines, from organizing your “K-Cup” pods to serving the finished product, all the way through to clean-up. Also consider the end user and environment: An office? Teacher’s lounge? Family home? Studio apartment?

Deadline for submissions is April 25th at noon, and submissions are free. So pour yourself a cuppa, and let’s get started!

IMAGE CREDIT: Squidoo
- Tags:
- p130,
- products,
- quirky brief
Thu, Apr 14 2011

Introducing… Nautilus
By jess at 12:03 pm

When it comes to plunging, Nautilus gets the job done. Designed for the modern-day toilet, Nautilus’s wider head and octopus-inspired dual-chambered suction mechanism mean better results. Tough clogs won’t know what hit ‘em.

Nautilus is now available in the Quirky store for $49.99 presale ($54.99 retail) with a threshold of 1100. Congrats to ideator Dave Fulton and a cast of more than 713 influencers who pitched in to evolve this idea.

Features:

Plunger:
– Dual-chambered rubber plunger head, which creates a stronger seal around the drain.
– Bottom chamber stays still while you plunge, allowing compression to take place in the upper chamber.
– Wide plunger head, specifically designed for modern-day toilets.
– Wood handle with TPE comfort grip.

Base:
– Made of stainless steel and polypropylene.
– Removable bottom for easy cleaning.
– Plunger bottom sits one inch above the base, encouraging airflow and preventing mold.

Dimensions:
Plunger: 27” tall, 6.5” diameter
Base: 28” tall (with plunger), 8” diameter
- Tags:
- nautilus,
- p100,
- products
Tue, Apr 12 2011

Shippin’ Out Switches
By jess at 3:20 pm

The wait is over. Switch, the ultimate modular pocketknife, is ready!

If you placed a preorder, check your email now to confirm your order and verify your shipping and billing information. Shipping is first come, first served, so you don’t want to delay.

Plus, if you ordered this product in Presale and confirm your order in the next two weeks, you’ll earn yourself a share of influence, which translates to royalties from every product sold. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask us.

Congrats to everyone involved in this product’s development, especially to ideator James Robinson. It’s been a long ride, and we’re bey0nd excited to get this product out there!
- Tags:
- p35,
- products,
- shipping,
- switch
Tue, Apr 12 2011

Introducing… Cloak 2
By jess at 12:24 pm

We’ve redesigned our best-selling Cloak iPad case/stand specifically for the iPad 2, and it’s slimmer, sexier, and more stylish than ever. Introducing the Cloak 2, now available for $45 presale ($50 retail) in the Quirky store. With 1000 units in presale and 20% influence up for grabs, this is your chance to get a piece of the hottest iPad 2 case of the year!

Features:

- A super slim folder-style case that easily snaps onto your second-generation iPad.

- Three stand positions: portrait, landscape, and type stand.

- Easy to use: just slide out the detachable stand from the back cover and insert into the silicone grooves on the inside front cover to prop up your ‘Pad.

- Magnetically activates the iPad 2’s sleep sensor so that it turns off when you shut the cover and on when you open it.

- Made of durable plastic with silicone accents.

Color options:
Black/black
Black/blue
White/blue
White/graphite

Dimensions:
7.48” x 9.72” x 0.47”
- Tags:
- apple,
- cloak,
- cloak 2,
- ipad 2,
- p112,
- p30,
- products
Fri, Apr 8 2011

Boil Buoy Hits Threshold!
By jess at 2:46 pm

Fantastic news to close out the week: Boil Buoy just passed its presale threshold to become Quirky’s next product in production, just a day shy of six months after it launched in the Quirky store!

A big congratulations to ideator Ryan Kent, the 214 people that influenced this product, and the dozens of community members who rallied around it in the forums. You done good.

Always know when your water has come to a boil with Boil Buoy! Just place Boil Buoy in your pot of water, turn up the heat, and wait for the ringing chime to let you know your water’s ready to go.

Boil Buoy features:

- Stainless steel chime, with enclosed foam core for buoyancy

- Weighted bottom ensures Boil Buoy stays upright and ready to ring

- Made from 100% food- and heat-safe materials

- Measures 125mm tall by 85mm wide

Even though presale is done, you can still make an order at a low retail price of $14.99 in the Quirky store. We’ll shoot you an email when we’re ready to ship.
- Tags:
- boil buoy,
- p55,
- presale threshold,
- products,
- ryan kent
Thu, Apr 7 2011

Introducing… Ventu
By jess at 12:04 pm

Prep, strain, serve, and store, all in one elegant solution. That’s Ventu, a serving bowl that also allows you to strain excess moisture from fruit, salads, pasta, and more. Just pivot the handle to easily switch between straining and serving functions, and save yourself the hassle of additional dirty dishes.

This sleek product is now available in the Quirky store for a presale price of $49.99 ($54.99 retail) with a threshold of 1800. Ideator Andrea Zabinski, the Quirky Design Staff, and more than 722 community members joined forces to make this product a reality — big props to all!

Features:

- Innovative pivoting armature, that creates a no-leak seal when engaged. Removes for easy cleaning.
– Easy-grip acacia wood handles.
– Brushed stainless steel finish.
– Holds up to 160oz (20 cups).

Dimensions:

Diameter, handle to handle: 12.3”
Diameter of bowl: 9.7”
Diameter of base: 5.6”
Height: 6.6”
- Tags:
- p97,
- products,
- ventu
Thu, Apr 7 2011

Lucky Bandits!
By jess at 11:31 am

We’re super excited to announce that Bandits, our versatile, multi-use rubber band hook, has hit threshold, less than a week after launching in the Quirky store. Woohoo!

That makes three (of six!) products to hit threshold for long-term Quirky ideator Marc Zech, a copywriter and concepter from Hamburg, Germany. A big congrats to him and the 618 community members who had a hand in this product’s development. Y’all are gonna make out like bandits! (corny, we know — we couldn’t help ourselves)

Even if you missed committing to this product in presale, you can still place an order for a low retail price of $9.99. We’ll shoot you an email when Bandits is real and ready to ship.
- Tags:
- bandits,
- p105,
- presale threshold,
- products