Some of the best products have been created based on consumer needs. This was the inspiration for The Purrfect Opener. This is also how B.A. Maze, Inc. was created. Bob Mazer and his brother noticed that their grandmother was having trouble opening her medication bottles. So they went to the drawing board, and began brainstorming on how they could make this task easier; for grandma, and consumers who were having similar issues.
Bob Mazer has a background in engineering; he also worked in the automotive industry for several years. He gave our class advice for someone who does not have a similar background, but who has a similar idea. His suggestion is to use resources such as your local college, or university. They often have departments that focus on product design and innovation. Luckily, Bob has been fortunate to have friends who have helped him out along the way. He also worked with an industrial designer who helped him develop his concept into an actual product. Once they had a prototype financing was one of the major components needed. They have been fortunate to win several business plan contests that resulted in their initial start-up capital. They have also invested their own funds into the business as well.
One of the concepts that Bob stressed heavily was “being a leader in your market.” This concept also correlates to some of the ideas portrayed in “Good to Great.” Specifically, what can your company be the best at? Bob proclaimed that his vision is developing new products mainly targeting baby boomers. At this point, Bob has put in many hours of work on this product. From marketing to actually selling the product. The Purrfect Opener is now available in many retail stores. They have also expanded their product line to appeal to different markets, such as people who are dog lovers with The Doggone Opener. They now even supply these same products for companies who want to put their logo on them and pass them out as gifts. Bob is committed to helping his company grow. I was impressed with the passion that he expressed for having his own business.
