Scarsdale Friends Design and Launch New Product

Scarsdale residents and friends Jane Och and Sharon Prince recently launched a new product called Guac-Lock that keeps guacamole fresh – without browning – so you can make it now and eat it later. We spoke to them about designing and developing their new product and asked what our readers and aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from the process:

How did you get the idea for Guac-Lock and what does it do?
One day we were discussing how much waste there is when making guacamole because it is so difficult to store and thought – "there has to be a solution". So we put our heads together to design a storage and serving container that removes all of the air from the container to prevent oxidation and browning of the guacamole.

How did you go about designing it?
We worked with an industrial designer and engineering team to design a product that was both functional and aesthetically beautiful. It took many months and iterations to come up with the final design.

Where did you turn to get it manufactured? Did you have to create a mold?
We worked with a reputable agent in Hong Kong to identify a manufacturer in China to make the molds and manufacture the product.

Where are they being made? And how many have you ordered?
The product is being manufactured in China. We have an ongoing production schedule to stay ahead of demand for the products.

How is the product being distributed?
We partnered/licensed the Guac-Lock to Casabella, a company prominent in the housewares business. We are working with them to distribute the products.

Did you need to purchase warehouse space and find a fulfillment center?
We did not need this once we decided to license to Casabella.

How are you handling the back office administration?
We handle the back office administration as a team with the cooperation if Casabella. As a partnership, we bring many different skill sets to the company.

Did you need a lot of start-up capital?
The company needed some start up capital for product development and services but it was not prohibitive.

How are you promoting it?
We are promoting the product through traditional sales medium, online advertising, email marketing campaigns and media placements.

How can you protect your concept - did you apply for a patent?
We have applied and have patents pending for the product.

Did you consider selling the concept to a larger company?
Yes – as noted above. We were introduced to Casabella at our first showing at the International Housewares Show and immediately connected with them. After months of discussions we decided to license to Casabella and take advantage of their expertise, particularly in the areas of sales and distribution.

How did your professional backgrounds help you to pursue this idea?
Our professional backgrounds gave us the business knowledge of the steps to take and processes to consider when starting the company. Most interesting is that neither of us had any background in design, manufacturing or the housewares business. We have learned an incredible amount along the way and have loved increasing our knowledgebase in this area.

Where do you see this going in the future? Can Guac-Lock be used to store other perishables?
We are excited to launch other product lines as extensions of the Guac-Lock and we are currently in development of these lines.

What advice would you give to readers who have an idea that they would like to develop?
Go for it! The best thing we did was to run with an idea. Don't let anything get in your way and just because it is not out there doesn't mean it can't be done!

Where can readers purchase their own Guac-Lock and how much does it cost?
The Guac-Lock is just $19.99 can be purchase on Guac-lock.com, at Bed Bath and Beyond, on Amazon.com, Jet.com or Crateandbarrel.com.