We wanted to share a little window into our product development process from the perspective of a micro, handcrafted business.
In early 2022, we decided we didn't want to purchase liquid dish detergent anymore. We had been purchasing it by the case and the result was more recycled plastic than we liked. This, as it happens, is typically why we start making a product. We run into a challenge in our daily lives and we try to solve it.
So, we went on a trek. We bought several solid dish soap options that were already available and weren't quite happy with them for various reasons.
Next step: we made our own solid dish soap. As expected, it took a few tries before we got a recipe that we liked. We would make one, try it for a while, adjust the recipe, and try again.
Once we thought the recipe was just right, we gave some to family & friends and asked for feedback. Then we put a call out to testers via our newsletter and asked for more official feedback.
Data was collected and analyzed and we stepped back to see how we could improve the product. We asked ourselves if we were solving the problem we originally had? And, if so, were we doing it in the best way possible? If not (which we didn't think we were), what else could we do?
So, we went back to the drawing board and tried again. And again. Until we had something we loved. Mind you, we're now over six months into this process (It never happens fast).
After all this was done and we were officially happy with the recipe, we needed to decide on packaging. We coordinated with our designer and box maker. Once those two pieces came together we started making the product. When the first batches were finished we shipped samples to our photographer. Once we received the photos we wrote some blog posts, put together an ad campaign, made the video below, and selected a launch date!
All told, it took us about a year to develop our solid dish soap product from start to launch. Are we the first to develop something like this? Definitely not. Many amazing companies make solid dish soap. But, we think our simple dish soap recipe in an well chosen container with available refills are perfect solutions to our dish soap dilemma and we hope others will agree.
You can see our solution in action: