Startup Story

Everyone has a story, a story of how they got to where they are now which is filled with childhood memories, life experiences, and personal accounts. I had to reflect for quite some time to put the pieces of my life together to see how I ended up creating a family kitchenware product.

I can say I was influenced by my grandmother, a top regional Tupperware distributor. My drive and determination came from years of dedication and commitment in competitive swimming. Twenty-five years in engineering related fields gave me that curiosity to solve problems. Four kids who inspired me with a problem to solve.

When I reflected on a childhood memory I recall visiting my grandmother and having mock Tupperware parties. She would show us all the prizes she had earned; jewelry, gold plated pen/pencil set, and a Kimball piano. Growing up we played with the latest Tupperware toys and when my sisters and I were older we had Tupperware auctions from the boxes she would send filled with beautiful plastic bowls, cups, stacking canisters, salt & pepper shakers and all those kitchen gadgets. I loved that tiny Tupperware bowl key ring with the removal lid. I believe my childhood experience helped me to create a exceptional product.

I was interviewed by StartUp Smart last week and it really made me sit down and think about why I created a version of a product that has been around since before Christ. Looking back on the history of the cup the paper disposable cup came along in 1906 to combat the spread of germs caused by drinking from a communal cup. Plastic cups arrived in the sixties and the nineties brought variations of the cup through colour, texture, application and decoration. But none have brought another function (dynamic personalization) for the cup, until the MyColourCup. I envision the MyColourCup as the next evolution of the cup that will become a household name. This is my new drive and my determination to make this vision become true.

Read the interview by StartUp Smart; http://www.startupsmart.com.au/growth/start-up-profiles/2011-03-14/mycolourcups.html

Check out the next evolution of the cup:  http://www.mycolourcup.com/

MyColourCup Goes to DayCare - Part 2

 Twist-id Products conducted a successful trial of the MyColourCup Childcare Cup System at the Gap Community Day Care in Alice Springs in Nov-Dec 2010. The objective of the trial was to see if the MyColourCup would be a good option for childcare centres to manage getting drinks for their children in their care.

A system was used that incorporated a colour coded cup scheme, a colour coded tiered placement rack, and removable ink to apply names.

The children were easily able to locate and identify their own cups. The children were grouped by colours in groups of 6. The children had to know their colour, find their coloured rack tier and then locate their coloured cup with their name on it within a group of 6 cups.

The day care workers reported that the system was easier than their previous way of providing drinks to the children. They spent less time trying to locate a single cup with a child’s name on it, which was a daily occurrence. The children showed more responsibility for their own cup. The coloured tier rack took up less space and provided all the drinking cups in one place.

The removable ink used to write the children’s names on the cups was a bit messy and the ink took too long to dry. A continued investigation of different types of ink/ink remover for the cups names was conducted during the trial.  A printable ink was found that could be initially applied to the label with a printer and removed with a different agent. Subsequent names could then be applied with a permanent marker and removed with the new removing agent. Further investigation would need to be conducted on the ink/ink remover for future applications.

 It was noted that during the trial the cups would remain on their initial name and rarely get changed. So in that instance any cup would be sufficient as long as it incorporated a way to remove departing children's names.

Reusable cups in a childcare centre benefit the centre, the children, and the environment. When used in conjunction with a colour coded scheme it makes the logistics of providing drinks to children easier. The children claim responsibility of their own cups which provided a water/energy saving by not having to wash cups between uses (breakfast, morning/afternoon tea, lunch).

Does the MyColourCup have a place in childcare centers? I would have to say yes. Another use for the MyColourCup colour coding cup system would be within a large family.  Large families tend to use cups, wash them and put them away in a cupboard.  The changing of names would be more frequent.

The next project is to find a large family to trial this colour coded version of the MyColourCup.  And investigate the removable ink/ink remover for future applications.

MyColourCup - the personalized plastic cup

Connect2Christmas Shopping Competition!

Shop at Twist-id Products this Christmas and you could WIN over $1700.00 in prizes!

 

Twist-id Products in conjunction with Connect2mums is pleased to announce our Connect2Christmas shopping competition! We have over $1700 worth of gorgeous prizes that you can win simply by doing your Christmas shopping online at Connect2mums.

 

It's easy to enter, simply:
1. Shop at the ‘Mumpreneurs Shopping Directory'
2. Be a member of ‘Connect2Mums’ or become a member here http://www.connect2mums.com.au/

 3. Leave a comment about your purchase at Connect2mums in the connect2Christmas group under one of the following Prize Categories:

• Babies
• Kids
• Mums & Dads

 

 

 

Trying Everything to Build the Business

I have read a lot of books, participated in social networking websites, and have initiated several mechanisms to build my brand as they call it. So what has worked? Well here is a rundown of what I think so far. I have graded them 1-10, with 10 being the most beneficial for helping build this brand. The number is strictly my opinion based on my web site analytics and sales.


twitter account  (1)
facebook company page  (5)
Connect2mums - social networking site (6)
several directory listing (Sunrise, Hotfrog, AussieWeb, StartLocal, TrueLocal) (1)
affliate marketing,  (1)
kids esheet, (still in the review stage)
press room, (2)
wildfire sweepstakes, (2)
wildfire coupons(0)
this blog (1)
product reviews - American Housewife,  Personalized Gift World (3)
local markets/shows (7)
Google Adwords (3)
Facebook Ads (1)

Now I'm researching search engine optimization and have found this cool tool called website grader.  I have already upgraded my web site grade from 21/100 to 32/100.  And still have alot more recommendations to implement.

Whats next in line?   MyColourCup Daycare System, Chinwag, Thane International, expo/tradeshow???

MyColourCup - the personalized plastic cup

MyColourCup Goes to DayCare

Twist-id Products and the Gap Community Day Care in Alice Springs are forging together to innovate the daily task of providing drinks to the kids in long day care while maintaining the "no sharing" rule, reducing the workload on the centres providers, and providing an eco-friendly alternative to disposable cups. 

It's an exciting time to be able to help out a centre that my youngest attended.  I still remember him digging through a pile of cups looking for THE one with his name on it.  It give me a lot of pleasure to be able to help.

We will be trialing the MyColourCup Drink System next week.

Before pictures;

 

Check out the cup people are talking about at;

http://www.mycolourcup.com/

Do Over - New Look

Do Over - to go back to the beginning.

I'm just a mom new to this whole inventor world and would like to claim a "Do Over".  Basically going back to the beginnings.  First with a new look and catchphrase, "Twist Me - Claim Me". 

This new look captures both the physical and emotional aspects of my product, which was inspired by customer inquiries and by the real reason I started on this venture.  I will never forget the customer who contacted me after receiving her set and asking why I had sent her all blue cups with the same name on all of them.  Or the "Ahhhh" I get when attending the local markets and I turn the cups black band.  I also love kids comments; "Oh I didn't know it could do that"

So please stay with me and grant me a "Do Over".

IT'S NOT JUST A CUP - IT'S A CUP YOU CAN CLAIM (I mean a cup 6 people can claim)
Yes, the Black Band Twists!

Look out for more "Do Over" progress ... kids programs, free cup a day, etc.

http://www.mycolourcup.com/

MyColourCup is a FINALIST

The MyColourCup made it as a finalist in the 2010 AusMumpreneur Awards for the innovative product category!

2010 AusMumpreneur Awards Finalist