Development Story
A New Project Born from Internal Innovation
This project was launched with a long-term vision in mind. The president's initial directions were clear:
Develop products that can be sold beyond our core business, which forms the company's primary foundation.
Create products with both domestic and international appeal.
Innovate products that are truly unique and unprecedented.
These "three unknowns" represented uncharted territory for us- How could we harness ideas from within our organization? We were truly starting from square one.
Turning Everyday Challenges into Opportunities
We began by inviting every employee to submit two new product ideas each month. The response was overwhelming, with over 150 ideas pouring in. Through numerous brainstorming sessions, we explored solutions that could address all three challenges. After many collaborative problem-solving and refinements, our first product, "YURIKAGO," was born.
A single employee's idea comes to life
This project began as a winning concept from our internal innovation competition. The inspiration came from one of our team members:
"As a working mom juggling a career, housework, and childcare, I find solace in my daily coffee runs to cafes and convenience stores. Sipping my favorite brew while pushing the stroller, taking in the cityscape, and people-watching is my precious 'me time'.
However, the bumpy ride often led to spills on the stroller. Countless times, I've had to deal with coffee stains on the stroller's rain cover - stains that just wouldn't budge. It was during one of these moments that I thought, 'If only there was a drink holder that could handle bumps without spilling...' That's when the idea for this product struck me."
This concept resonated with all of us, kickstarting the actual product development. What followed was a challenging period of trial and error to bring the idea to life. We studied similar products, analyzing their structure and design, even disassembling and reassembling them to understand their mechanics. As this was our first foray into product development, we pooled our collective experience and knowledge, and even brought in product development experts to assist with the many prototyping.
Overcomingseemingly insurmountable challenges
WWe meticulously researched the range of motion required for everyday stroller use, up and down inclines. Using 3D printing, we created multiple prototypes to test the stabilizing mechanism. The final phase involved real-world testing - attaching cups to strollers and pet carriages, then navigating stairs and hills to observe the cup's behavior. Often, the results fell short of our expectations. The hurdles we faced in this initial product development seemed so high that team members frequently found themselves lost.
There were many moments when we were on the verge of declaring, "It's impossible to bring this to market." But not one of us gave up. Through persistent trial and error and continuous improvement, we finally created a product we're proud of.
