Jokari®
The story of how America's most innovative household products company wants to remain #1.
We all perceive problems. Some of us see through the matrix and find a solution. But very few of us have the time, patience, and resources to make a simple, working, and sensible product that resolves these problems. It's not easy. Stumbling blocks line the path to a finished sample. No one understands this more than Davison, who went through more than 50 prototypes before completing its Can Pump & Pour.
Jokari®, which prides itself on "Innovations for Life," had seen how two-liter bottles of soda tend to lose their fizz. They solved it with a simple pump to maintain the carbonation in the soda. At Davison, this concept was applied to the 12-ounce can. Often times, cans are opened and left unattended for some time, while the carbonation deteriorates. Davison was well on its way to solving this problem.
"While you can solve it for a bottle, that's a universal thread," G.M. Davison said. "It doesn't matter if it's Pepsi or Coca-Cola, it's a universal thread. Well, the problem you have with a 12-ounce can is that cans in Canada are a slightly different size than those in the United States. And you don't have threads to screw on to. So, how do you create one universal device that fits all these cans and can keep the fizz in?"
The sizing was one issue, and fastening a device to a can, which doesn't have threads, was another. Pumping into the can also proved difficult. Fighting pressure just increased fastening problems. Not to mention the various price point issues that arose. But in time, through perseverance Davison reached a sample that would prevail.
However, despite its perceived completion, a buyer saw a problem with the plunger design.
"Then the challenge became that one of the buyer's input, when they saw the sample, was that the unit was too high.
Some shelves in refrigerators aren't very high. Yeah, they fit a 12-ounce can, but may be with an inch to spare. So, we had to design something more low profile."
The final design showcased a sleek button that maintains aesthetics, without sacrificing function. Other advancements and practicalities included a universal cap and low profile bladder to accommodate all standard refrigerator shelving. Can Pump & Pour is also extremely durable and completely sealable.
"The thing works so well, that if you crush a can you can pump it back up and pop it back to shape."
Can Pump & Pour has been sold in Linens 'n Things, as well as by other fine retailers.
Davison's long-time relationship with Jokari is not simply providing one product, but also innovating their existing line. With innovations constantly coming out of Davison, a company like Jokari is able to show its buyers they are innovative and maintain its "Innovations for Life" motto, especially when they don't have the new products to keep buyers interested.
"We fill that void for them, to make sure they have enough products to maintain that image in the buyer's mind."
BagStor
Finding a place to store the hundreds of plastic bags we all collect at the grocery store was the challenge. Jokari® recognized this and Davison Design and Development set off to find a universal device to hold these bags.
While Davison envisioned two versions of the BagStor - one for the low cost market and one for the high-end "designer" market - the key was to protect it from copycat versions that would eventually come along. Sure, patents would be applied for, but as we all know price and margin is king.
With that in mind, our Creationeers™ set off to design a simple solution to bag storage that would be difficult for a competitor to cheaply copy. In other words, to knock it off a competitor would need to make a more complex device, which means more cost to them.
"In the end, we completed the project by using the Davison™ Method to create a stainless steel model for the upscale consumer and a plastic unit for the lower price point. It was a perfect fit." G.M. Davison explained.
The ergonomic open front design makes it easy to use and its fastening method allows consumers to place the BagStor virtually anywhere.
Today it sells well in a variety of stores, even occupying the front walkway of Linen 'n Things with BagStors stacked from floor to ceiling.