Tweaking the Innovation

For this post, I decided to take another look at one of the problems I talked about in my Bug List and the solution I mentioned with it – Backpack Umbrellas. I had a little fun with this and ended up expanding on the idea, so I’m going to say that there should just be a company out there that designs new and innovative rain products as well as improves upon the ones already out there. Let’s call it Rain Savers. Listed below are the different possible products and options I was able to come up with (so far). Each product would serve as a revenue driver, and each of the different available options would be the different ways to earn revenue from it.

The Packbrella – An umbrella for your backpack!

The benefit: keeps your backpack and everything in it dry.

The Tangible: Attaches to your backpack at the top of the arm loops (still allows for the backpack to be worn). Would come down over your backpack almost like a turtle shell.

Rainsaver Raincoat – An improvement to the normal raincoat already out there.

The tangible: This raincoat has a flexible visor that attaches to the top of the hood.

The benefit: Now your face will no longer get wet as it would if you were just wearing a normal raincoat.

PackSaver Raincoat – A raincoat for you AND your backpack!

The tangible: This would be just like the Rainsaver Raincoat mentioned above, but with added room in the back so there is room for you to wear it while still wearing your backpack.

The benefit: not only is your face staying dry, but your backpack stays nice and dry as well.

Additional ways to introduce innovation into these products would be to allow them to come in a variety of different color and design options as well as have the option for custom designs printed on the Packbrella (core). This gives customers the benefit to personalize their own look. Different sizes would be available for the raincoats (tangible), and the raincoats could also come in winter options, which would add a layer of insulation on the inside to keep the wearer warm (tangible).