A year ago, I created a new product for YOLO, a YOLO Garden Sieve. A friend had sent me a video of something that he had seen. I found the product listed in the UK - same product sold under three different brands (probably made in Asia and imported by different companies with their logo stuck on to it). I read through hundreds of product reviews and the same complaints kept coming up. But, I thought the concept was a good one and I was sure that I could improve on it. I made five major changes, additions or innovations from components to materials to make this a really awesome product.
I know a steel manufacturing business in George so I contacted them to see whether this was something that they would be able to make for me. With their confirmation, I drew up the design and made a cardboard 'prototype' for them - and myself - to gauge the size and components.
The factory manufactured a steel prototype for me and with only one small adjustment, I was very happy with the result.
I asked the factory to make three stock units, which they completed. That was a bit less than a year ago.
Why have I waited so long to put this awesome product out there?
A day or so after I received the stock units, I left for Expedition Africa. A week after I got back from the race, I left for the Seychelles, where I spent two weeks visiting family and exploring trails. I returned home to the craziness of the dogs (I still had all three foster puppies then) and catching up on YOLO and AR Gaiters work.
And a week after this dad-drama began. We're 10-months down with no let up. This has sapped a lot of time - hours every week, and both psychological and emotional energy. I've felt depleted and lacking in capacity to deal with anything new.
To get the YOLO Garden Sieve to market, I still had a lot that I needed to do: finalise packaging for courier delivery, work up assembly instructions, make videos, take photos, create the website page, write content and set up the product listing.
I had a good early part of this year with a lot of travel and event work. Returning each time meant catch-up time again (admin waits for no man).
Over the last few weeks, I have been sufficiently settled to attack these tasks. Earlier this month, I put the product up on the YOLO website, creating a page, adding content and images, editing video clips, and adding the online-order product listing.
For the last half-dozen days, I have worked intermittently on the assembly instructions, and creating all the drawings. I'm no CAD designer or technical draughtsman, but my drawings for each stage of the assembly have come out really well.
On the bright side of the delay in launching, I have used the YOLO Garden Sieve many times over the seven or eight months to sift compost and soil for a variety of projects. I've separated out roots, stones, leaves, uncomposted material and also beetle 'houses' and large white grubs with great success. I've filled bags of material and also a new raised bed. This has allowed me to assess the wear-and-tear on the sieve to send this product out there knowing that it is robust and that it does what it is meant to do.
While time, capacity and energy have been factors, there has also been a psychological component to getting this product out there.
I think the sieve is awesome and for people who need to sieve soil or compost regularly, it is an incredible asset. It works effectively, and it is made to be strong, robust and long lasting.
I like it, but what if no one else does? What if I get no orders? While this sounds silly, one has to be able to handle the disappointment of a product not taking off.
Realistically, this is a niche product, like my YOLO Compost Tumbler. But, it is perfect for the right type of person.
With the sieve now out there on the YOLO Compost Tumbler website, Facebook and Instagram, there is still work to be done to reach out to potential customers to let them know directly about this fabulous YOLO Garden Sieve.
The base work is done and I am pleased to now have it out there. Holding thumbs.
