#7 That time I nearly put snakes in James's car, and a NEW PRODUCT REVEAL
I've almost certainly made more bad decisions than good ones over the years, but one thing I like to think I get right a lot is making new stuff. I freaking LOVE making new stuff.
This post is about making new stuff.
For those of you who follow because you're starting or thinking of starting your own brand, you don't need fancy software or generally what one would consider "skills" to make things. When I designed our first bag, we made the first prototypes out of paper. Then we moved to clay. Then finally, a extraordinarily talented maker and all around great guy I knew in Pittsburgh who interned for us years ago named Uriel Eisen helped us make dozens of prototypes, and we eventually landed on our first Pro. We didn't have fancy software, and we launched the company with three products...the Pro, the Slim, and the Pouch.
I've wanted to make a larger pouch for a while. We designed our original Pouch in an afternoon during our Kickstarter back in 2019. It's adorable, and it's reliably made up 10% of our sales ever since. We sell more pouches than any other item and lately you've been asked us a lot to make a bigger one. Because you wield an unnatural and insane amount of power in my life, I do what you want. Without further ado, I give you the first sketches and an exclusive, never-before- seen sneak peak to...the LARGER Pouch.
We'll workshop the name.
Here were some "non-negotiables." This is the term the team uses for things I say they must do or I will put snakes in their car.
It must:
- be the most sustainable pouch we've made so far, completely recycled using the best sustainable materials
- fit perfectly in the bottom of our bags, so it can act like an extra pocket in and out of our bags
- be able to stand up on a flat surface on its own
- have ridiculously easy access to your stuff. I hate when pouches are hard to open or trap your items inside with a weird, hard-to-open zipper
- fit just about any little thing
- be able to double as a dopp kit or makeup bag. I don't like single duty tools
- just like the original pouch, be adorable
- feel like a brother or sister to our other products. I'm big on product families
James (he of "James on Mondays" fame) our product designer, is GREAT. He took our first bag design and made it even better, and he's designed everything for us since the first Cord Pouch. He used to design shoes, and he obsesses over our products the same way that I do. If you own something from us, chances are that James designed or improved it, with me almost constantly bellowing in his ear about things like "emotional durability" and "soul". I can really be quite intolerable. Anyway, I think he crushed it with this one.
I'll probably talk about this in a future newsletter, but I think I love designing things you can touch because when you wear or use something, it can hold as many memories and stories as snacks and water bottles. In this world, where ideas are fleeting and ephemeral, products, beyond their actual physicality, have substance.
Here ends my TED talk.
Give us some feedback will ya? Here or Insta. LARGER pouch coming soon to go with your Day Owl backpack.
It's All For the Birds,
Ian
PS-Each week I look at the mistakes I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned at Day Owl so hopefully, you don't have to. I also do an Instagram reel to go with this note @hellodayowls. This is all rather embarrassing for me and hopefully entertaining for you. We’re calling it all "For the Birds", and this is installment #7. Comment (it makes it so much more fun), ask whatever you want, and if this reminds you of something YOU want to share, text me...724.312.1012.
