I often feel tired at the end of those design fairs – like that of WAMP This Sunday – and sometimes I envy those designers, instead of whom there are others standing, freezing or on the contrary, roasting throughout the whole day. At these times it strikes me me that I should rather substitute myself with someone, who might even be a better salesperson than I am, as the product specifications can be learned, and my customers hopefully choose my products not exclusively because of my personal charisma (at least I hope so, even if the possibility is flattering.) I would have ideal candidates for this position.
Still, next day, after gaining sufficient rest when I think it over what I distilled from the conversations with the customers and visitors I realize that my personal presence is not skippable if I want to draw the lessons. There is no such well designed survey questionnaire or witty facebook post question that could elicit as much edification as these spontaneous remarks. It happened more than once that these occasions served as the initiative inspiration for product design, for example in the case of tablet cases. People were asking from time to time if there would be protective tablet cases available. I was addressed by inquiries via mail and personally as well. The need just sneaked into my subconscious as I noticed that whenever I spotted a tablet case (on the metro, in the household appliances store, in cafes) I was observing it thoroughly, sometimes even for an embarrassingly long time. In January I took a deep breath and I started developing my own tablet case. I only needed to ensure that my design knows as much as the others on the market and even a little bit more. That is how an easily cleanable delicately cushioned tablet case was designed, equipped with zipper all around, after a dozen trial models and several weeks of prototype engineering. It was accessorized with a practical pocket to store the charger or a modem. The size was designed to accommodate either a tablet or alternatively a small laptop and the collection features a very wide scale of graphic design choices, varied further with different combinations of material and zipper colors to zing up the range.
It became a cool product, I was looking over it with great satisfaction, and its reception was also great. But still, it was not a breaking hit, I thought. Why it isn’t, I was wondering, as it featured every necessary skill it should and it was not even expensive. When one day a girl came into the showroom destined to buy a tablet case that she saw online. She was admiring the collection, put her tablet into more items to try, and than she hesitated for a while, almost for a too long time. She was not able to choose from the ten different kinds of designs displayed on the shelves. She was shilly-shally for a while and I was puzzled why she didn’t like any, as she picked one in advance and came for it determined. I was stepping from one feet to the other, and she was just standing and musing in the middle of the shop and than she asked me : Is it possible to install a shoulder strap on this case that has spring snap swivel clasps? So that she could wear it as a shoulder-bag, because she usually travels with BKV (public transport) and to stranglehold something under her arm is not so comfortable there… Oh my goodness, I thought and I almost hug her although I am not the hugging type. That is it! And how cool it is to transform a soft shell case into a bag with one movement and to carry it on the shoulders when it is more comfortable that way. And on those days not demanding too many personal stuff, to wear it like a flat bag. Since that, the shoulder strap with the carabiner swivel clasp is a standard equipment on the tablet cases. And apparently you people like it even more. So as far as I am concerned I remain participating the fairs and being present in my showroom personally whenever I can, until exhaustion. As each occasion equals to a business counseling.
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