We proudly manufacture our Pluie Diaper Changing Tables in the United States. We offer two models, the P100 Plus with the patented UV-C light system and the P100.
When Pluie was just a concept in CAD files, we partnered with a design firm that not only assisted with engineering but also played a key role in procurement management. Identifying reliable suppliers was crucial to sourcing parts and understanding the cost structure. As we moved forward, we successfully built our first prototypes, marking a significant milestone in our journey.
Before transitioning to large-scale manufacturing, we carefully produced a small quantity of units for testing, certifications, and initial field trials with customers. Drawing from Addie’s culinary design innovation career and Brittany’s extensive career in hardtech/hard goods, ranging from commercial fitness equipment to fishing boats, the Pluie Co-Founders gained invaluable insights and lessons learned along the way:
Market Research is Key: Conducting thorough market research to validate your product idea is actually solving a real problem and there is demand for it.
Design for Manufacturability: Ensure that your product is designed with manufacturing in mind as you don’t want to get to the prototyping phase and learn you may have major obstacles to actually make the design.
Regulatory Compliance and Certifications: Depending on the industry and location, there may be various regulatory requirements and standards that you need to adhere to – be sure to identify these up front to factor into your design.
Quality Control: Implement stringent quality control measures throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that your product meets or exceeds customer expectations and builds trust.
Supplier Relationships: Building strong relationships with reliable suppliers and choose suppliers who can consistently provide high-quality materials/components at competitive prices (small quantities in the early stages).
Cost Management: Keep a close eye on manufacturing costs and look for opportunities to optimize processes and reduce expenses without compromising quality.
Continuous Improvement: Strive for continuous improvement in all aspects of the manufacturing process but be mindful of outgoing expenses.
Customer Feedback and Iteration: Once your product is in the market, gather feedback from customers and observe everything from install to usage so you can iterate and improve upon your product.
And we always say roughly right! Don’t be afraid to get your product or service out there before you consider it perfect!
