As is so often the
case with new products, necessity is the "father" of
invention. Father, Colin Knauf of Pickering, Ontario was frustrated
with the baby carriers that were then on the market 20 years
ago when his son was born. "After trying one for half an
hour, I tripped on a curb because I couldn't see where I was
going. I didn't have the understanding that comes with not seeing
your feet for nine months" Colin recalls. "I wanted
a better way to carry my child. I wanted it to be fast and easy
to use, comfortable and enjoyable for the baby, and of course
very safe."
Colin couldn't find what he wanted, so he
decided to create it. He came up with a handmade prototype of
what was eventually to become the Cuddle Karrier; a child carrier
that combines the best features of a traditional front carrier,
a sling, diaper bag and a fanny pack.
When his second child was born in 1993, Colin
continued to run his graphic design business out of his home.
It was decided that his wife would maintain her full time position
that involved extensive travel thereby creating the new job of
work-at-home-dad for Colin. He did extensive redesign on the
Cuddle Karrier, adding additional features such as pockets for
diapers and snacks, and developing a more user-friendly strap
and buckle system.
As a very outgoing and involved father, Colin
would attend a variety of play groups and activities, with his
daughter Kelsie happily ensconced in his Cuddle Karrier. "I
received a lot of positive comments from other parents,"
Colin says. "They thought it was a super design and wanted
to know where to get one. I decided it was time to move on my
idea and go for it."
Colin did his homework and sourced manufacturers.
He eventually found an agent who worked as an intermediary with
a manufacturer in Hong Kong. He put the manufacturer through
its paces and ensured that the stitching, fabric, fasteners,
zippers, and every other detail were up to his exacting standards.
His 15 year old son upon over hearing the Cuddle
Karrier was originally designed for him, exclaimed: "I've
never been in it" (the current version) so Colin said "hop
in and give it a try." It held up easily under the strain
but Colin didn't! So I guess it is one tough carrier.
After three generations of product refinement,
Colin was ready to test market the Cuddle Karrier and had a dozen
samples made. "The response on the samples was excellent,"
he says. "Potential users found it to be pretty much ideal
and there were only minor changes to the manufactured prototype."
Confident that his Cuddle Karrier would be a winner; Colin was
ready to take the plunge and placed his first order in January
of 1997.
Colin now handles the marketing, distribution,
and fulfillment all from his home office. The first year was
somewhat slow for sales while Colin got the word out through
magazine promotion, word-of-mouth, trade shows, and now through
the World Wide Web; however, sales have been unbelievable in
the second year.
While he found it difficult to find the time
to do the research and development necessary to bring his product
to market while maintaining his other commitments the rewards
have been worth the effort.
"It's been a very educational and exciting
process to bring something like this to market," he says.
"And what's really made it all worthwhile is that I have
been able to spend so much time with my children and watch my
daughter grow from a tiny baby into a self assured little girl."
One of the most exciting features of the Cuddle
Karrier is the way it positions the child. The child rests naturally
on the hip while being supported by the shoulder and back. Parent
and child have important eye-to-eye contact and a warm physical
bond for full interaction and a tremendous sense of comfort and
security.
"You can do almost anything while you
carry your child," explains Colin. "Even while you
do the laundry or attend a meeting, your child is content and
naturally becomes part of what you do. There's no more whining
to be 'up, up' and you don't have to always say no because you're
trying to get something done."
The Cuddle Karrier enhances the new idea in
child care circles: "attachment parenting." Actually
its and old idea rediscovered. Colin jokes: "there is a
misunderstanding by some parents about the practice in other
countries of carrying babies while working; some had the idea
that it was because they couldn't afford nannies." By allowing
the child to be close to you, it promotes security and total
communication between parent and child that is so crucial for
healthy emotional development in the first critical years.
The Cuddle Karrier is ideally designed for
children between two months and three years but is capable of
carrying them longer and earlier. Colin still uses it with four-year-old
Kelsie when she falls asleep on the way to a meeting or as a
waist pack/shoulder bag for outings.
The Cuddle Karrier is available from a number
of retailers world wide and many hospital gift shops, or ordered
directly from
Cuddle Karrier- Division of SynCOGENT Design & Direction
Inc.
1928 Wildflower Drive, Pickering, Ontario L1V 7A7 CANADA
Telephone 905-420-1223 Toll Free 1-877-CUDDLE KARRIER (1-877-283-3535)
E-mail - customerservice@cuddlekarrier.com. The Cuddle
Karrier can also be ordered through the World Wide Web at http://www.cuddlekarrier.com
The Idea...
