Twovet Mini - Our Story

"Our Story"

TLDR: 

2012: Wife and I (girlfriend at the time) fought about bedroom temperature, blankets, etc.

2013: Read Four Hour Work Week

2014:  Had an idea for a simple comforter (thin side & thick side)

2014: Made a prototype with my Mom (entertaining to say the least)

2015 - Pounded the phones to find someone to manufacture a few

2015 -Built (or hacked through) building Shopify store

2016 - Sold a few to friends and family (Thanks, Al!)

2017 - First real customer (holy shit moment)!

2018 - today: Found a niche and still selling them.

Long Version (save time and skip this section):

When we bought our first comforter, we thought it was the BEST...I remember snuggling with it on the first night, covering it with the finest duvet cover, thinking "THIS IS PERFECT!". But, my dreams were quickly shattered. After about 3 months, my wife and I started discussing (actually arguing) about it. This comforter wasn't warm enough for me. Although it is usually the lady, I preferred thick, heavy blankets. My wife ran hot. "TURN DOWN THE HEAT --IT'S HOT AS (bleep) in here!"  Looking back, I cringe thinking that this was our perfect comforter. 

My wife, the fancy interior designer, couldn't stand that I put extra blankets on my side of the bed. The extra weight was pulling the main comforter off of her in the middle of the night. She also told me that having extra blankets "is ruining the aesthetics of the room..." (what the heck does that mean?!?!). 

So, after 7 years of arguing about extra blankets, the correct bedroom temperature (I'm cold; she's hot) and not sleeping well, it was time to look for a solution. Over dinner one night, I mentioned our sleeping challenges to my Mom. She casually suggested sewing a thin twin blanket to a thick twin blanket. Hmmmm...That might be perfect (I thought to myself). We did exactly as she suggested and it worked amazing. I now had the luxury of weight and warmth on one side and my wife was no longer waking up sweating. 

 I wonder if there are other couples that fight about this? Now, when getting together with friends, we would pose the question. "How is your current comforter working for you? Is it the right warmth for both of you?" We were shocked that most couples had the same issues that we did. The husband and wife (or girlfriend and boyfriend) were either too hot or too cold. 

We might be onto something, I told my wife. 

"Do you think our friends are just being nice to us -- supporting our idea?" It's possible, I said.

Why don't we create a quick survey to ask people that aren't our friends?"

We sent out a questionnaire to a random group of people. When asked how the Twovet comforter would help them, here is how they responded:

1. No More Fighting:

It would help combat night sweats. I want to be warm, she likes it to be cool - the Twovet would solve that problem.

He always steals the blankets - he says that I give them to him!!! Now we will both be comfortable, allowing us to cuddle.

I have to sweat to make her comfortable under her two or three blankets.  What a great idea this TWOVET is! There'd be no more arguing over the number of blankets we need!

2. Sleep in the same bed with the same comforter:

The Twovet would allow us to act the part of a couple, and share a bed once again! :)

This comforter will be a life saver. My husband and I have to use separate blankets.  It will be so nice to share a comforter with him again.

This would allow him to stay nice and cool, and keep me nice and warm!

3. Well-rested = happier:

We would feel rested in the mornings, after not having to fight with the blankets all night long.

No more rustling with the comforter - I'll stay warm and he'll stay cool! We will get a good night’s sleep and no more grouchy mornings. We'll actually sleep a whole night together.

He sleeps with a sheet and I have five blankets. We'll be able to snuggle again.

It looks like we may be onto something...

We were shocked by the positive feedback that came from our questionnaire. We had  50+ people ask us how they could buy this comforter. We didn't have any. So to be frank -- our business started by accident. People asked us for it. 

Here is what we did next:

1. After googling, "bringing a product to market", we were told to create a "prototype". Thankfully, the make-shift comforter that my Mom made serve this purpose.

2. We created a list of local manufacturers. We didn't have the capital to order 50,000 units so we needed to partner with someone small.

3. After a year of mass confusion, due diligence and 5 coffees per day, we found a manufacturer that was willing to help us out. We ordered 10 comforters from them. 

4. Over a drink (or 3), my wife and I stumbled on a name for this product. We decided on Twovet (the duvet for two). (Do you like it?)

5. I created a PayPal account, took some pictures of the Twovet with my iPhone and opened a Shopify ecommerce store. 

Thankfully, these 10 comforters (stored in our living room), sold relatively quick. 6 went to friends and family and the other 4 were sold through our website.

Now we are selling a few more...