When ‘Yak’ Happens, Be Prepared

If you’ve ever been in the car on your way back from eating somewhere and the food suddenly disagrees with your stomach, you already know what happens next is not pretty. Or maybe you have someone riding along with you in your car, and they suddenly get hit with a bout of car sickness. Tony Phillips has created a kit for just those moments. Best of all, it can easily be carried in a purse or glove compartment. The YakPack, as it is aptly named, is a portable solution to that ‘Yak’ problem.

Giveaway

Tony is giving our readers a chance to try out the YakPack. Leave a comment on this post sharing a story about a time you could have used a kit like this, or why you could benefit from it. The giveaway starts today and ends on July 6th at 11:59pm. I will choose three winners on the 7th and they will be contacted by email. There are no shipping limits on this giveaway!

What exactly is the YakPack and what does it consist of?

The YakPack is the Ultimate Clean Up Kit for Sickies - it is a portable spill kit that conveniently fits into a glove compartment, purse, diaper bag. The contents of the YakPack are designed to efficiently clean up messes associated with sickness. Each YakPack contains materials to help prevent and respond to a mess. A motion sickness bag provides a preventative element and the large absorbent lap pad protects surfaces. If a mess does occur, then you will find protective, latex-free gloves, non-toxic vomit absorbent/odor neutralizer material to absorb the mess, along with a plastic scraper and scoop to pick up the neutralized material. Also included in the YakPack are two antimicrobial wipes, a heavy duty dry towel to remove any residual and a biohazard bag for proper disposal of all used materials.

How did you come up with the idea?

While traveling with my wife and five children, we came down with the stomach flu. We realized we needed a spill kit that was convenient while also bringing dignity to an undignified chore.

Did you have any precious experience that you were able to apply to your product or business?

I’ve been working in the field of Human Resources for 15 years and have come to realize that often times the only thing that stands in the way of success is one’s own self-doubt. Moreover, the human resources around us (friends, neighbors, co-workers and family) often provide the catalyst to bring out best in each of us. Our friends, neighbors and colleagues have shared their personal moments of dealing with these types of messes and the idea of a YakPack resonated with these folks. In fact, our neighbor had recently traveled from Nebraska back to Colorado with 3 children in the minivan who became quite sick. He was out scrubbing down the inside of the van out when I shared the idea, his reply was: “I will them today!” He did, and I knew we were onto something.

What are your long-term goals?

The long term goal is to raise awareness that there is a practical solution to the woes of traveling with sick children and pets and no longer having to be inadequately supplied when “yak happens.” We want to ensure that our business provides principled lessons to our children regarding the value of work, relationships and self-reliance. Of course, the loftier long-term goal is to make sure every vehicle and home has a YakPack.

What kind of planning did it take to get where you are today? What were some of the steps you took?

What starts out as a concept soon becomes consuming in so many ways. Our planning considered the value and utility of the product. We mocked up a prototype and took it to a family reunion where we received some positive, albeit biased feedback. We hired an illustrator, took a debt dive and purchase enough supplies to enable cost breaks and assembled our first YakPack. In order to test the market, my son, who was attempting to earn money for scout camp agreed to take the YakPack door to door. He took 65 orders in less than an hour. We knew the product had potential so we went into production mode.

Have you found a specific form of advertising to be the most useful to you?

We have considered a variety of advertising venues; however, the most practical method at this time appears to be word of mouth and the Internet. At this point in time, we have found that advertising YakPacks is more successful when the story is told. This is often the case when we contact distributors and potential retail partners. They love the name, they laugh and quickly identify with the purpose of the product.

How much did you need to invest to get started? Have you seen a return on that investment yet?

The personal investment of time is hard to quantify; however the initial set-up, materials, licensing, illustration costs, legal and production had cost less than $5000. We have realized a return on the investment after 2 months from inception.

Is there anything you wish you might have done differently?

It is tempting to want to put so much time and resources into your business; however, my wife has a sense of pragmatism that helps keeps everything in proper balance. Profits are carefully reinvested, inventory is managed down to the latex glove and the zeal to grow the business is tempered by what sales generate without incurring unnecessary debt.

Has there been one piece of advice that you’ve found especially helpful in getting to where you are today?

Yes, the thought that there is a solution to most any problem. It simply requires asking yourself “what can be done to make it better?” This process alone generates ideas.

Do you have any advice you’d be willing to share with someone else who might be trying to find a way to take a product idea and turn it into reality?

I am amazed at how many people have product or service ideas, really intriguing ideas, and think about pursuing them, yet hold themselves back for whatever reason. My advice would be, put aside your doubts and ignore the naysayers and just go after it - even if it is just for the experience. The pursuit of the idea and the transformation of that idea into an actual product that sells, provides an unparalleled experience of satisfaction that cannot be gained in any other vocational endeavor.

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