Ginger Thomson saw the need for some kind of new door gizmo about 30 years ago. A town house she lived in had sliding patio doors.
“I kept thinking there needs to be a way to open the door when your hands are full,” the Brookings bank executive recalls.
About 12 years ago when she and her husband, Jay Vanduch, built a house, the need for a hands-free, door-opening device resurfaced.
Her husband, who operates a media production and creative services business, came up with the idea of sticking something with suction near the bottom of the door, Thomson says.
Initially, they used their son’s Bert and Ernie toy. It worked, at least for a while. The toy served as sort of an extra handle, allowing a person to slide open the door with a foot.
From there, development of the suctioned door flap now known as the Doorhickey became more precise. Prototypes have been designed and made, patents have been pursued, and marketing has begun. Menards stores might start selling the product.
If Menards or some other company places a big order, Thomson and Vanduch will have Doorhickeys made and packaged in bulk. Thomson expects it to retail for $9.99. “We think it’s a great idea. Will others find it useful? We hope so. We use ours all the time,” she says.