12/16/2020
I found a supplier!! They produce high quality items with great pricing. I'm excited to start this journey with them! And I know you will love their quality of work!
PROTOTYPE
I had previously hoped for a very quick turnaround for the prototype (remember my Thanksgiving comment). I was, unfortunately, shot down. :( What you can't stamp and press metal in a day?!?! I may have been a tad overly optimistic. Haha!
I got an email just this morning saying the wood handle prototype is done! The metal needle, however, requires a tooling mold which takes time to make. Once the mold is made, they can finish the metal needle prototype. This needle has been the key to The Super Punch's design. I'm excited to get this made for my testing!
They are on schedule to complete the metal needle prototype by the end of December.
TIMELINE
I hope to have the full prototype in my hands the first to middle of January. With pre-sales mid to late January. I hope to get an order in quickly after pre-sales, allowing me to get shipments out in March/April. I'm trying my hardest to give a less optimistic/more realistic timeline this time around. :) Let's keep our fingers crossed for January pre-sales!!! Here we go!
COLOR/FINISH
While I don't have the colors locked down officially, it's looking like wood will be our first go around. Plastic molds cost 3 times as much, which isn't feasible in the budget. I do so love the pink tortoise shell though. A special edition tool may be in the works in the future.
The Olive Wood was the most popular wood choice and it does look so fantastically beautiful. It was my favorite, as well.
I've dreamed of a gold plated needle from the start. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Gold or silver needle?
11/5/2020
I’m so excited for this update! And I think you will be, too!
A lot has happened since my last update. I have a lot to tell you. And things will be moving quickly!
Where to start?! Seriously, so much to tell you!
HANDLE
Let’s start with the handle. We have designed a modern, sleek handle that fits all the checklists.
- Ergonomic? Check.
- Large and comfortable? Yep!
- Open slot? Of course.
- Option to hold thin yarns from slipping out of handle? Yep, we even did that!
- Beautiful? Uh, yes definitely!
Because I hope you're dying to see it!! Here is the simple design shot of the needle in a basic white.
LOCKING MECHANISM
Twisting lock. You turn the needle to unlock, adjust up or down and then turn to lock again. Similar to the Peak Dale tool. This lock will be inside the handle, no buttons to be seen. Easy to operate, clean style to admire.
COLORS
Now onto colors. There will be a wood handle option and either a recycled plastic option or a tortoise shell type plastic that is biodegradable.
Here are the color options so far. The exact colors have not been pinned down so stay tuned on color decisions. If you'd like to help decide, be sure to sign up for email updates!!
TIMELINE
The Design Phase is wrapping up. Once I make the locking mechanism and color choices (I will make by Monday), we move to the Manufacturing Phase. In this phase, we iron out the manufacturing specs and start reaching out to potential manufacturers. We start getting samples to test quality and get quotes. We get to find our manufacturer!!! I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally be in this stage!!
Late November/early December, I will have a working sample and the costs buttoned down. Which means, we will be launching pre-sales soon!! Yes, you read that right! PRE-SALES!! By Thanksgiving, we can be on full on launch mode.
The next steps of ordering, order processing and shipping time will depend on several factors. If we time it right, I can have them ordered by the end of the year. And Super Punch’s going out to you by late February and March!!! So completely excited!!!
THANK YOU!
Thank you for joining me on this journey!! I'm honored to share this experience with so many wonderful women.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you love it? If you love it or hate it, I'd love to hear your feedback. Email me at shawna (at) northshorescrafts (dot) com.
8/27/2020
Long story short, January through July 2020, I had an engineer, he helped me learn things about my handle and a locking mechanism that fell short.
August 2020, I find and love a new product design company and we start working on The Super Punch AND The Simple Punch. They are currently in the idea design phase.
This new design firm is The Bomb! They appreciate design, think about art when designing our tool and they have some great initial locking mechanism ideas. This is going to be fun!!
Design phase will last 8 weeks, then we move onto the manufacturing phase which will take another 8 weeks.
Look to pre-order your Super Punch early October!!! Hoping for early 2021 to ship tools to you!
Don't forget to sign up below to get updates on The Super Punch!
1/16/20
Friends, The Super Punch is coming soon!! I'm so excited to be near the end of this journey. To get my very own tool into your hands. Think of an adjustable tool combined with the Oxford tool ergonomic handle + the open slot for easy threading. It's cool and I'm bursting at the seams to release all the details. Soon, so soon.
North Shore Crafts opened September 21, 2018. When I first opened my shop, I had difficulty finding Punch Needle tools to sell. And I felt like there should be more options. I loved the open slot for easy threading on the Oxford, but I wanted to be able to have different loop lengths.
From Day 1, I've been brainstorming ideas and concepts for my own Punch Needle tool. Many months of masterminding, brainstorming, trouble shooting, dead ends, hopeful beginnings followed.
I'm finally close to the end and many more details will be coming out soon.
If you'd like all the juicy details on the new Super Punch tool + get first dibs on purchasing your very own, sign up below.
