The Asana Pillow, Om the Go’s first ever creation, is an all-in-one neck pillow and a travel yoga mat which has been featured in Yoga Journal, Conde Nast Traveler Magazine and Pop Sugar Lifestyle Magazine. Ideal for even the most intense yoga sessions, it is designed with a non-slip, skid-less weave pattern and moisture wicking material. The Asana Pillow is built for travel anywhere around the world, as it is portable in size (24 inches x 68 inches long) and made with lightweight, durable material (weighs only 1.5 pounds).
The Om the Go brand has grown along with its Asana Pillow innovation, which has become every yogi’s must-have travel gear. During Om the Go’s early beginnings in 2015, however, the company was uncertain of how to develop their product. The company had ideas in mind for a 2-in-1 pillow and yoga mat (this would eventually be the Asana Pillow) but had no mass production skills nor technical experience to develop the concept into a three-dimensional product.
The Challenge
Eager to introduce the Asana Pillow to the market, Om the Go knew that they had to develop the product from the beginning. For a company which had no prior experience in manufacturing or sourcing, product development proved to be extremely challenging. Procuring the prototypes, finding legitimate suppliers, and setting up and assessing a new production line was time-consuming and costly.
The Story
As a startup, Om the Go understood that setting up the production line in the US, although convenient, entailed greater costs. It considered the cost-effective alternative of moving its production line to China by contacting a local sourcing company, which to their dismay, charged a very high price. A more hands-on approach by a manufacturing services provider with presence in China was needed.
The Solution
The First Step
We had the physical prototype for the Asana Pillow manufactured based on the client’s design files and specifications. Through a rigorous iterative process, potential design flaws were identified early on to ensure quality. This helped Om the Go understand the craftsmanship and costs required in developing the product and evaluate whether these requirements could be fulfilled by offshore production in China.
The branding of the products often deviated from company branding and design requirements. If they continued this same approach as they grew their user base and customers, Wag! employees wouldn’t have enough time to fulfill existing orders, let alone grow their business.
The Second Step
We needed to which suppliers can efficiently respond to large order requirements with reduced lead times. A new production line was set up based on production line assessment. Our team ensured that all procedures, from raw materials to final assembly of components, ran as smoothly as possible. We kept the production line streamlined to meet Om the Go’s target outputs on time and avoid manufacturing missteps that yield longer lead times.
The Last Step
We checked whether all finished products adhered to the client’s desired specifications. Our team directly carried out on-site quality controls to ensure every product meets strict quality standards for stitching, functionality and material quality. We had to make sure every Asana pillow had an ergonomic design that comfortably supports the user’s head and neck and a skid-proof mat that fits perfectly inside the pillow.
The Outcome
Om the Go successfully developed the Asana Pillow product exactly as envisioned. Even without them having any prior experience in sourcing or offshore production, Om the Go’s product development ran smoothly at reduced costs. The innovative design was successfully implemented under consideration of mass production aspects.
garments manufacturing case study om the go
Also a Startup Company Like Om the Go needs help setting up garments production abroad.
Intrepid Sourcing helped the client accomplish all its goals – from procuring prototypes, finding and communicating with reliable suppliers, controlling quality and limiting defect rates to reducing production costs by at least 20% and setting up a new production line in China– in order to prepare the Asana Pillow product for mass production and market launch including a nice custom packaging.
