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I love developing new products. One of my favorite things I’ve created for QVC is the Set of 3 Silicone Splatter Guards (K24934). In my mind, in order to have a true "triple threat" item, I need to love it, lots of shoppers need to want it, and lots of customers need to enjoy it enough to give it a five-star review. This item has that winning combination, and is a true triple threat.

 

I saw a silicone splatter guard at one of the factories about three years ago. It had a long handle and not much else. After a long day of meetings, I ran across the silicone splatter guard again and had a thought: If this splatter guard is made out of silicone, then why couldn't we use it for baking in the oven, too?

Bingo! That was the pitch I used to show the QVC buyers. I pulled out the traditional splatter guard, and watched as they yawned on cue. "It looks nice," they said, "but how can you sell a splatter guard for eight minutes when all it does is cover a pan?"

 

That's when I broke out a splatter guard with pizza on one and chicken nuggets on another. They perked up. I told them that because of the FDA-approved silicone, I can now bake just about anything on it. We re-designed them and showed them off in a variety of great colors. They loved them, so we brought in a set of 2, one larger and one smaller. They were a huge hit, but something was still missing.

This led me to the next stage of product development. I really wanted to use splatter guards in the microwave, but couldn't because of the long handles and metal shafts. I drew a splatter guard on a piece of paper, replacing the long handles with smaller side handles. I asked the factory if they could seal the metal in silicone to make them microwave-safe. I worked out a set of 3 — an 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch — so that every pot, pan, or bowl in the kitchen could be covered. I showed the new version to QVC buyers. Once again, they loved the idea, and they’ve been a customer top-rated item on QVC for a couple of years now. Just a simple change to a mundane product, and WOW! Customers love them.

 

Here's a list of things you can do with this set in case you missed the presentation. Once you see what they can do (see pictures below), you'll understand why they’re one of my favorites and why I think they’re perfect for the new year. Like I always say, real estate in your kitchen is at a premium. If I can develop products that do more things, then you’ll need less things. If you have less things that do more, you’re on your way to a perfectly streamlined cooking space. So grab a set of these splatter guards and you'll be on your way to a less cluttered kitchen in 2012.

—Eric Theiss