Coolest Cooler: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 01:57, 29 July 2015
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The Coolest Cooler is a multi-function cooler created by Ryan Grepper that was initially funded by the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. It includes a blender, a Bluetooth water-resistant speaker, a USB port to charge electronics such as cell phones, a built-in bottle opener with magnetic cap catch, built-in plates and ceramic knife, and a removable divider that can also be used as a cutting board.[1] The split lid design is made with steel hinges, and has a built-in LED light and cup-holders.
The cooler's hexagonal shape has a 55+ quart capacity.[2] The cooler is powered by a rechargable lithium-ion battery and the removable Bluetooth speaker is also rechargeable and can be paired with a second speaker up to 30 ft away. It has been described in the press as a "party in a box".[3] Time magazine listed the Coolest cooler as one of its 25 best inventions of 2014.[4]
Funding
Grepper first tried to raise funding for the product in November 2013 but fell short of the $125,000 goal and failed to secure any funding. He relaunched a campaign on July 8, 2014, and critics attribute the success of the second Kickstarter campaign to the timing.[5] The Coolest received extensive press coverage when it topped the funding goals of the Pebble watch, and ended the campaign in August with $13,285,226 and 62,642 backers making it the most funded Kickstarter campaign of 2014.[6]
Background
Grepper, a product developer and entrepreneur designed the Coolest, initially using a weed whacker[7] to build a portable gas-powered blender. He subsequently re-engineered a cooler with a car stereo to bring to a 4 July beach party for friends. Grepper has said that improvements in technology and the reduced size of components made him realize that the multi-function cooler could be engineered as a consumer product and developed a prototype using 3D printing technology.[8]
Development
When Grepper launched the Kickstarter campaign for the Coolest, the company planned to ship backers their Coolest reward in February 2015. The success of the campaign significantly increased the demand on the Portland (OR) based company and they are currently manufacturing[9] the Coolest in China. Due to the change in quantity, complexity of shipping, logistics and certification processes, the production schedule documented on the company's countdown page has taken longer than expected. In February 2015, the company announced a delay pushing back the shipping date to July 2015.[10] Grepper cited improvements and upgrades[11] as partial reasons for the delay in a post on the company's blog.[12]
References
- ^ "COOLEST COOLER: 21st Century Cooler that's Actually Cooler". Kickstarter.
- ^ "The 'Coolest' cooler - 60 quarts of style with a built in blender, music and way, way more". The Coolest Cooler: 60 quarts of style with a built-in blender, music and way, way more.
- ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2014/07/its-a-cooler-its-a-blender-its-a-party-in-a-box.html
- ^ http://time.com/3594971/the-25-best-inventions-of-2014/
- ^ adrianne. "The biggest Kickstarter ever failed the first time around". The Verge. Vox Media.
- ^ "Move over, Pebble: The Coolest Cooler is now the biggest Kickstarter campaign ever". Yahoo News. 27 August 2014.
- ^ http://www.cnbc.com/2014/08/26/a-new-king-of-kickstarter-about-to-be-crowned.html
- ^ http://studiofathom.com/coolestcooler/
- ^ http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2014/11/55146-coolest-cooler-partners-dragon-innovation-production/
- ^ http://www.geekwire.com/2014/coolest-cooler-shipments-delayed-setback-record-breaking-9-2m-kickstarter-campaign/
- ^ http://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2014/10/52501-coolest-cooler-selects-manufacturer-upgrades-battery/
- ^ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ryangrepper/coolest-cooler-21st-century-cooler-thats-actually/posts/1076891