Problem to Prototype: Turning a Daily Challenge into a Business

“I’m the owner and creator of Safiee. Our company makes containers for wet cleaning tools. I like to say that Safiee is a safe place for your wet cleaning tools.

I’ve been in the cleaning industry for over five years. My partner and I own C&A Servicez, a licensed and insured professional cleaning company serving the Tri City area.

As a professional cleaner myself, I created this idea for others in the industry. We use wet tools every day in the field with nowhere practical to store them after use. Most people end up tossing them into plastic cups, Ziploc bags, or oversized Tupperware, which doesn’t work when space is limited.

The idea came to me about a year ago. I was bent over a toilet cleaning when the thought hit me. I wondered if a storage container for these tools even existed because I wanted to buy one. I needed one. I went home and immediately started researching. Nothing existed. The closest option was Tupperware, which is not practical at all.

That’s where the journey started. There is nothing on the market for us. Nothing correlates. Nothing similar. The only product I could find was a small hook for a Scrub Daddy, which still leaves the sponge exposed to whatever gets dumped into the sink.

For professional cleaners, these containers are gold. You can attach them to your cleaning bag and keep space efficient.

Our products were designed for anyone who uses a Scrub Daddy, pumice stone, sponge, or magic eraser. Even if you aren’t a professional cleaner, you can use your Scrub Daddy, ring it out, place it in the Safiee container, and store it under the sink or hang it with our hook.

We also have a container for pumice stones used in oven cleaning. If I only use half of one, I don’t want to throw it away. Now I can store it and use it again.

The third product is for magic erasers or standard sponges. Same process. Ring it out and put it in the Safiee container.

All three are designed for wet tools and can be hung on your cleaning tote after finishing a job.

Each container has a small ventilation system with two holes at the bottom.

When Sponge Daddys are correctly rung out, they are damp but not dripping. If water is pouring out, you are not using them correctly. Used properly, they store safely and are ready for the next job.

Right at the start, I launched a GoFundMe because I knew funding would be necessary. I started emailing and messaging my friends and family.

One of them was Andrea Foster with the Midland Business Alliance. She said, “Carrie, that’s literally what I do for a living.”

She connected me with Nicole from her team who connected me with CMURC.

CMURC helped me find the right resources, including the attorney handling my patents and trademark.

They also referred me to Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU). SVSU has an Innovation Prototype Development Lab that I didn’t know existed. They have done all the 3D printing of my prototypes.

You can go in and talk to James or Muhammad. James is the creator of the Double Ziploc Bag and printed my current prototypes. I walked in with a Tupperware container and a portable soap dish and said, “This is kind of what I want.”

We measured it, designed the tools, and he helped build the prototype.

These resources are available to anyone, even if you only want one unit for personal use.

SVSU is also helping me with apparel printing. If I buy the shirt, they’ll print the logo, which saves me hundreds of dollars.

Muhammad has been advising, consulting, and helping me with the business plan and numbers. We are preparing for a meeting with a potential angel investor.

I have a few different options for manufacturing. I received a grant to cover my patent costs, but with three products the cost is still significant.

The next major step is figuring out manufacturing and the associated cost. Finding the right manufacturer is the main priority. Right now I am laser focused on finding a manufacturer willing to work with me, understand my situation, and help me get these on the market.

I have already gone public on social media and have a growing audience from my cleaning business. I’ve used the following to build interest in Safiee. The public and local community are aware. I’ve been featured in the Midland Daily News and on several local podcasts.

Once manufacturing is secured, everything moves forward. I plan to go anywhere I can to market and share the product. We’ll offer both bundles and individual products so customers can replace one without buying the full set. Eventually I’ll expand colors, but we are launching with white.

I’m doing this alone. I don’t have the financial backing of massive companies. My priority is quality product first. The plastic will be durable and strong.

The first wave has to be white so I can get them out into the world and generate revenue. After that, people already want green, purple, pink, holiday versions, and custom colors for brand partnerships.

I know these will be a hit. People on social media already want them and want them now.

At the beginning, I reached out to Scrub Daddy and said, “I have an idea that correlates to your product.”

They sent me a t-shirt. I wear it all the time, but that moment pushed me even further because when Safiee hits the market, they’ll wonder why they didn’t think of it.

I love the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship. The freedom to be creative. The freedom to set my own schedule. The freedom of financial growth. If I put the work in, I can increase my income. Freedom across the board.

I’m excited to bring Safiee into the world.”

Carrie Everett

Safiee

CEO and Founder