2017 FINALIST
RE-TIMER
RE-TIME PTY LTD
Category
DESIGN STRATEGY
SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL
Design
RE-TIMER DESIGN TEAM
About
Re-Time is a start up company that developed from research at Flinders University. Our first product is Re-Timer a bright light therapy device, that shifts your sleeping pattern. Re-Time have since branched out into further sleep technology and research with our second product to be release onto the market by the end of 2017.
Clarity of Purpose and Context
Re-Time is always working towards helping people sleep more efficiently and get a better nights rest. The research undertaken at Flinders University in the sleep area is immense, but there has never been anyway to translate all of their breakthroughs to the general public. This is what Re-Time aim to achieve, building the bridge to connected the public to the successful research, for their benefit. Re-Time has a small team, but each one of our employees have a strong connection with Flinders University, research, business and innovation. With primary business operations being located at the SA renewal, Tonsley precinct the collaborations between academic, researcher and our staff is streamline, thus all working towards a common goal.
Customer and Market Immersion
Re-Time make effort to frequent sleep and wellbeing conferences around the globe multiple times a year. This allows Re-Time to reach a larger scale audience with a mutual benefit. Occasionally being joined by the staff and students
involved in sleep research from Flinders University, Re-Time staff present the importance of sleep and sleep health. These events also give Re-Time the opportunity to further our education in the sleep field, create connections for future collaborations and hear about new breakthrough research. Re-Timer is now used in university research labs and independent testing facilities, a part of multiple trails currently occurring wanting to help benefit persons who are shift workers, have other types of sleep disorders, variable mood stability and energy fatigue. When results of the above trail are finalised and when further research is conducted Re-Time will present this to our customers, further educating them and providing them with yet another avenue to improved life and health
Disruption
Re-Time are always looking for inspiration to help get a new idea off the ground. The most recent is for our second product planned for launch by the end of 2017. The popularity of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, showed us an avenue for success. Re-Time ran a crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign and indeed did succeed, reaching over our goal of $120K, bringing some of that silicone valley tech boom back to South Australia. This process was new to all our staff members, as it was to almost every Kickstarter entry at the time, however everyone took it into their stride and the true from of entrepreneurship was evident.
Design Leadership
Ben Olsen is Re-Time’s CEO, and has been from conception. He is a passionate industry leader ensuring that every design for the business is deliberate and thought out, not ceasing at the product. He considers design in how Re-Time is branded to its audience, how Re-Time communicates and how Re-Time operates, not just on a day to day basis, but a year to year basis. The-Re-Time team values his procedures and strategies and Ben values initiative and opinions from the team, especially during the development of our latest product. When developing a new product as complex as a sleep re-trainer, it is easy to get excited and want to add new features, as progression was being made in development new ideas were born and additional pathways for certain aspects were created. All of these are fantastic, and made keeping to scope difficult, the team is already planning version 2.0 and 3.0.
Business Model
Re-Time operates successfully, providing a thriving product and just about to release a second. Every business has room for growth in their operations and modelling structures, it is closed minded to think otherwise, especially during a time where start-ups are plentiful and the competition is high. Therefore, making a conclusion stating that all elements of the business model have been resolved, might not be 100% truthful. Re-Time takes pride in being dynamic and flexible to accommodate customer needs, professional requirements, upholding collaborations, and importantly looking after staff members. Yes, Re-Time operates with an underlining business structure, that Ben Olsen (CEO) is well versed in, but it can grow when needed and how it is needed to be competitive and cutting edge.
Sustainability
Re-Timer was born out of a social initiative within the Flinders University Social Science’s School. Professor Leon Lack, Sleep Phycologist, worked with clients daily. He would listen to their problems regarding sleep and how it would affect their lives. It was from this and wanting to find a better resolution for these people that Leon began his research into alternative methods. Researching many different aspects and mentoring many other sleep professionals. Since the development and release of Re-Timer, it is understood that many people might not have access to the product. Thus setting up pop up stand and booths in airports for travellers needing a light boost to recover from Jetlag. During the intensive winter months in the northern hemisphere, where the sun will only shine for a few hours a day, Re-Timers were placed in the local cafes to simulate the sun and provide the locals an extra “sunlight” does. These are just a couple of many like situations Re-Time help to organise.
Commerciality
Being located at the Tonsley precinct, Re-Time is continuously surrounded by design and innovation business, it adds a sense of pride as even though you are in direct competition, there is a mutual understanding of working towards a common goal. Teams collaborate, share knowledge, engage on a personal level as not every day in the office is going to be a smooth one during product development and having the support around is meaningful. Over the past three years, Re-Timer has taken off. The knowledge has now spread world-wide about the use of light therapy and the consumer is understanding that a natural alternative can work. We witnessed a large spike in sales during the Olympic – due to Olympians using light therapy to optimise their bodies in different time zones, hence it become popular. However especially over the past 18-24months we have seen a steady growth in sales, as more people become self-aware about their fitness and overall health, wanting to dabble in the biohacking scene or genuinely wanting to improved their life longevity and sleep. These have been the most popular reasons why the consumer is investing in Re-Timer according to our 6month customer surveys.