2018 SHORTLISTED
THERMOBRUSH
THERMOBRUSH
Category:
PRODUCT DESIGN
HOUSEWARES
Design:
JADE KUHN
About
ThermoBrush is the worlds only company manufacturing a brush designed specifically to clean the Thermomix® blades. Founded in December 2016 by the inventor/CEO Mrs Jade Kuhn. ThermoBrush is operated solely by Jade, from a rural town in South Australia. ThermoBrush has been the recipient of numerous awards for product innovation/design.
Design Challenge
After purchasing a Thermomix® in 2014, I soon discovered that the blade system was not that easy to clean. After much research, I saw a gap in the market, and an opportunity for a specifically designed brush to clean the blades. I discovered that most people were using disposable mascara brushes! 90% of those brushes being used only once and then ending up in landfill. This was not good on the environment, and was still time consuming to clean the blade. There was a need for a more hygienic, and reusable brush.
Design Solution
My vision for the ThermoBrush was very clear from the start. I wanted a brush that was easy to use, and that gave the gap in the blade a superior clean. The brush was designed to mould around the base of the blade, making it an easy, one-motion cleaning step. The food grade rubber over mould was chosen over bristles, as it is more hygienic and has less flicking mess when cleaning the food. My first prototype was made from my children's craft box, and it is the same design and shape of the ThermoBrush today! But with a lot less sticky tape!
Design Impact
The brush needed to be food grade, and of high quality. I recognised the importance of supporting the local manufacturing industry, an industry which has been in decline over recent years. I work closely with our South Australian manufacturer, to produce a superior product. Cresta Plastics is now able to grow their business alongside ours, and their commitment to scale production capacity as we grow is outstanding. Supporting locals is a huge passion.
Other Key Features
Since our launch, we have had local, national and international companies contact us to wholesale our product. Thermomix® Australia, Thermomix® South Africa and Thermomix® Denmark all stock and supply our ThermoBrush to their customers. We are currently in talks with 3 new Thermomix® companies, and writing up contracts to wholesale our brush. Since our launch in 2016, we have had a retail growth rate of 80% in 2017. Our wholesale product growth has increased by 8000% Our recent launch to Amazon and exporting to UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, this has seen an increase in international sales, with Europe outselling Australia 12/1.