V1.0

One habit I’ve started for myself is that whenever I show someone the Headset Buddy, before I tell them what it does, I ask them if they can tell me what it does. The point of the packaging is to quickly,clearly, and concisely communicate (not necessarily describe) what your product does.

What I found after asking a handful of business contacts, friends, and acquaintances, is that my insert card was doing a good job telling people what the Headset Buddy does. Just from the name people assumed it was for a headphone or a headset. Some people thought it was a splitter that allows two headsets to be used on an MP3 player. Others thought it was for a phone headset instead of a PC headset.

At first I thought that I was asking the wrong people, but almost everyone was not understanding, within a few seconds, the purpose of the Headset Buddy. So I went to radio shack and looked at other packaging to see what they were doing that I was not. One of the main things other packaging did was have a picture of someone using the product. Also, I realized that my icons on my first design weren’t clear that the adapter was for a PC headset to connect to a phone. I also noticed that most packaging left the detailed specs such as “Mic/Audio 3.5mm to 2.5mm” on the back of the packaging instead of the front.

So for my second design, here are the steps I took to quickly, clearly, and concisely communicate the intended use of the Headset Buddy:

1. Just like I saw on other examples of packaging, I added a picture of someone using a PC headset. Because of the small size of the card insert, unfortunately the picture is smaller than I would like.

2. I changed the icons from this:

to this:

3. I moved the technical specs of plug sizes to the back of the insert.

4. Although this seems like a small change, I modified the description from “Use One PC Headset With Computer & Phone” to “Use Your PC Headset With Phones”. The reason for the change is because people were confused by the dual use of “Computer & Phone.” It should be implied that the PC Headset can be used with your computer, so I just made the statement clear that it can now be used with phones.

5. I also added what the Headset Buddy is compatible with, and trademark/copyright statements to the back of the card.

I’m sure there’s more steps I can do to improve the design, and that will happen by continuing to survey customers. Continuous improvement is the life of an inventor and entrepreneur.

- Bryan Daigle

Dual 3.5mm to 2.5mm Headset to Phone Adapter

Our first shot at packaging the headset adapter

I asked a couple of people at potential retail stores about the packaging, and incorporated their ideas into round two of packaging the product.

So to beef up the look, I decided to put the adapter in a clamshell. That would not only help the perceived value, but just plain make it easier for consumers to understand its value and what it does. Once I have a photo, I’ll post it up here (just finished re-packaging some of them last night). Next step, time to talk to more retailers!

- Bryan Daigle
Inventor of The Headset Buddy – Use Your PC Headset With Phones