When a new product is launched, it's easy to think it's the work of a lone entrepreneur or a few individuals. However, for Mighty Sink, this couldn't be further from the truth! It's been two and a half years since I embarked on this journey. During this time, a village of supporters and skilled individuals have come together to make this all possible. Their contributions, big or small, have played an impactful role in evolving Mighty Sink from an abstract concept in my mind to the first family-friendly portable sink that you see today!
This village of incredible people began with my cousin, Sharon, a certified Montessori teacher. She shared a blog on how to make a DIY child-sized sink when I was searching for a similar solution to simplify handwashing for my 2-year-old daughter, Makenna. Inspired, I became determined to create a more efficiently designed sink that simplifies water changes. At that point, my neighbor, Larry, recommended using a CNC router to create my prototypes. During this period, I acquired various additional tools to help me build my prototypes, and the tutorial videos on YouTube along with the knowledgeable staff at Home Depot were key in helping me figure out how to operate these tools.
The village also includes friends, family, and even strangers who graciously welcomed numerous versions of our DIY prototypes into their spaces for rigorous testing. Their candid feedback was instrumental in refining the design. For instance, another entrepreneurial mom, Mia, compiled an Excel spreadsheet detailing improvements that could enhance the user experience. In another instance, a children’s occupational therapy office incorporated the Mighty Sink into their sessions. This adaptation made it safer for children to access the sink without needing to climb and balance on a step stool, and feedback was also collected from the parents. Regular text messages to my circle of early testers helped shape Mighty Sink’s identity, influencing colors, designs, and names.
Moreover, our village includes patent lawyers, tax advisors, freight forwarders, and our manufacturing and warehousing partners, all of whom have contributed their expertise. The amazingly supportive team at Kickr Design also played an important role in the early stage when I was completely lost in the foreign world of product development. They were a great resource in helping me make the sink even more portable and teaching me how to create prototypes to test the features with my testers. I was also very fortunate to find Jim, an incredibly talented injection molding engineer, whom I contacted following a recommendation from the 40th injection molding factory I had cold-called within a span of 2 weeks (after receiving rejections from all 40 factories for various reasons, mostly due to tooling capacity). Jim meticulously created over 250 CAD files, each incorporating various feedback from our diligent testers. He then connected me with a trusted factory that he has personally worked with that now manufactures the Mighty Sink.
Alongside their invaluable product feedback and expertise, this extraordinary group of individuals also served as my cheerleaders during the wild two-and-a-half-year ride of bringing Mighty Sink to market. For instance, Chiara and Riya, two of the first people I told about Mighty Sink, offered tons of encouragement for me to pursue this when I was in the very early phase, filled with the self-doubt and fear that every new entrepreneur experiences.
Of course, this village wouldn’t be complete without my husband, David, and our daughter, Makenna. Throughout the challenging yet exciting two-and-a-half-year journey to our launch, David has been consistently my biggest cheerleader, providing unwavering support, never ceasing to believe in me, and serving as an invaluable sounding board. Likewise, Mighty Sink would not exist without Makenna, my inspiration for this solution. She continues to use her Mighty Sink every day!
Therefore, it’s fitting that this first Mighty Sink blog post is a personal dedication to everyone in this village who has helped turn this abstract idea in my head into the first family-friendly portable sink!
THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
But our journey is far from over! We're just beginning and are excited to expand this village. Please check out our Mighty Sink Family Bundle or share our website with your friends and family! As a small business, every bit of support makes a difference and truly means the world to us. Thank you!
