Solving a personal problem can lead to powerful innovation. Tired of winter snow and slush ruining your boots?  Cassandra Droogan, Founder & President, PYSIS Inc took her inspiration from her father’s galoshes and created an exciting new product with a TWIST. Read her guest post here, below – it might inspire you to pursue that idea you’ve been musing about. And make sure you see her special March & April offer for BrandTwist readers.

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It’s important to focus on branding from the moment a product or business concept is conceived.  But, I think that most often the final (& ever-evolving) DNA of a brand grows and takes shape as the business grows.  So, when I recently met Julie Cottineau and was introduced to her strategy of brand twisting, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.  A great time to TWIST my brand just as we’re making our big “splash” in the market!

I began designing PYSIS (pronounced Pisces) – a new style of overboots (rain boots worn OVER shoes) to protect women’s high heeled shoes from rain, slush and snow – years ago.  I was inspired by my dear old Dad’s rubber galoshes that he wore over his dress shoes when I was a kid.  It always frustrated me that there wasn’t a similar solution for women’s high heeled shoes – something that we could wear over our wedges and pumps to protect them from the elements.  I wanted my favorite shoes to last and I wanted to wear them when I wanted – whatever the weather.

So, I set out to create a solution: A TWIST on the men’s rubber galoshes of yesteryear.  PYSIS needed to function for heels and wedges, as well as match a woman’s sense of style. This ultimately took the shape of an overboot with a patent exterior – inspiring the style name: “Posh Galosh” – and an elastic closure so it could open wide enough to fit a shoe inside and then contour to the wearer’s leg and hold the shoe securely in place.

Given that my background was in the corporate banking industry (following six years as a lifeguard, where I also prayed for rain on a daily basis!), this development process took some time.  So, my branding journey began while designing a prototype made in NYC’s garment district in 2008, and has evolved as design improvements were made, production was secured, costing was finalized and the product finally hit the market on www.PYSIS.com.  And now Amazon and Shoebuy.com as well.

I’d spoken to many women over the years about my overboots.  Some loved that they’d be able to wear their favorite shoes in bad weather (or the threat thereof!), some hated ruining a new pair of shoes each season and very often I heard excitement over eliminating the need to carry an extra pair of shoes and search for storage for heavy, clunky rain boots.  I would chat, demo the latest prototype, explain the latest challenge… and listen to each person’s reaction and what resonated with her.

But, there really is nothing like actual customer feedback to provide direction for a brand.  With the original “Posh Galosh” style now out there saving women’s shoes, PYSIS can TWIST its way through April showers and on to great things to come!  Our March and April Special Offer (www.pysis.com/SpecialOffer) encourages fans to share PYSIS with their Facebook friends and the first comment we received included a customer exclaiming how excited she is for a busy spring and to no longer have to worry about “the dash from car to party in April”.  We’re so looking forward to hearing more of our customers’ feedback and stories!

There is so much potential for this product and brand and I’m looking forward to continuing the evolution.  Now with Julie’s brilliant guidance, the prospect of TWISTing with some of the brands I’ve admired over the years is very exciting and inspirational.  What would Spanx do??  Hmmm…

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Cassandra Droogan is Founder & President, PYSIS Inc.

Connect with her on Twitter: @PYSIS and on Facebook: PYSISINC

 

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 If you would like to be a guest blogger for BrandTwist contact Jamie@BrandTwist.com for more information.

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Julie
Julie is the Founder and CEO of BrandTwist, a brand consultancy that helps entrepreneurs and corporations build stronger, more profitable brands.

1 COMMENT

  1. Just ordered my PYSIS – I’ve been meaning to do it before & was lazy. Thanks for the special offer – made the decision even easier! Can’t wait to try them.

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