Perhaps the most important part of the Boppy product development process is the real-life testing every product and pillow goes through.
That means we gather feedback and expertise from as many consumers and professionals as possible! We might share a prototype with a pediatrician, a lactation expert, or a pediatric physical therapist to hear their thoughts. But our most important seal of approval comes from parents currently caring for a little one. We gather feedback from them in a number of ways.
Connecting with Moms In-Person
We always look to gather intel from moms in a variety of situations. This way we can get very focused feedback over a detailed conversation, or simply observe a product in use "in the wild" and ask for some initial thoughts from an individual or group.
We might have moms and babies come to the Boppy office, answer some questions at a photoshoot, or share off-the-cuff insight at a mommy group playdate. Haley Gibbons, Boppy’s Senior Product Designer, and Julia Larrabee, Boppy’s Director of Innovation & Product Management, observe how moms interact with a new product in a lot of scenarios and gather comments on how they’d use the product, what they love and what could use some improvement. It’s a great way to stay connected to real-life users of Boppy products!
In-Home Testing
Sometimes the best way to get honest feedback is to let parents take pillows or products home and use them for a while—without us hovering over their shoulder!
After they’ve had the chance to spend a few days with them, they'll give us feedback on their likes and dislikes about the product (and get great Boppy products for their time!). Haley says, “This is the best way to get feedback on real-life use.”
Real-World Reviews
There is perhaps no more honest review than the online comments from a mom who’s up late and is frustrated when she feels a product - that she bought with her own money - isn’t meeting expectations.
“We watch our reviews really closely,” says Haley. “Then we figure out what to do with the feedback.” Sometimes that means tweaking or adapting products to align with consistent comments on Boppy products and products from other manufacturers and launching a new version into the marketplace.
"Some feedback isn’t really fixable though," Haley adds. Customers often ask if we can make it inflatable (won’t meet safety standards), or height adjustable (not scalable). “But that doesn’t mean we don’t still want to hear your feedback!” says Haley. “We really do care.”
