How a small business can change the world? There are many ways… let’s talk about one of them: BioLite.
BioLite seems like a simple portable camping stove. But it’s more than just that: It’s an advanced energy products that make cooking with wood as clean, safe and easy as modern fuel while also providing electricity to charge cell phones and LED lights – off-grid.
An invention of NYC Product Designers, Alexander Drummond and Jonathan Cedar, the BioLite stoves are actually addressing real world problems – potentially changing people’s life. How a portable stove can do just that?
First of all, it’s clean. It emits 95% less emissions than the conventional, fuel-powered stove. This invention helps introducing yet another clean energy product promoting eco-friendly practices. In fact, BioLite wins an award for this, and it led BioLite to launch another product, HomeStove, designed to offer solutions to 3 billion of people worldwide who cook on open fire which emits dangerous smokes – and actually killed millions of people every year.
Secondly, the BioLite stoves were actually helping people, such as when the Hurricane Sandy slammed the East Coast, leaving millions of people without power. BioLite stoves were unexpectedly becoming a lifeline that caught the media attention.
Thirdly, the low-cost BioLite HomeStove is on-demand in emerging market like India and Ghana. However, there is a major challenge when marketing to the rural and suburbs of third world countries. The solution? Partnership.
BioLite partners with local village representatives to bring HomeStove to the community for public demonstrations, and then start selling from there.
Here’s an interesting story: Have you ever heard about the zombie apocalypse? Well, as the ‘end times’ approach, BioLite is considered as a must-have survival tool – so, there you go – another niche market to serve!
Takeaway
I am intrigued in how this product goes beyond a camping gear. Here are some lessons learned from the BioLite story:
1. Solving problems always work!
Small businesses today should embrace innovation. You should attempt to solve your community’s problem. If you can solve the problems, sales and revenue follow.
2. Be proactive
BioLite’s youngest engineer took every BioLite stove he can find in the office and bring them to the street to help people warm themselves by making hot drinks as Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast last October. This wins people attention – and later on, media attention.
3. Adopt blue ocean strategy
Who can guess that BioLite stoves are popular among doomsday preppers? It’s challenging, but exploring untapped market and actually creating demand for your product (called blue ocean strategy) can be very exciting – and rewarding. Sure, it has a certain degree of risk becoming a pioneer, but when you pick hits gold, you will enjoy the many perks.
So, if your small business seems to hit the roof, break through it by innovating and getting out of your comfort zone.
