New Approach to Yard Care | Nottingham Spirk Design Collaborative

A MODULAR APPROACH TO YARD CARE

CHALLENGE: Solve two major consumer concerns about owning yard care equipment: high cost and lack of storage space.

SERVICES: Insights, Industrial Design, Engineering, Prototyping

AWARDS / PRESS: Gold Edison Award; Lowe's Vendor Partner of the Year; Feature on Mashable

MTD Products, owner of several lines of outdoor power equipment (OPE) products, approached us with an unprecedented challenge for our innovation team: design a multi-function yard care system that addresses the two biggest consumer concerns, cost and storage space.

With the Troy-Bilt FLEX, the mower, snow thrower, leaf blower and power washer attachments operate from the same powerful base. Combining these very different tools in one system was no small feat, considering their widely varying requirements and operating conditions. Our designers and engineers also worked to incorporate other features that focus groups requested: quick and easy assembly (without tools); intuitive controls; portability; and competitive price.

A mower, snow thrower, leaf blower & power washer all-in-one

This flexible equipment combination, specifically targeting consumer concerns over yard care equipment ownership that Nottingham Spirk uncovered during our initial research, provided the cost-saving and space-saving innovation homeowners crave. It all started with an idea: see the sketch that transformed the lawn care industry.

FLEXING FOR SUCCESS

With only one engine, the cost of the attachments is up to $600 less if you buy all four. Plus, MTD had never offered a power washer before, so this was a new addition to their extensive line of products. Our research revealed a greater willingness to buy if the customer could “play” with the product and see a demonstration, so MTD rolled out the FLEX in an exclusive deal with Lowe’s, eventually being named the Lowe's Vendor Partner of the Year for the product's commercial success and consumer satisfaction.

Initial sales exceeded expectations, and a total of nine attachments were developed to expand the product line. The Troy-Bilt FLEX is an Edison Awards Gold Winner, one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business success. Additional attachments: a log splitter, water pump, dethatcher, plug aerator, and chipper shredder.