Shimcup Project Summary
My name is Ed and I designed Shimcup. I have a background in furniture making, cycle couriering and product design, alongside a keen interest in sustainability and I spend as much time as I can outdoors rock climbing, wild swimming, camping and adventuring.
Shimcup is a stainless steel cup and it folds so flat you can use it as a bookmark. It will be manufactured here in the UK.
I've been working on the project throughout lockdown and I believe it's one of real value, both for those who use Shimcup and for the environment.
Since I was a kid I've always loved gadgets and adventure, and growing up I realised how self-evident it is that we must take care of our natural environment - Shimcup is informed by all these things; it protects this environment by removing the need for disposable and/or plastic cups, it provides great utility in all kinds of scenarios and it's a cool gadget.
I've been using a Shimcup prototype for a couple of years now while camping, hiking, climbing, at home, in cafes, on picnics etc for both hot and cold drinks (and even soup and ice cream!), all year round and it has performed very well. Now feels like the right time to get Shimcup out there and let other people try it out!
By supporting this campaign you are nothing less than a crucial pillar of the Shimcup story and you are bringing to life a unique and innovative product which will have a genuinely positive impact on the environment. As well as helping bring Shimcup into the world, and my eternal gratitude, for a donation of £30 (choose Shimcup Perk) you'll also receive your own Shimcup through the post! (If you are outside the UK the postage cost is an additional £10)
What We Need & What You Get
In order to get a production run going we need to place an order of 2000 cups with the manufacturers. I've set the donation per cup to £30 - this covers design, manufacture, assembly, finishing, packing and delivery and makes a grand target of £60,000. That money will pay for the manufacturing run, some of the work which has gone into designing and developing Shimcup, ongoing workshop and studio costs and hopefully leave a little to help grow the Shimcup family, reach more people and lead to a line of forthcoming Shimcup-related products.
By selecting the Shimcup perk for £30 you'll receive a Shimcup, a certificate of authenticity signed by me and printed instructions on how to assemble and collapse Shimcup - all in an envelope, through the post and delivered to your door.
The Impact
I believe Shimcup is good for the world; it's very practical due to how incredibly compact it folds, it's made here in the UK, there is no plastic in its life cycle, and the material used for manufacture - stainless steel - will never end up as landfill. This means fewer disposable and/or plastic cups will be called for, the Shimcups which are sent out will demonstrate that plastic is unnecessary in cup production and hopefully it will inspire other designers, manufacturers and consumers to cut plastic from their material sourcing.
Risks & Challenges
As a new idea, with no other products out there quite like it, Shimcup runs an inherent risk by being the first of its kind. However, as well as being a risk, this could also be Shimcup's greatest asset - it's certainly a head-turner and everyone I've met who's seen Shimcup really has been blown away!
Another risk is failing to reach enough people and inform them of the campaign, thereby not hitting the target. Once seen, Shimcup is never forgotten! But getting attention from those who may want to support the campaign is a challenge. To overcome this challenge I will post videos and pictures on social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Youtube) and spread the word through my connections in climbing and design as well as by asking family, friends (and you!) to tell everyone they know. Shimcup is a visually striking and aesthetically pleasing object and therefore lends itself well to social media communication.
This is the first product which I have designed myself and am releasing under my own steam - Shimcup is my product-baby and in some ways that feels like a risk, but because of this I'm extremely focused on delivering an exceptional product to those who support the campaign. My experience of making and designing for other companies stands me in good stead to achieve this.
I've done extensive testing over the last couple of years in a broad range of environments and Shimcup has performed very well. As both a designer and climber/adventurer I'm in the fortunate position to be able to put the products I design through their paces myself and that makes me hyper-critical and attentive to the details, ensuring a quality product which is informed by continual usage.
The material which Shimcup is made from ('shim' steel, hence the name Shimcup) is relatively thin for a drinking vessel. It's closer to a fine wine glass than a ceramic mug and so the question immediately presents itself - is it sharp enough to cut myself? Thankfully no, the mouthfeel is very pleasant and the edge feels smooth and soft.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you want to help but can't contribute money to the Shimcup campaign, fear not - you can still help! Spread the word through social media (https://www.instagram.com/shim_cup/), tell everyone you know and share links to the Indiegogo crowdfunding page and also the website at www.shimcup.com
Spreading the word like this has a huge impact and I am extremely grateful for your help!