Awesome New Product Idea Contest Results

 

 

 

And the winner is?

Top 19 Ideas by Popular Vote:

1. 5 Speed Transmissions 16%
2. Supercharger For Classic Mini 13%
3. Cheap Disk Brake Kit For 10" Wheels 12%
4. A Mini Lift (Like A Motorcycle Lift) That Will Lift A Mini Up 9%
5. Engine Rebuild Kits 8%
6. New Design 10" Wheels 6%
7. MK1 Body Shell 6%
8. Cheap Right Side Fuel Tank 4%
9. Domestically Produced Interiors 4%
10. Non Lucas Wiring Harness 3%
11. Nice Clock/Date/Time/Outside Temp Gauge To Replace The Ashtray 3%
12. Kit For Electric Opening Of Rear Side Windows 3%
13. A Mini Hydraulic jack kit 3%
14. "Hinged" Front End (Bonnet) Kit 2%
15. DIY Wood Dash Kit 2%
16. "Just Bolts And Nuts Kit" 2%
17. Mk2 L.E.D. Tail Lights 1%
18. Speaker Mounting Panels For Rear Seat And/Or Boot 1%
19. Billet Alloy Grille 1%

The contest was conceived by Mini Mania in hopes that we could further understand the needs and wants of our customers in hopes of being able to follow the popular vote to develop new products. The question we did not consider was if the winner of the contest should be for a product that is beyond our control to make happen (ie, how realistic is the 'wish list')?

Here is a breakdown of our thoughts on the feasible vs. not-so-feasible ideas:

Mini Mania's Top 7 "Most Feasible" Ideas:

"Just Bolts and Nuts Kit", Yes this is a good idea and hopefully we will have such a thing within a few months.

"MK2 LED tail Lights" was a disappointment in popularity! It one of those things we are most likely to make available and yet not popular?

"A Mini Hydraulic jack kit" is a good idea and is probably something we will put on our list of to do.

"DIY Wood Dash Kit" is one of those things we seem to remember having been asked for many times over the years. For sure another idea that leaves a lot of questions; one piece or 3 piece dash, How many holes? Is it designed to made of wood or metal?

"Cheap right side fuel tank" while not the most popular product is for sure something on our list of should do's. Keep watching Mini Mania for this one.

"A Mini Lift (Like A Motorcycle Lift) That Will Lift A Mini Up " is an interesting idea that for sure has a lot of interest but still leaves a lot of questions to be answered. Should the lift work with the motor in the car or out? Should it me manual or hydraulic? How high should it lift, etc.

"5 Speed Transmission" was by far the most popular desired choice of products. Sure wish we could make something happen on this one! Any number of UK companies have tried it and could not find enough of a market for the cost involved. But we have not given up on the idea!

Good Ideas (just not too feasible!):

"MK1 Body Shell" is for sure only in the hands of British Motor Heritage to produce. They have promised us that they would do it any day now for the last 2 years.

"Hinged Front End (Bonnet) Kit" could be done a number of ways but I think the high cost would result in a lack of popularity.

"Cheap Disk Brake Kit for 10" wheels" is a real challenge. It is very difficult to beat the quality and dependability of the factory originals. From a practical business standpoint there is a BIG legal liability in providing a brake kit that has not been certified by any government for safe operation, etc. Offering a "DIY" kit that simply assembles parts from generic suppliers and expects the installer to assume total liability is severely moderated by the overwhelming tendency for Americans to sue anybody over everything. Thus other than attempting to get better prices from Original Equipment suppliers Mini Mania probably will not be able to help much on this one.

"Non Lucas Wiring Harness"? The truth of the matter is that none of the wiring harness we supply for the last 10+ years have not been Lucas but aftermarket and thus we don't know how to satisfy this need.

"Engine Rebuild Kits" had a very positive response but also something that we also already supply although it seems no people ever need all the same components?

"Supercharger Kit for Classic Mini" is something that Mini Mania produced for many years but as the demand decreased and cost increased it simply was no longer a cost effective option.

"Domestically produced interiors" is not something we have any chance of doing anything about as there are just too many subjective opinions as to what it would look like.

"Nice Clock/Date/Time/Outside Temp Gauge To Replace The Ashtray " - this was a real surprise! Sorry not on our list of likely to provide.

"Speaker mounting panels..." got some votes to be considered but still not in our future plans.

"Billet Alloy Grille" simply did not get enough attention to warrant consideration.

"New Design 10" Wheels" is for sure one of those things we would love to see available but almost impossible for us to help start production.

"Electric opening for rear side windows" would be a real interesting concept but not something we can even figure out how to make happen.

 

So who are the winners??

By popular vote, the winners of the "Awesome New Product Idea Contest" are:

 

1st Place goes to Stieve MacDhaibhidh for his idea for a 5 Speed Transmission!

2nd Place goes to Bart Savino for his idea for a Classic Mini Supercharger!

3rd Place goes to Miguel Plano for his idea for Cheap Disk Brake Kit For 10" Wheels!

Congratulations to the winners who have received a special promo code that allows them a generous discount on their next purchase!

Thanks to everyone who participated! This has been a fun contest and we now have a lot of new ideas to inspire us for future products.