Started a revolution. Then revolutionized ourselves.
Company - S’well
Summary
S'well had one iconic product: the bottle featured in the MoMA Design Store. Seasonal drops of new colors and patterns kept excitement high, but competitors and knock-offs were closing in. The brand needed to grow beyond the original without diluting what made it special.
Through ethnographies, we found something the brand hadn't fully seen. Fans bought S'well for style; function came second. They discovered the leak-proof, condensation-proof, and temperature performance after the purchase. And once they did, they wanted that experience everywhere: entertaining, meal prep, food on the go. The whole family, including pets.
Services
Consumer Insights
Ethnography
Trend Forecasting
Innovation Strategy
Product Pipeline
Design Direction
The brave idea
Start with a product drip (not drop) for long-term growth.
THE GROWTH
Revenue grew $10M in the first year after pipeline development. But the real proof is durability. The work was done in 2016. Since then: private equity acquisition, leadership changes, and competitive shifts. The products in market today? Still following our roadmap. A six-month project, with growth that's lasted ever since.
$10M
Revenue growth in first year
10 year
innovation pipeline
Our innovation pipeline, led by Beardwood, provided the roadmap to guide our product development for years. That's what I think great strategy looks like.
”Sarah Kauss
Founder + Former CEO of S'well
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