Oster, the predominant leader in clippers and blades for large animals, suspected there was a need in the marketplace for more order, and better design for grooming brushes. They did the research and confirmed that handlers were faced with a hodgepodge of products for the sequence of steps needed to properly groom their animals.

But the idea for the creation of a consistent line of grooming brushes, ergonomically designed to accommodate potential users at every stage of the process, was just that—an idea. Even though grooming brushes fell into the same family of products for which Oster had acquired a sterling reputation, transforming the idea into reality was outside of their core competence.

In order to turn this idea into a marketplace reality and commercial success, Oster asked NPI for a turnkey solution from design through manufacturing. We conducted ethnographic research at horse farms to inform the design process, engineered brushes with over-molded rubber and plastic handles and goat hair bristles, tooled and launched low-cost offshore manufacturing, and sped everything to market.

The real-world results of the first generation of eight grooming products exceeded expectations, and led to another launch of five new products in a second generation. The line's popularity continues to prompt additional expansion into colors and styles directed at specific niches and targets within the overall grooming category.