Coffee, Mops, and AchooBox

Some of the most successful products of the past few decades have changed the way we do ordinary things.

Take coffee.

We had coffee pots, percolators and French presses. Then Keurig single-cup coffee makers came along. They're incredibly convenient—especially when you want one cup. But there's a catch: you need the pods.

Personally, I still prefer my French press. I heat water in an electric kettle, pour it over the coffee, press, and serve. It's simple, fast, and makes great coffee.

But when I'm at the hair salon and someone offers me a cup from the Keurig? Absolutely.

Then there's cleaning.

We had string mops, sponge mops, spray mops and all kinds of variations. The Miracle Mop made ringing out the string mop a breeze.

Then Swiffer came along.

But now you need the pads. Dry ones. Wet ones. Refills designed for the system.

It's a familiar idea: create a useful product, then create the special refill that goes with it. It's often called the "razor-and-blades" model—the product you buy first leads to something you'll need to keep buying.

When I created AchooBox, I took a different approach.

AchooBox needs a refill, too. But you get to choose it.

There's no AchooBox cartridge. No proprietary tissue pack. No special refill you have to order from us.

You just use the roll you like.

And here's the thing: for a lot of us, that's not a new idea.

We already reach for the roll to blow our nose. We use a few squares to wipe off makeup, clean up a small spill, catch a sneeze, or handle one of those countless little messes that happen throughout the day.

Why? Because it's right there. It's useful. And frankly, it makes sense.

AchooBox just gives the roll a better place to live.

Instead of leaving it sitting out—or feeling like it belongs only in one room—AchooBox turns it into something you're happy to keep on a nightstand, desk, vanity, coffee table or console.

Your dispenser doesn't get to choose your tissue. You do.

It's interesting what people tell me they use—single-ply, recycled, bamboo, and thick, premium, ultra soft tissue. We all have our preferences, and AchooBox works with all of them.

AchooBox is designed to give you a better way to use something that's evolved considerably since it was invented in 1891.

Because sometimes innovation means inventing something entirely new.

And sometimes it means noticing something smart people are already doing and simply making it better.