magicOpener: Interview with Inventor Pablo Corredor
Both a magnet and a can opener, the cheerful yellow, bottle-shaped, and aptly-named magicOpener is a new product that makes it easier than ever before to open cans, bottles, and more. Inventor Pablo Corredor created this item after watching his loved one struggling to open water bottles and/or other containers. After years of testing and getting feedback, Pablo finalized the magic Opener that exists today. The product can offer different sizes of plastic tops as well as regular aluminum cans and glass bottles. Best of all, its magnetic back makes it easier to store right on the fridge door, so it’s always within reach, and its cute aesthetic makes it suitable for any kitchen.
Pablo was inspired to invent the magicOpener after watching people — including a beloved family member — struggle to open beverage containers. It took him over a decade to perfect the design of this deceptively-simple-looking item which is designed to be durable and priced to be affordable (24.99).
Pablo recently discussed his invention via an exclusive interview.
Meagan Meehan (MM): How did you discover your talent for design and how did watching the struggle of a family member inspire you to focus on bottle openers?
Pablo Corredor (PC): Whenever I see something that is a little difficult, I think of ways to make it more comfortable. magicOpener came to me after seeing family, friends and others open soda cans with a knife, which I always saw as dangerous.
MM: This product looks simple, but it is actually quite an involved design that is useful for opening a range of jars! So, how different did the prototype look from the final product?
PC: The prototype was made in the shape of a traditional Coca Cola bottle, with a circle in the center with teeth to open plastic soda bottles since all sodas have the same cap size. It had a U-shape on the top to open cans, and the bottom had the traditional bottle opener for glass bottles. Magnets were also added for convenience when placing it on the refrigerator.
MM: It took you ten years to finalize magicOpener, so how and when did you know that it was, in fact, complete?
PC: Well, I’ve gone from the ORIGINAL magicOpener to the EXTREME magicOpener. It’s not that I knew it was ready, but that there’s no more room to add anything else.
MM: What made you decide to also make this a magnet that can be so easily stored on a refrigerator door?
PC: I have always thought that finding a bottle opener or something in a drawer full of things is very inconvenient. Being able to put it on refrigerators with iron doors seemed important to me, not only for convenience but also so that it could be easily seen by everyone.
MM: This has such a cute yellow-bottle design, like a tiny lemon juice bottle, so why did you decide on that particular look? For example, why a yellow bottle rather than a red ketchup one?
PC: In my mind I saw it as sunshine yellow, and for convenience, I left it that color as a primary color to keep in stock. We have always offered to make it in other colors if requested by special order, but in general, people have no problem with the color yellow.
MM: How did you find a manufacturer?
PC: Well, that was quite difficult and quite expensive. I met the first one in Miami who was experienced in having cell phone parts be manufactured in Asia. They promised me they could do it, so I took their word for it and ordered 20,000 units. Based on their idea, they produced transparent bottles with cola and beer-colored liquid inside, but within a few months the liquid evaporated, leaving the bottle opener stained and dirty inside! Unfortunately, similar things like that happened several times which is why it took me several years to find someone to do it right.
MM: What kinds of feedback have you gotten about the MagicOpener so far?
PC: Well, the best way to see the varying feedback is through the reviews on Amazon. While many happy customers share their gratitude for the magicOpener and how helpful it’s been in their daily life, other unhappy customers say that I’ve created a cheap product to steal their money.
MM: What is the best part of being an entrepreneur?
PC: In the case of magicOpener, for me the best part is when people who learn to use it well and it effectively helps them every day.
MM: What are your ultimate goals for magicOpener and are you designing anything else at the moment?
PC: Well, if you look at the latest inventions of others with similar uses to magicOpener, you can see that they are using parts of my invention such as the U to open cans. It is gratifying to know that something I have invented is here to stay. I think that soon inventors will start incorporating the part that opens food cans into their designs as well. Right now, I am not working on any new invention, but I think that if magicOpener continues to be produced worldwide to help those who really need it and appreciate it, that is already more than I could wish for.
MM: What is coming up next for you and is there anything else that you would like to mention?
PC: At the moment there are no plans except to continue our partnerships with the different companies that we have established relationships with. Additionally, I would like to mention that for a single person to bring an invention that started as an idea to real life is a very long road full of ups and downs that constantly encourage and depress you.
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To learn more, visit the official website: https://magicopener.com/