It's Maria's MutS and Stuff. What a great idea I heard radio Welcome to
Maria's MutS and Stuff. And with me today is Kevin and Patty Webber along
with their fur babies too, I hear, and we're going to talk about
their product, the Perfectly Clean Pause Ramp. So welcome, Welcome to Maria's
MutS and Stuff. Thanks Maria, thank you so much for having that.
Absolutely. So your company is simply Pause Design, correct, it is?
It is? And how long have you had this company? Five years?
I think? Oh wow? Okay, and this product that you have,
this new ramp, is this new the ramp that the perfectly Clean Pause Ramp?
Yes, we just launched about two months ago. Okay, and how
did it all come about? Yeah, well it was a result of an
actual whole litter box system we've created and we just don't have the start on
the market right now. So the litter ramp was really we created it because
we were tired of all the tracking of litter for all out and I really
wanted to be versatile, to been on as many different styles of litter boxes
as possible, and of course to be really cat friendly and people friendly.
So right, yeah, I would assume then you came up with the design
and then did you have to get in touch with someone to actually make it
for you or did you, like, I don't know how these things work,
that's why I'm asking that. Or did you put the design together?
Like are you good with doing things like that? Like how did how did
the final product come about? Yeah? So actually I created the ramp and
I just started making prototypes something. So when we started the whole system,
it probably is a little easier explained from that. We had created this eco
friendly cat litter system and we filed for patents on it. I we had
a neighbor that kind of helped us through the patent process. He's a patent
attorney, and I wrote the patents and he kind of completed it, and
then we began kind of the journey in the trying to manufacture. Kevin is
a sales rep and he would take us and we were going to plant to
have the litter be the first product on the market. So, yeah,
I'm Patty said, I'm a sales rep in pretty familiar with manufacturing processes because
that's the business I'd been in, so knew how all of the right people
to make this thing. So Patty did the prototypes with wood initially and and
a bunch of different I guess subs rates or I don't know what the proper
word word would be, but the part that claims the pause is the down
the ramp, and she eventually settled on cardboard corrugated cardboard that works the beast
of all the ones we tried. We reached out to manufacturing people all around
the Twin Cities area. I've got some prototypes made and just kept working on
it, giving samples to people to try and get steed back low and behold,
we are patent pending and the ramp is selling and Alex has been a
great help to us getting their Yeah. Sure, yeah, We've got this
equal friendly litter system, which is on hold right now because the main component
of the litter, the place we're going to get it has gone out of
business of paper plant, and it's hard to find. It's made with birch
bark, and it's very hard to find birch bark in quantity, and we
were just lucky to like so close to home. So we're still working on
that. We have plans to bring it up to the market, hopefully in
the next six nine months. In the meantime, we're working on the ramp,
which has been fabulous, lots of fun and to see. Sure and
okay, so when so you probably did you use your family and friends to
be like your test market when you were coming up with the idea. Yeah,
so our first cat she got to test everything. Okay, she was
great, she accepted all of them. You know, going into this,
I know how particular cats can be, and really no if if this was
viable. And when we started we used the different cat scratchers and of course
the cardboard mod and that was really the key, and our cat started accepting
it. And then that's exactly what we did. We got our first testing
and just went to friends and family and friends of friends right right the store,
you know, we bought the different hands. Sure, and then of
course I'm sure everyone was very positive about it and said, oh my goodness,
why wasn't this invented long ago? Well, I can tell you I
heard that a lot. We were at Catcome this past weekend for our trade
show, and oh my gosh, we heard great idea and I why hasn't
anyone thought of this before? Lots of that, yeah, right, right,
and basically for those who aren't familiar because they haven't gone to your website
yet. It's basically a ramp that kind of connects around whatever litter box you
have, so that when the cat does its business, then instead of just
walking out and putting the litter all over, because that's what cats do,
sometimes as it walks down the ramp, it also cleans its little paws and
then voila, your floors and your carpets are clean of litter. Correct.
There's actually two parts to the ramp, so it's kind of a system.
The inner part is kind of channel scratcher and that fits inside the other outer
tray. So the tray is kind of the part that attaches to the litter
box. Okay, and it can yeah, it can attach from the outside
so that it can fit lot different letter style and it's just easy. A
little flap and that just goes underneath the front of the litter box where the
opening is. And then the other way is it can go directly over the
opening and either way works. The one way where it's just kind of on
the outside can help maybe a cat with some mobility issues or a little kittens.
Sure makes it easier for them to get in and out. And then
yeah, the cat it can they use it to go in and out,
and then it kind of captures that litter a lot as the X cutter box.
So and then it's caught in the outer ramp the train the tray,
Patty calls it, and and you just take tray and dump the litter back
into the litter box, so you don't waste the litters either, right,
right, right. And I like the fact, I mean the ramp part
whatever, the part that you were talking about it that it's it's very green,
right, because it looks like it's like made from recycled product. It
is. It's made in the US day, So that was a big that's
a big sure, yeah, small operant and it's made with USS recycled materials
and it is fully recyclable and biodegradable. Wow, that's great. And it's
also very it's also very durable, because Patty has had her ramp for like
three years now, right, Patty, Yes, the outer ramp has well,
both of the pieces are extremely durable. It's really high quality corrogate and
it's right we've on the scraper components. Yeah, so they're just very durable.
Yes, we've used some of our original prototypes still do so they're still
years later. So and that was my next question, like how long can
someone expected to last? But I mean that's a long time years. That's
pretty good. Yeah, it has lasted really well. The only time I've
had to change out the scratcher component was when our actually had the runs a
bit, right, right, you know that it's time to change it.
But other than that, it's durable. It's very durable, right. Trying
to keep equal friendly it's been a big reason of why we got in business,
and that's why we decided to start with the litter because we were both
sort of appalled by all the litter that ends up in landfills and the mind
process required to get that letter in the first place. Right, So I
really want of these equal friendlies we possibly can. And as Patty said,
making in the USA also helped, sure, sure, and everybody loves stuff
that's made in the USA, you know that, So I think that's kind
of win win for you. So for my listeners who want to check it
out for themselves, they can order it at simply Pause Design dot com.
Is that correct, Yes, that's our website. Huh. So they can
order it that way. So what is next for you in this whole process,
right, You're you're waiting on the patents, so you have the patents
on it. Yeah, so we kept we filed for four patents as a
group. We have already received our patent for the litter in the US and
we are seeking it also. We've just got the confirmation that we have been
accepted in Australia. And then it's you and Canada and it's kind of a
four component but in that system. So we're patent pending on that. I'm
just waiting to hear the decision I guess on the ramp, but we expect
to be fully patented on that before long. That's great. And then yeah,
the litter and the litter system comes next. So right, well,
I think it's I mean, it's very promised, promising, it's a it's
very it's a unique product. I think, you know, it's kind of
ingenious for people who have cats, because you know, having litter all over
your home. Everybody has that, you know you can help it. So
I mean, I think this is very much of an ingenious idea. And
I kind of think only because I really do enjoy the show. I kind
of feel like I'm going to see you guys on Shark Tank at some point
with your product. I'd be happy to do with it. Yeah, we
would, no, seriously, because you know you always like, you know
that show. I just I just find some things on that show, especially
when it comes to pets, like wow, what a great idea, you
know, And this feels like, wow, what a great idea, So
you know, put that one in your back pocket when you ready to do
it. First started researching it, I shouldn't quite believe it myself that there
was really nothing like it out there, so it was really exciting. And
then when you start with some of these pet shows and things, Nope,
there was nothing like it. So we were pretty excited. Yesterday, we've
just found out that Kate Benjamin from House Panther had tested the ramp and she
said she loved it and all of her cats accepted it. Oh wow,
that was really sure. I'm on that. It's you know, very invested
in the in the cat world and catifying your home. I have someone like
that really appreciate it was wonderful. Sure we are also start tank taking it
back. We've watched the fact we're just watching it this week a couple of
showings. Uh huh, fun to be I think that would be awesome.
Yeah, that would be that that's that's that's your next that would be the
next adventure. But no, but I mean I think it's great. I
mean especially the fact that you said going to like a trade show and people
saying, oh my goodness, like why didn't why wasn't this invented or discovered
sooner? So it sounds like you definitely have an excellent product. And I
mean thank you for sharing the information with me and for my listeners. You
know, I tried to cover as many animals, especially dog and cat products
or issues, and I've been accused of not being as much into cats and
I shouldn't say into but covering cats. So I have to thank you because
you are giving me credibility that see, I do stuff about cats too,
So so it's win win. I thank you for that absolutely. So,
Kevin and Patty, I thank you both. The perfectly clean pause ramp.
For my listeners who want to check it out, you should simply pause design
dot com and I should ask you because I'm sure it's reasonable. What the
cost is? Yeah, it's twenty eight ninety nine with free shipping. Wow
again, only a bit on your website. Yeah, that's really cheap actually,
honestly. Yeah, you know, it may go up in price,
but right now we are you know, we don't have distributors, so we
can we're trying it and let people try it and you know, get these
positive reviews and let people learn about it and find out about it. Sure,
and we want optimers and we're going to make sure that whoever buys it
is satisfied with what they buy from us. That's a big component of what
we're trying to do as well. So of course, so it's it's been
awesome to be on your show. We really really appreciate it. Well,
I appreciate you talking to me today, and you know, for all my
cat listeners, I know they appreciate this as well. And I want people
to check it out simply pause design dot com. I think it's a very
reasonable price. The fact that it last as long as it does. Uh,
And I will hopefully I will get some feedback on people who purchase it
and I'll forward it to you, so you have that as well. So
I thank you. Yeah, so you're very welcome. Absolutely so Kevin and
Patty Webber, thank you so much. Simply Pause design dot com check it
out. You can get the perfectly clean pause ramp. You probably can get
it before your friends even know about it, and they'll make you the coolest
person in the neighborhood and your cat will be happy too. So Kevin and
Patty, great luck and thanks so much. Thank you so much. Bye bye f