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Our goal is to transform the gardening and nursery industries to a system of reuse, shifting the culture from disposable to sustainable.

Heather Davies

The Client

In 2020 Heather Davies founded Back Porch Pots to create a responsible alternative to single use garden pots. Back Porch Pots was born out of frustration over the staggering amount of waste in the gardening/nursery industries. Hundreds of millions of single-use, black plastic pots are sold by nurseries and garden centers annually, the vast majority of which end up in landfills.

The Challenge

For years, Heather searched for an alternative to flimsy, mass-produced plastic trays that were easily discarded and replaced each season. The challenge wasn’t just creating a reusable option—it needed to be:

  • Durable enough to last 10 years in a demanding outdoor environment.
  • Designed to support water retention and healthy root growth while remaining nonreactive.
  • Sustainable and scalable—striking the right balance between cost, production feasibility, and environmental responsibility.

The Process

At Kickr Design, we specialize in taking big ideas and turning them into viable products. For Heather’s project, we approached the design process with a balance of technical expertise and flexibility, helping her navigate key trade-offs between sustainability, cost, and manufacturability.

  1. Material Science & Sustainability Education

We guided Heather through material science considerations, discussing what aspects of the design were flexible and what were non-negotiable for performance and sustainability. One key insight was that certain types of silicone use precious metals, which had implications for both cost and sustainability.

  1. Concept Iteration & Rapid Prototyping

We started with hand sketches and concept brainstorming, exploring around 20 different potential designs. Rapid iteration allowed us to quickly refine ideas before moving into CAD modeling. We worked through trade-offs between durability, cost, and marketability, ensuring the final design was both functional and scalable.

  1. Design & Manufacturing Handoff

As the design solidified, we provided detailed CAD models and manufacturing documentation, ensuring a smooth transition from concept to production. Ultimately, Heather took the lead on manufacturing, bringing the final product to life independently.

The Results

Heather successfully launched Back Porch Pots in 2021 with a Kickstarter campaign, introducing a reusable, durable alternative to disposable garden pots. With our support, she gained a deeper understanding of product development, material science, and the complexities of contract manufacturing—knowledge she carried forward as she brought her product to market on her own.

At Kickr Design, we can serve as temporary fixers and specialists, helping innovators like Heather overcome design and engineering challenges to bring their ideas to life. Whether you’re looking for product development strategy, rapid prototyping, or manufacturing guidance, we provide the expertise to get your project off the ground.

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You bring the vision, we’ll bring the resources to help you build it!

We are always happy to walk you through all your options and help you make informed decisions throughout your product development journey.  We know timelines, goals and needs can even change during a project, and pride ourselves on our deep understanding and real-time flexibility to pivot with you when necessary. 

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