Project Overview
When a storied Canadian curling equipment manufacturer needed to revitalize their aging product line, they turned to onetwosix design to create something the industry had never seen before—resulting in a flagship product that drove 25%+ sales growth and redefined their market position.
For over 90 years, Olson Curling Supplies has been the trusted partner of curlers across Canada and around the world. But by 2016, CEO Sheldon Schreiber faced a critical challenge: their existing broom designs were "old and dated," and they were "falling behind the competition." With no internal design expertise and previous attempts at product development taking over a year just to prototype, Olson needed specialized partners who could translate their deep curling knowledge into a breakthrough product.
Services Provided
The scope of work covered initial product direction, research into user needs and existing market conditions, prototype-based testing, and development of the design for manufacturability.
Concept development and design exploration
User research and competitive analysis
Rapid prototyping and user testing
Design for manufacture and assembly
Before the Partnership
Olson Curling needed to revitalize their aging product line and had an ambitious yet clear vision: create a "design that was going to be unique and something that nobody else in the industry had" while also improving performance and enhancing user experience. Olson faced the classic challenge of an established manufacturer with deep domain expertise but limited design capabilities:
Their existing brooms were functional but lacked the innovation needed to compete in the 2016 curling market
Internal development with overseas factories would take up to 18 months to get to a strong prototype
This was Olson's first experience working with a professional design consultancy
The company needed partners who could bridge the gap between their deep understanding of curling and the specialized design expertise required to create a truly differentiated product. Most critically, they needed designs that would be production-ready from day one- no expensive manufacturing revisions or delays.
What We Did
Our approach combined deep user research with rapid prototyping to create a breakthrough design that balanced performance innovation with manufacturing practicality:
Conducted hands-on testing, competitive analysis, and user interviews to identify opportunities for innovation
Used industrial design sketches and CAD modeling to explore multiple design directions, focusing on performance and aesthetic differentiation
Leveraged in-house 3D printing capabilities to create functional prototypes for real-world curling rink testing
Designed for modularity and customization while simplifying production requirements
Delivered production-ready designs that required minimal changes from overseas manufacturers
Proven Results
The PYRO broom exceeded all expectations, transforming Olson from a company with an aging product line into an industry leader:
First-year sales increased by "well over 25%" after years of declining performance with previous products
Created the industry's first broom head to incorporate carbon fiber through unique interchangeable inserts
Consolidated 3-4 different brush styles into one flagship design that accommodates multiple handle profiles and customization options
Reduced typical development timeline by an entire curling season compared to traditional manufacturer-led processes
PYRO became Olson's flagship product, with annual sales of 1,200-1,500 units and continued year-over-year growth through 2025
