We have a winner!
We embarked on country-wide search with QVC to find the latest and greatest product to hit the market for TODAY’s “Next Big Thing.”
After nine finalists came to Studio 1A to pitch their inventions to a panel of experts, you selected your favorite three. The top three finalists came back to TODAY on Friday, where the panel selected a grand winner who will get to see his or her product on on QVC's show "Saturday Morning Q" on April 22.
It was a tough decision, but the winner is...
Frywall!
The Frywall is a heat-resistant silicone shield that can be placed in frying pan to prevent splatter.
Yair Reiner invented the Frywall in his kitchen in Brooklyn, New York. He always loved cooking but hated cleaning the stovetop afterwards. A particularly splattersome duck breast drove him to find a solution. He made the first Frywall for himself from a two-part silicone paste bought over the internet. When he saw how well it worked, he knew he had to share it with others. And now it can be yours!
Tune into QVC's show "Saturday Morning Q" tomorrow, April 22, to watch Yair sell is product live. You can also purchase the Frywall on QVC's website.
If you were intersted in the other two finalists, BootBand and the SockDock, don't fret. You can purchase those directly on QVC's website, too. Find the BootBand here and the SockDock here.
UPDATE: Voting for day 3 is now closed! Check back Friday to find out who won!
BootBand
BootBand is the world's only removable boot expander! It is a small triangular panel which allows you to expand the width of any boot to accommodate larger calves. It comes in a variety of patterns and colors.
When Krista Barnett realized that she wasn't the only woman feeling frustrated by not being able to zip up boots over her larger calves, her creative juices started flowing. Her “aha moment” came during a shopping experience when she was trying on "wide-calf" boots with another curvy woman. "We looked at each other and just knew that there was no use because no matter what boot we tried on, we just couldn't zip those boots up over our calves!" Even the sales person said that this happened all the time and that women frequently had to walk away from the boots they really wanted. This frustration turned into a mission for Barnett and she became determined to solve this problem for the millions of women with the same struggle.
Karma Naturals Nail Polish Remover
Karma Naturals Nail Polish Remover attempts to defy your traditional belief of how "regular" nail polish removers work and most importantly, smell. Karma natural nail polish removers come in 3 varieties: lavender, tea tree and unscented with vitamin E.
Iqbal Qadwani is originally from Pakistan and moved here at 17 years old alone with $80 in his pocket. He was a waiter for six years and was on his feet all day and night. He enjoyed getting pedicures but hated the smell when he went to "traditional" salons. He dreamt of creating a salon where pregnant women, small children and those suffering from allergies could feel safe knowing that they would not be exposed to the chemicals found in many of the products in conventional salons. Qadwani decided to take his project a step forward and being working with others to develop his own line of non-toxic polishes, free from toluene, formaldehyde and DBP.
The Swillow
The Swillow is a functional and fashionable organizational system. The plush design swirls to become a surface for your bowl, book, or journal, and the coils created in the center help to hold your cup, bottle, glasses, pen, keys and treats. Its rings act as shocks against movement on the bed or couch or car — which is great for keeping the things you want close to you, organized and in place.
Tabitha Washington’s sister first came up with the idea for the Swillow when her niece broke her foot. While recovering, she needed her daily items close to her. We discovered that with this product, she had easy access to all the things that she needed even though she was confined to her bed.
DAY 2: Voting for day 2 is closed!
SockDock
The SockDock is a simple and easy-to-use sock organizer designed for washing, drying and storing socks from "dirty feet" to "clean and neat." It is the only dual purpose sock loss prevention and storage system on the market!
Two years ago, Kevin Bunn and his wife spent hours doing laundry. He became increasingly frustrated as he was searching for missing socks. He knew there had to be an easier and faster way to clean and match socks. After spending hours researching and talking to friends about lost socks in the laundry, it became clear that this was a very common household challenge. Bunn's idea was born: the SockDock.
Gas Cap Grip
The Gas Cap Grip is an inexpensive, effective gadget to loosen and tighten factory fuel caps on cars and trucks. The Gas Cap Grip is especially helpful to those drivers who find it difficult to manipulate the handle due to physical ailments, cosmetic (manicured nails) or winter glove obstacles.
Pam Oakes was born in the former, automobile mecca of the world: Detroit, Michigan. She’s a fourth-generation automotive technician and retired last year as a retail auto repair tech and shop owner with more than 25 years of experience. Customers would stop by her shop due to the "check engine light" being on. Often times it was because the gas cap wasn't on tight enough which creates a domino effect: It triggers the evaporative leak code as well as increasing emissions from the tailpipe and diminished fuel economy. Pam started to make wooden "Gas Cap Grips" for free for her customers. As more and more people came by her shop looking for the "Gas Cap Grips," she decided to make a friendlier and more attractive gadget.
Bunjiball
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Bunjiball is a throw and fetch toy for dogs that uses a patented shock-cord system and a tennis ball to launch the ball with a flick of the wrist
Sports have been a big part of Steve Petitt’s life as competitor and coach. Over the last two years, his dogs tried numerous throw toys at the beach and various dog parks, but the balls never seemed to last or he had too many accessories to carry. Also, the baseball background (Petitt played professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals organization) and coach in him knew how the repetitive nature of the overhand throwing motion can put undue strain on the elbow and shoulder. Bunjiball only requires an underhand flick of the wrist, meaning it puts no strain on the arm. Petitt decided to invent Bunjiball to be able to provide a fun dog throw toy for people and dogs that is safe, durable and affordable.
DAY 1: Voting for day 1 is closed!
The Perfect Taco Shaper
The Perfect Taco Shaper helps you make fresh, homemade, crunchy tacos by helping you shape your taco shells. You can cook them in a pan with only ½-inch of oil on each side, put them in a deep-frying basket to expedite cooking time by half or bake them in the oven for a healthier alternative. They are made of stainless steel and can be cleaned easily by hand or dishwasher safe.
John Esquivel is a 39-year-old longshoreman from San Pedro, California. With a Costa Rican mom and a dad from Mexico, John’s family’s favorite dinner growing up was tacos. His mom spent years burning the tortillas herself until she and John came up with the idea for the Perfect Taco Shaper.
Frywall
The Frywall is a heat-resistant silicone shield that can be placed in frying pan to prevent splatter. Frywall keeps the sizzle in the pan and the mess off your stovetop. No more greasy, sticky mess when you cook. No more useless splatter screens. From bacon to fried chicken, latkes to tofu steak, Frywall keeps your kitchen clean.
Yair Reiner invented the Frywall in his kitchen in Brooklyn, New York, where he lives with his wife and two daughters. He always loved cooking but hated cleaning the stovetop afterwards. A particularly splattersome duck breast drove him to find a solution. He made the first Frywall for himself from a two-part silicone paste bought over the internet. When he saw how well it worked, he knew he had to share it with others.
Skrub Knife Cleaner
The Skrub Knife Cleaner allows you to clean your kitchen knives safely. Skrub provides a protective barrier which reduces the risk of accidental cuts and effectively removes food debris without damaging or scratching your gourmet kitchen knives. The knife sponge folds over in the center to wrap around the knife while keeping your hands and fingers on the outside at all times, protected behind a thick, durable, cut-resistant frame.
Laura Ivy is an avid cook from a large Italian family. She enjoys cooking with her three daughters and taught them proper knife safety early on, but washing knives was always off-limits. Then the light-bulb moment happened. Laura knew there had to be a better, safer way to effectively clean sharp knives than just a common dish sponge.