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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Collect and Reflect (Reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint by implementing Collect and Reflect(TM) blinds for solar energy collection and reflection (Collect and Reflect))

Teaser

Summary

The company SVA from Lithuania has developed a very unique and innovative window covering, Collect & Reflectâ„¢. The Collect & Reflectâ„¢ blindsâ€™ unique patented design of double slats and technology that creates convection current allows sunlight to be captured by the blinds, thus warming the premises covered by the blinds, or when turned to the other side, reflect sunlight and cool the room. During the SME Instrument Phase 1 project Collect and Reflect, a feasibility study of Collect & Reflectâ„¢ blinds, was performed and a business plan was elaborated. The findings of the feasibility study validated the innovation and unique value proposition of the product with users, industry and the window coverings market. The objective of the Collect and Reflect project was to conduct a feasibility study to validate the technical and manufacturing aspects of the blinds and to develop an elaborated business plan. The feasibility study included the following aspects: market research, development of a business model, pilot project for the target group, pilot project for the end users, and development of a business plan.
Based on the conclusions of the feasibility study and the results of the project with all the underlying tasks, the positive results, feedback, and viable market entry strategy entail that SVA will continue to develop its product in order to effectively expand into first (Lithuania and United Kingdom) and later, second priority markets (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Poland) and thereby set a new standards for environmental friendly blinds within the sector of window coverings. The strategic points laid out in the business plan are in line with SVAâ€™s objective to reach full production capacity by producing over 1 million m2 blinds. This objective will be reached as SVA becomes fully operational in its second priority markets by 2022.

Work performed

During the Phase 1 of SME Instrument, the following activities were conducted: market research, development of a business model, pilot project for the target group, pilot project for the end users, and development of a business plan.
Market research consisted of a detailed analysis into the window coverings markets of Lithuania and UK; an analysis of the needs and requirements of the productâ€™s target audience and end users; competition analysis of blindsâ€™ distributors and retailers in UK and Lithuania; and a marketing analysis. Preliminary laboratory tests of the productâ€™s effectiveness in terms of heating and cooling the room were also performed. The results of this task enabled SVA to develop a business model and carry out pilot projects with the productâ€™s end users and target audience. The results of the pilot project with target audience, which was conducted with distributors in Lithuania and UK, revealed there is a market demand for Collect & Reflectâ„¢ blinds. Further design of a final product is needed in order to manufacture the product in high quantities and enabling fast scaling. Pilot projects with end users (homeowners and commercial owners), which were conducted in homes and offices in the UK and Lithuania, helped SVA to develop and validate value propositions to these groups, and validated the effectiveness of the product in real-life environment and validated the market demand and willingness to pay from end-users.

The results of these activities resulted in the development of a feasibility study and an elaborated business plan. The business plan will provide valuable input towards SVA and its productâ€™s further development in commercializing and scaling its product to other markets.

Final results

The overall objective of SVA is to provide customers an energy efficient, friendly, comfortable and beautiful window coverings option. Collect & Reflectâ„¢ blinds are the only window covering solution that allows energy savings all year long in existing and new buildings and is applicable in existing houses as well as in passive and energy plus buildings. The blinds actively increase the temperature of a room in the colder months and can keep it cool during the warmer months. Preliminary laboratory tests have validated the technical capacity of the blinds and pilot tests with manufacturers validated the productâ€™s manufacturability. Pilot tests with end-users proved the capability to save energy and maintain a lower temperature in the room during summer in comparison to traditional blinds.
SVAâ€™s ambition and expected final result is to offer customers a completely new innovative category of affordable window coverings that offers users the opportunity to lower their energy bills, decrease their carbon footprint, have a beautiful window covering, and maintain privacy while allowing daylight all in one single solution. Next steps will be the design of a final product that can be manufactured in high quantities for fast market entry and scaling to meet expected high global demand for Collect & Reflectâ„¢ blinds.