After the lockdowns here in Austria, we were finally allowed to go out again and show KEEGO live and in color at events. We had missed that very much in the last few years. Meeting the many enthusiastic KEEGO users - that was certainly a highlight this year. Many more joined us through the television broadcast in "Die Höhle der Löwen". We had been waiting for that for a long time too. The recording was already in February 2021.
Absolutely right! Just in time for the summer, our first combo product with Fidlock is finished. It was clear to us that we had to bring together the best water bottle and the best mounting system.
Even though it was difficult, we managed to do it in record time thanks to our production in Europe.
The combination of a squeezable titanium bottle and integrated magnetic holder sets new standards for drinking on the bike. But that's not all; we stick to our principle: We keep going.
Does that mean there will be even more new products? Can you tell us anything about that? What new products do you have in the pipeline?
A long-awaited KEEGO baby in the form of the new 500ml bottle has recently been launched.
We are always in close contact with our community and know that, in addition to the 750ml, a smaller version makes a lot of sense.
- Female cyclists with smaller frames
- Cycling enthusiasts who have less space available due to their bags, batteries, or suspensions
- And, very important: the young athletes
Our customers have repeatedly mentioned that their KEEGOs are also used extensively by their children. Apparently, the light weight and the attachment are ideal for kids. However, 750ml is a bit too big.
Now we have the perfect size so that kids can continue to drink plastic-free in the future. On the bike, as an everyday bottle in kindergarten, at school or during sports.
That sounds like big news! Is there any initial feedback yet?
Yes, and that is overwhelming.
“Kids love KEEGO” already sounds great. What is so special about the bottle? What distinguishes it from conventional bottles?
Conventional sports bottles and comparably lightweight water bottles are made of plastic because they have to be lightweight and squeezable. These are important properties of a bottle. However, with these bottles you always drink some plastic – which you can also taste. Everyone somehow knows the typical bland taste of water that has been in a plastic bottle for some time. In addition, such bottles tend to mold, which leads to high wear and tear. With KEEGO, thanks to the titanium inside, the water simply stays much fresher and free of plastic.
Why is this especially important for children?
According to a WWF study, we ingest the amount of plastic equivalent to a credit card every week. The effects of these substances on our bodies have often not been sufficiently researched. But one thing can be said: it certainly won't make us healthier. We believe that plastic consumption and plastic contact should be avoided whenever possible. This applies in particular to children. In the special phase of body and brain development, foreign substances with uncertain or even hormonal effects simply have no place.
What do you want from parents?
Many parents are worried about the amount of time their children spend in front of screens. I think the best recipe against this is to give children as many opportunities as possible to discover the joy of sport and exercise. In addition, sport in a club also brings many encounters. Many different characters come together in a team. This is not always easy. Learning to deal with this can be a real enrichment for later life. Current studies also show that, in addition to the joy of exercise, the fine motor skills of the young generation in particular are alarmingly declining. No wonder, when you consider what our everyday life and that of our children looks like these days. Focusing on the fun of exercise can have a long-term positive impact on the lives and development of kids. Small motivational boosts, such as a colorful sports bottle, can help to strengthen the desire for exercise.
Besides the smaller KEEGO, are there any other news you would like to share with us?
But gladly. We feel like a part of the cycling scene. The gravel scene in particular is currently growing very strongly and we also know why. The new paths that are possible with an all-round bike, like a gravel bike, have a great appeal. That's why we are very happy to be at gravel-specific events, such as the Gravelgames in Germany or the Austrian Gravelfestival Into the Wold. Here we have direct contact with the scene and can better understand the requirements for their water bottle. We are also constantly expanding our ambassador community in this area. As a result, we released a KEEGO Limited Edition with gravel reference a few weeks ago – the KEEGO Gravel Green.
What makes the KEEGO Gravel Green special?
On the one hand, we were guided by the design that the KEEGO Gravel Green looks like it belongs in all the terrains where graveling takes place. Green is the color that you find everywhere when you are out and about. The special outer layer gives the KEEGO a raw look, which will also look great with dirt and scratches, which are sometimes difficult to avoid on off-road trips.
The topic of sustainability is currently gaining a lot of momentum, especially from Generation Z and Alpha. What is your perspective on this topic, and what role does sustainability play in your work?
When it comes to companies and products, I don't think this term will exist as a special designation in the medium term. For products and new developments, it will be a basic requirement that they are as sustainable as possible.
We believe that we can all make an important contribution if we only buy products that give us pleasure for as long as possible, can be used for a long time and we therefore throw away less. The KEEGO is such a product – developed to be used for as long as possible.
Of course, we also think about the “Afterwards”. We have created our Refresh program for this purpose. We can recycle our bottles and use them in new KEEGOs. We are currently already using recycled material in the outer shell.
Short transport routes are certainly also an important point. Thanks to production in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Denmark), we have quite good conditions here. But we don't want to leave it at that. There are other improvements that we want to address, such as optimizing the energy sources for the operation of the production machines.
What are your plans for the future of KEEGO? What are your goals for 2023?
KEEGO is very well received in the cycling community. In addition, many have already discovered that KEEGO is also an ideal bottle otherwise. Our goal is to emphasize more strongly that KEEGO also makes a lot of sense in other sports and applications.
So far, we have strongly focused our market on the German-speaking neighboring countries. In the coming year, we plan to expand our radius somewhat and also make KEEGO accessible to athletes from other countries. This will be an exciting challenge that we are already looking forward to.
How can I support KEEGO?
The best thing to do is test it yourself, be convinced and recommend it to others... (laughs)
In all seriousness: I am convinced that the best and most honest advertisers are our customers and pioneers... and here we want to continue to develop steadily, as before. The satisfaction in our last customer survey was remarkably high. A full 92% are sure that they will recommend KEEGO. Not many companies can claim that about their products. At the same time, we always get valuable feedback and important ideas in our annual survey on how we can improve even further. We firmly believe: Evolution never stops! 100% genuine enthusiasm for KEEGO - that must always be our goal.
Final question: What are you giving for Christmas this year?
Oh, if I show up with anything other than the new, small KEEGO, then I just won't be meeting expectations! It's pretty easy for me this year. (laughs)
