In case you just want to know what the product was, to save you a click:
During COVID lockdowns I had an idea for a product that I named The Touch Tool — it was a brass keychain hook, specifically for the new COVID world we lived in.
It allowed you to pull open doors, press buttons at the gas station, etc without touching those things with your hands… ultimately to avoid germs.
Also:
Already had relationship with Factory Rep
I also I emailed a factory rep I used in China named Nerressa.
Already had an existing brand to launch under with an email list
Peel was an existing brand with customers and an email list
Not to mention the $6-8k investment up front for costs (designer, pre-production, shipping, etc.) while many people were stressed about jobs, housing, and whether this illness was going to bankrupt them.
I saw cheaper clones at the ASDA back then.