| For B2B buyers, the hardest part of new product development is not simply turning an idea into a sample. It is creating a product that combines market differentiation, structural feasibility, and the potential to grow into a complete series. Recently, we co-developed a three-sided electric fireplace with an angled heat outlet for a European fireplace brand. The project did not begin with a complete drawing, but with two real problems the customer had identified in its existing products. |
The Customer's Question Was Not "Do We Have One?" but "Is It Good Enough?"
The customer already had several fireplace models and had recognized the potential of three-sided electric fireplaces for media walls and modern living rooms. しかし, the existing products still had two shortcomings. 初め, the flame viewing window was too low and narrow, so the overall visual impact after installation was limited. Second, the flame lacked depth and could not create a realistic effect, while the decorative ember bed also lacked realism.
For a fireplace brand, these are more than cosmetic details. In showroom displays, e-commerce images, and the first few seconds of a consumer’s buying decision, the size of the viewing area, the depth of the flame, and the texture of the ember bed all directly shape the product’s first impression. They also determine whether a new product can stand apart from similar models on the market. With these issues in mind, the customer found us online and presented its development requirements.
We Did Not Simply Copy the Existing Product. We First Broke Down the User Experience
Our engineers studied several three-sided electric fireplaces with angled heat outlets already on the market. We repeatedly discussed the intended setting, installation method, and visual goals with the customer. We then turned the customer’s requirements into four practical design proposals:
Widen the fire view. We raised the viewing area and made the metal frame narrower and thinner, allowing the flame and ember bed to look more open within the limited space.
Add more depth to the flame. We used specially coated glass to make the light projection clearer and more transparent, allowing the reflected flame images to create richer, clearer front-to-back layers and reducing the impression that the flames were “stuck on the same plane.”
Improve the realism of the ember bed. We replaced the one-piece decorative log set with individual logs in different shapes, added a base of wood chips, and installed LED lighting underneath. The light shines through the gaps between the logs and wood chips, creating the effect of glowing ash and embers that are still burning.
Control the top lighting precisely. We installed a high-output ambient LED light above the viewing window and precisely calculated the illuminated area according to the internal space. This keeps the light focused on the logs rather than too far forward or backward, making the decorative logs look more three-dimensional and textured.
Two Key Milestones Made the Development Process More Manageable
After confirming the first-round proposal, we arranged for a prototype to be made. One month later, the customer visited our factory, inspected the first sample on site, and carefully toured each of our production workshops. Standing in front of the sample, the customer reviewed the viewing height, the simulated flame effect, the decorative logs, and the newly added LED light source. They also raised additional customization requirements. Following the on-site review, both sides quickly confirmed the details for the second round of modifications. The face-to-face review allowed us to discuss the visual effect, structural details, manufacturing cost control, and feasibility at the same time, making the discussion highly efficient.
Both sides quickly confirmed the second-round optimization plan. Two weeks later, the revised sample was completed, and the product finally had the feel the customer had wanted from the beginning. The customer gained first-hand experience of our development capabilities and immediately arranged for its inspection team to evaluate the sample. This meant the project had moved another step forward.
The Value of Co-Development Is Turning Market Insight into a Product Solution
B2B buyers usually understand their own markets and consumers better. しかし, a promising concept still needs to be turned into a product solution that can be prototyped, verified, and expanded. A manufacturer’s role should not be limited to following drawings. It should find the right balance between structure, components, processes, visual performance, and manufacturing cost, while proactively offering suggestions throughout development.
We are now planning to expand this three-sided electric fireplace with an angled heat outlet into a range of 36-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 70-, and 80-inch models to suit different sales channels, spaces, and media wall designs. For the customer, this means that one development project does not simply add one new product. It lays the foundation for building a complete product range in the future.
Sample Image
Media Wall Application
Good ODM cooperation rarely begins with a perfect drawing. It usually begins with a problem worth solving, and the manufacturer’s value is revealed in what happens next.
This is also where the real value of co-development lies: the customer understands its market and consumers better, while the manufacturer needs to turn those market insights into a product solution that can be prototyped, inspected, manufactured consistently, and expanded further.
If you are also seeking a new breakthrough in product development, competing in a market full of similar products, or building a private-label electric fireplace range, we would be glad to talk. Truly efficient ODM cooperation often begins not with a complete drawing, but with a problem worth solving.