A rare moment: James Dyson presented his latest invention in Paris. In an interview with ‘Krone’, the media-shy Brit also revealed why he depends on young, inexperienced engineers for his development and when he will transfer his company.
James Dyson is 76 years old and is still working with great enthusiasm on the latest products from his brand. In Paris he enthusiastically presented his new hair straightener. For him, the focus is not on the hairstyles, but on the technology. The developer explains in detail how the warm air gently dries the hair and smoothes it at the same time. To demonstrate the novelty of a hair model, the British flew in Hollywood stylist Matthew Collins.
Actually, the focus in Paris should only be on the hair straightener, but the inventor is so enthusiastic about his brand new hair dryer heater that he immediately introduces another device with this technology. Over the past three years, 586 million euros went to the development of hair drying equipment. But something new will probably hit the market soon. The company has renamed its hair division “Beauty”. James Dyson won’t reveal which product will be launched next.
In Austria, the colorful vacuum cleaners are still the bestsellers. The hairdryers are catching up, the company confirms. And the two divisions’ technology isn’t that different, as James Dyson explains in the “Krone” interview: “I told my chief engineer that we can make our little vacuum cleaner motors even smaller and use them in a hair dryer.”
Hairdryer instead of vacuum cleaner
Now it looks like Dyson will focus more on beauty products. The engineer has a simple explanation for this development: “People don’t talk about vacuuming as enthusiastically as they do about their haircut. It is very important for them that their hair remains healthy.”
Dyson relies on young technicians from its own university for development. From 17/18 Three times a week they work on vacuum cleaners or hairdryers, while theory is given on the other two days. “They come fresh from school, are motivated, naive, have no prejudices and no fear. That’s fantastic. They are not afraid of failure and will try anything.”
“I am constantly unhappy and dissatisfied”
The engineer himself lives this mentality: “I don’t think about the past, about what I did. I’m an engineer and I’m thinking about the next problem: how to solve it to make an even better device. I always look forward, not back.” In concrete terms, it also meant that the brand launched hairdryers that were actually not perfect for the 76-year-old. “I am constantly unhappy and dissatisfied, but that is a good mental state for me,” laughs the Brit. It took 5,127 prototypes before the first Dyson vacuum cleaner hit the shelves.
But fewer and fewer people can afford the exclusive devices. “When I started with vacuum cleaners, all I thought was that I wanted to bring a better appliance to the market. It was never about selling a lot of products. That was never my ambition, but to sell better technology. This is my passion. I also think the hair dryer market has changed because of us. Before Dyson, hairdryers were cheap. That has now also changed for other brands.”
James Dyson on the next boss
The fact that Dyson is not concerned about sales figures is evident from his company’s headphones, which cost 650 euros. They were developed by son Jake. Within the company he works on his own products and even has his own lamp line. The 76-year-old cannot imagine that Papa James will slowly withdraw from the company. “My son wanted to volunteer with us. We work well together. I hope he takes over the company too.” When? “If he throws me out,” the entrepreneur laughs.
Although Dyson can conduct research 24 hours a day with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland and Britain, there is one feat the company has failed to achieve. He would have liked to develop jet propulsion for aircraft. “This invention changed aviation. The man who invented it was not a scientist, but self-taught. Nobody believed him then. He had no support. And then everything changed.”
And James Dyson has another big goal: he wants to introduce the verb dyson into English. So far, Hoover’s biggest competitor has had the upper hand in vacuuming for the word vacuuming. “Yes, I get grumpy during interviews when someone uses that word,” said the Brit.
Dyson financed the trip to Paris.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
