IDAHO FALLS — Since his world wide web debut in Dec. 2012, Smart PJ’s inventor Juan Murdoch has sold over 3,000 sets of children’s pajamas that mesh together technology and clothing.
“The number one gift for kids at Christmas time is pajamas and books ... this is a perfect combination of the two,” Murdoch explained. “You don't need access to an Internet connection for them to work. They work even if you are traveling or camping.”
Murdoch was recently selected to be a finalist out of a pool of 2,500 vying to be featured in a new, weekly reality web-series hosted by Walmart titled “Get on the Shelf Contest.” After each weekly webisode airs on Tuesday, viewers have 72 hours to cast their votes for a winner who will then have their product sold at www.walmart.com and potentially in select Walmart stores.
To vote for Murdoch’s episode that was posted this week, visit getontheshelf.walmart.com. Voting ends this Thursday, Oct. 10.
“All 20 finalists were broken down into five categories. My product can be found in the kids category. I am competing against three other inventors,” Murdoch said. “It’s a Shark-Tank-style competition. Since the public gets to vote for their favorite video, I am hoping to get Idaho’s support. This is a nationwide contention.”
The man, who is an Idaho Falls native, has recently appeared on television networks such as The Spanish Channel and NBC on The Today Show.
“I've never met a kid that doesn't love these PJ’s,” Murdoch said. “It is an international product as the stories can be told in any language. About a third of my sales, thus far, are from overseas.”
Smartphones have the ability to scan the dot, and the information will automatically appear on the screen.
Even though the downloadable dot pattern on the pajamas known as a QR code has audio attachments, the volume can be muted.
“These pajamas paired with technology are made to be interactive, to bring the family together before bedtime,” Murdoch said. “If parents do not want narration, they can turn off the volume and read themselves. The words will come up on the screen, and they can go at their own speed.”
Murdoch wrote all of the content for Smart PJ’s.
“I incorporated a number of locals to help me with this project too,” Murdoch said. “An artist from Island Park did all of the pictures, and I had a local do the voice-over work. A BYU-Idaho student came up with the new dot pattern. We had to create a new scanning method.”
Parents can choose to tell a bedtime story or read fun animal facts with their children. The pajama line fits kids up to 10-years-old.
“They will hold up to a washing too,” Murdoch added. “We are currently working to apply this new scanning method to other possible products.”
An instruction card comes with the pajamas in order to walk customers through the downloading process.
“It’s super easy,” Murdoch said. “My wife and I have six kids. So, we have been reading bedtime stories for a long time. This was a fun family project for me and my kids. They are my inspiration.”
Murdoch is also a realtor with Keller Williams Reality.
For more information on Smart PJ’s, visit www.smartpjs.com or dial (208) 745-0116.
Support I.F. Inventor Juan Murdoch in
Walmart: Get on the Shelf Contest
Vote for Smart PJ’s
through Thursday, Oct. 10