You Invent It...We Protect It

Find out how to get your invention from being just an idea to a product in the market. Stephen Key, Co-Founder of inventRight, joins us to share his knowledge and personal experience. His products have sold in retailing giants such as Wal-Mart and the Disney Stores and Theme Parks worldwide. With licenses of over twenty products in the last 25 years and several patents for his inventions, he discusses inventRight’s 10 step-by-step system for making your invention a success. For more information regarding inventRight and Stephen Key, see
http://www.inventright.com/

Stephen Key, Co-Founder of inventRight, joins Jillian and Steven to explain inventRight’s 10 step-by-step system for making your invention a success.
http://www.inventright.com/

NCIO is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the U.S. for inventors and inventor groups. Mr. Gnass is the founder of the Invention Convention® trade show and InventionConvention.com web site, and editor of America's InventorTM Online Magazine. As an avid advocate for inventors’ rights and with his experience with consulting thousands of inventors throughout the past 15 years, he joins us to discuss many of the aspects confronting today’s inventor from conception to production.
Guest: Stephen Paul Gnass, Executive Director of The National Congress of Inventor Organizations (NCIO)

Stephen Paul Gnass continues discussing how inventors can use common sense to qualify who with whom they should work.
Guest: Stephen Paul Gnass, Executive Director of The National Congress of Inventor Organizations (NCIO)

Whether you’re a struggling or sophisticated entrepreneur, successfully bringing a product to market is challenging and filled with potential pitfalls. Product development means being specific about a not-so-specific thing, namely, the new product you are developing.

GUEST: Alex McKay, Founder and President of ARMA Design
http://WWW.ARMANET.COM

To avoid product pitfalls the following are all necessary: having a concise format, doing market research, securing an intellectual property attorney, obtaining a cost feasibility study, maintaining proper documentation, creating a prototype, allowing time for manufacturing and marketing and making plans for after sales needs.

GUEST: Alex McKay, Founder and President of ARMA Design

Most inventors have a common goal. They want to start with an idea, get a patent and end up with a hot selling product that makes them lots of money. That can happen if you take advice of experts and successful inventors such as Joe McDonnell, CEO of For Life Products.
http://www.forlifeproducts.com

Joe McDonnell, CEO of For Life Products, recommends starting with an idea and then conducting your own search including online and at the USPTO. If nothing detrimental comes to light during the search he proceeds to obtain a professional search and then files a patent application. Next he creates a prototype and starts manufacturing.
http://www.forlifeproducts.com

Nothing good in life ever comes easy and it is easy to get discouraged and give up. Guest Brian Fried has worked through the good and bad times and successfully turned a hobby into starting and building successful companies and bringing his invention portfolio to life.
Guest is Brian Fried, owner of Think Up Designs.
http://www.thinkupdesigns.com

Brian Fried has two issued utility patents and has many others pending. When he thinks of a new idea, he writes it down immediately and prepares a quick drawing. He then goes to the computer and utilizing several different search engines he checks to see if it already exists.
Guest is Brian Fried, owner of Think Up Designs.
http://www.thinkupdesigns.com

If you’re a lucky inventor, opportunity just presents itself. But most inventors have to create their own opportunities. Mark Friedman has built a vibrant and powerful business community and made online business accessible to all.
Guest is Mark Friedman, Founder and CEO of OnlyBusiness.com
http://www.onlybusiness.com

Registering on the OnlyBusiness site is very easy. OnlyBusiness.com creates a subdomain for your invention or company. If you already have a domain, you can direct your own domain to your new subdomain. Other benefits provided by OnlyBusiness.com include free web press and assistance in creating a paypal payment gateway. Groups and forums can also be created.
Guest is Mark Friedman, Founder and CEO of OnlyBusiness.com
http://www.onlybusiness.com

Guest: Susan Casey
It doesn’t matter what level of education you have, how much money you make, or how many letters you have after your name. If you have an idea and the determination to move forward with it, even your age can’t stop you from being an inventor.
http://www.susancaseybooks.com

Guest: Susan Casey
For adults inventing is usually about a way to make money. For children however, it is usually about helping others or making life easier. Mentors can be very helpful for kid inventors and suggestions for locating one can be found at www.sciencebuddies.com.
http://www.susancaseybooks.com

Guest: Mary Couzin, Title Executive Director Chicago Toy and Game Fair

The Chicago Toy and Game Fair is in its 5th year now and is the only non-hobby toy and game fair open to the public in the United States. Attendees have the opportunity to meet inventors from all over the world and interact directly with the manufacturer. Many of the toys and games available at the fair as well as other high quality toys can be ordered online at www.phun4you2.com.
http://www.chitag.com

Guest: Mary Couzin, Title Executive Director Chicago Toy and Game Fair

Booths are still available at the Chicago Toy and Game Air. For approximately $1,500.00 an exhibitor can have a 10 by 10 booth and a room at the Renaissance Hotel for two nights. This is a great opportunity for inventors as both Hasbro and Mattel will have representatives present.
http://www.chitag.com

Guest: Mary Couzin, Title Executive Director Chicago Toy and Game Fair

Listen to questions from curious inventors from around the country such as “In what ways are games good for the brain?” and “Any suggestions on how to evaluate a game for its educational value?”
http://www.chitag.com

Every inventor wants to invent the next great thing. But often inventors struggle getting started. Michael Planit (author of "Operators Are Standing By"), founded his company Product Strategies, Inc. to help inventors just like you.
http://www.productstrategies.com

Michael Planit, founder of Product Strategies, Inc and author of "Operators Are Standing By", believes that homework is crucial for an inventor. Get on the internet and do your research. Become familiar with what similar products are already on the market and where your product will fit in.
http://www.productstrategies.com

Ms. Carolin Best is both an inventor and an animal lover. And she has combined these passions to create her unique animal invention…the Pet Peek.
Guest Carolin Best. Inventor of the Pet Peek
http://www.petpeek.info/

In the opinion of Intellectual Property Attorney, Steven B. Leavitt, you should contact a patent attorney at the concept stage in the inventing process. You can get a free searchability analysis at www.youinventit.com.
Guest Carolin Best, Inventor of the Pet Peek
http://www.petpeek.info/

A prototype is a first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction. You do not a prototype to file a patent application, but you will need a prototype to determine if your invention works properly and most businesses or investors will want to see a working prototype before licensing or investing in your invention.
Guest: Guy Marsden, Electronic Prototyper
http://www.arttec.net

Depending upon the complexity of the prototype, it can take Electronic Prototyper Guy Marsden as little as 1-2 days or as long as 1-2 weeks to complete the prototype. The average prototype Guy creates averages $1,000 to $2,000, although some cost as little as $100-$200 and some cost as much as $10,000.
Guest: Guy Marsden, Electronic Prototyper
http://www.arttec.net

Are you ready to begin making money with your invention and looking for a buyer such as Guthy-Renker, Thane International, Home Shopping Network, QVC or Shop NBC? All those buyers and more will be present at the ERA’s annual conference.
For more information, go to http://www.retailing.org/new_site/meetings/annual_conference/conf/pick/index.html

Guest: Sheridan Malphurs of NewProductHotSpot.org
http://www.newproducthotspot.org

Over 3000 attendees and 100 exhibitors are expected at the Electronic Retailing Association annual convention at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas running from September 30th - October 2nd 2007. Special pricing is available for guests of the convention. .
For more information, go to http://www.retailing.org/new_site/meetings/annual_conference/conf/pick/index.html

Guest Sheridan Malphurs of NewProductHotSpot.org
http://www.newproducthotspot.org

Whether you are just starting out with a new idea, have a prototype, have a patent, or have a finished product, you still have the dilemma of how to get that product into the market. Matt Yubas, the Product Coach, has developed a six step road map to invention success.

Guest: Matt Yubas, The Product Coach
http://www.productcoach.com

There are several steps between the conception of an invention and money in the bank. According to Matt Yubas, the Product Coach, these include 1) Self Evaluation, 2) Concept Evaluation, 3) Prototype Evaluation, 4) Product and Market Planning, 5)Product Development and Marketing Tactics and 6)Product Launch, Marketing and Selling.

Guest: Matt Yubas, The Product Coach
http://www.productcoach.com

To successfully play with the big boys, proper protection of your intellectual property is a must.

Guest: Julia Rhodes, Owner and Founder of Kleenslate
http://www.kleenslate.com

Tips for landing that lucrative contract include going to tradeshows which have the potential buyers for your invention. Other important avenues include joining inventor and business organizations and above all, doing your homework.

Guest: Julia Rhodes, Owner and Founder of Kleenslate
http://www.kleenslate.com

Inventors Digest is a great resource for inventors and one of our personal favorites.
Formerly under the helm of Joanne Hayes-Rines, Inventors Digest has a new editor-in-chief, Mike Drummond, an award-winning journalist, editor and author.

Guest Mike Drummond, Editor in Chief Inventors Digest
http://www.inventorsdigest.com