I am the proud owner of US Patent #7,354,272, “Manipulative tile as learning tool”. It is the first manipulative specifically designed to teach division. I designed and manufactured the product under the name Math Flaps.

I then sold the product to The Wright Group (a subsidiary of McGraw-Hill). I sold the product before the patent came through. The WG people told me the idea was unpatentable. Apparently my patent attorney is smarter than their patent attorney.

Because of various issues, I have yet to break even on the product; however, I have high hopes. I have received two royalty checks and the second was three times the first. If this keeps up, I will be out of the red pretty soon.

Meanwhile I have several new ideas. Some have been submitted to EN, some not. If your goal is to sell or license your inventions you must grow a thick skin. Do not take the rejection of your invention personally. The key is to find the right person and the right company at the right time. I have become good a being patient and picking my opportunities.

I am working on a deal right now that might be very fruitful. But, alas, that is all I can say about it for now.

I have three products, two patented, but currently sell only on my websites; however, one of the products was in two catalogs. I have to say that catalogs are a hard way to go – at least for me.

If someone new to inventing is reading this, the best advice I can give you is “do NOT think of the product as your baby”. Remain as emotionally separate from IT as you can; otherwise, it can hurt too much when you realize that not everyone has your enthusiasm or vision or even understands or wants what you have.

AND, don’t ever give up if you have done your patent and market research and know that your idea is really good.

If you are new to inventing, I am very open about my mistakes and would be willing to help you in any way I can.

Hi Julie, I would like to hear about your experience about selling in catalogs and why it was a “hard way to go”. I have read multiple articles saying catalogs are the “way to go”. Thanks – dond

Hi Dond, My manufacturing costs are too high because I won’t take it off-shore (being a veteran) so that is the first problem. The catalog has to be able to mark it up at least four times and when your costs are high, that can make the product out of reach. My costs were $8.35/unit and I was only able to get $9.50 but the catalog sold the product for $35. They paid the freight which is a real issue. If I had had a contract for 1000 or more units, it would have been almost worthwhile but they ordered 300 and then three more shipments of 100 each, totaling 600. When I called and asked if they would be picking it up again in the next fall (at that time, it was a seasonal product)they told me that 600 was just too small for them to bother with.

What I have since learned, most catalogs want you to go through a rep. who takes a percentage, and I have had problems with two reps. and their contracts to the point where I just pulled out.

I investigated the Home Shopping Network and that would have cost me an arm and leg since you have to have a large quantity to sell them and if they don’t sell enough within a 5 min. period, you have to buy them all back and they add a transaction fee to that amount. Too scarey.

I would imagine that if you had low manufacturing costs but a high-end product, it would really pay off to go through a catalog – the right catalog.

Julie

Thanks Julie for the information. Best of luck to you and your products.

Thanks for everyone’s insights and willingness to share information. That was my original itent for this forum, to help each other. One of the areas where I have accumulated some expertise is in Direct Response TV. You can see one of my products and the TV ad at www.lidpunch.tv. I would be happy to answer any questions about this market and what the DRTV companies are looking for.

Ideally they would like for you to have a utility patent or patent pending and a working prototype. I have my prototypes made in China. Product costs, including packaging, should be about 1/6 of the price on TV. A “short form” ad of two minutes will support a product price on TV of up to about $29.95. A “long form” ad of one half hour can be almost any price, provided it’s perceived as a deal. EN is currently doing an ASOTV search. That’s a good way to go since there are companies out there that will try to take advantage of you or rip off your product. These forums are a good way for inventors to help other inventors.

Cool product Don! Should do well! The best consumer market you could be in right now is probably seniors because they made their money already and tend to have a decent savings. Your product should sell best to seniors.

Surprisingly, my product www.handi-straps.com is selling quite well to seniors. I know it is helping them alot, but they are also the ones that may have a few extra bucks to spend right now.

I have studied infomercials for a long time now, over 10 years and have worked briefly for an infomercial company. I really thing the mold for $19.95 and $29.95 needs to be broken. After all, sooner or later it must rise because of inflation.

I wanted to “break the mold” when I was on the show Pitchmen. My price is $60, and I think it would have been just fine…but Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan did not think so…but they don’t know my product like I do either.

That’s ok…always planned on doing my own infomercial/commercial anyway….and who says you need an all out campaign? You can start on your local cable if it is a good local market where you can get buzz going and grow from there.

I am in Central New Jersey…what better local cable to debut. Get a buzz started right here the most populated state per mile, let the buzz carry into NYC and Philly by advertising and getting my product on the streets…and that can take you all the way!

Hi Ron,

Great post and great product. I did my own infomercial one time and lost a bundle. I used a local film company that does Universal Studios commercials. Very professional but unfortunately not very knowledgeable in DRTV. I found out a way some DRTV companies do it on the cheap. They get an excellent DRTV media company to do the tape and pay them a minimal amount, say $10,000. The media company also gets 1 to 2% of sales on TV. If its successful everyone wins.

Great job on getting your product out.

Thanks Don….I know getting air time cheap is the major problem. Companies these days buy bulk commercial time and then distribute to infomercial companies….BUT…I called Fox 5 in NYC a couple years agod and they gave me a price of $150 for a 30 second spot at 4 AM.

I know that is a tough time but so what. That is the largest channel in the country. Also, a little known marketing tactic, inventors, marketers have run a one time infomercial to be able to use the GREAT marketing line “As seen on TV”

I do believe more and more in the future there will be commercials for products giving only the website as the contact. Dyson vacuum cleaners, who Inventors Digest profiled, he runs a commercial featuring himself and only giving the website. No phone number or retailers to buy at.

I absolutely believe if the local pizza store can run a commercial on cable, I can atleast do that for my product….and see where that goes as a test. I suppose if I say in the commercial the product was invented locally (state the town, county etc.) that may help. We’ll see….

Another possibility is to get a local retailer to stock your product and make a commercial saying it is available at that retailer and split the commercial cost. Think of all ways…be creative! Or…just submit to Edison Nation…sit back…and let them do all the hard work!

Actually, getting local air time cheap is very easy. There are several companies that specialize in local slots at different hours for as little as $5.00 a slot. You can also get “remnant” national slots. I will see what I can find and get back with you. I think referral to your website would work best for you since you have such good pictures and testimonials on your site. By the way, you can also do a staggered pay like QVC on your web site. Two payments of only $29.95. One this month and one next month. Good luck.

Ron,

Spotrunner is one of the sites that offers inexpensive time locally. http://www.spotrunner.com/ Check with Google, they also offer cheap local time deals.

Ron,

I’m sorry to dominate the forum but maybe this info will help someone else. I note on your website you do not have a “check out” where someone can place an order immediately by credit card. This is a must have. I suggest you also have Paypal for payment. A very high percentage of buyers use Paypal so they don’t have to disclose credit card info. Just go to paypal at www.paypal.com and you can set up an account. Happy selling.

Love PayPal; however, one has to be on their toes because some ‘people’ copy PayPal’s logo and will e-mail you a request to update your account. DO NOT DO THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES: forward that e-mail to Spoof@PayPal.com for them to investigate.

Hi Julie,

What is your website so I can order tons of your products.

My product www.3rproducts.com has been on the market for about 3 years now. It sells everywhere from small shows to your big box retailers!

I made every mistake that you could ever think of….but if I were to give advice, I would say to surround yourself with people you trust and would not try to take advantage of your situation!

Stick with it, only you can make it happen!…Trent

Good advice Trent and congrats on your success. I drive a chevy truck and am getting too old to jump in and out of the back of my truck all the time. Your product looks terrific and sure fills a need.

Don….we have sold to Fortune 100 companies, every division of military, many handicapped, injured and also to people who use for special uses. Surprisingly, many seniors too.

Because my invention is totally new, people will have questions as well as I will have questions of how they use so I can learn too. My customers are one big focus group and I could never have that just taking orders online.

This is why for now we want people to call us and not just order online. The people surely feel better knowing there is a place they can always call for questions. Most people have questions.

If I had everyone order online I would not know who orders and the users that I can state is how I get all my free publicity. We even had the ex CEO of Ford who is also on the board of Proctor and Gamble, he ordered and I have his home phone number. I have talked to him twice. Military medics in Kuwait love Handi-Straps….etc.

Statistics say a shopping cart online can triple sales but at this point we would rather talk to the people and my manufacturer can push other products to certain customers. We are really branding quite well this way, even worldwide.

I have looked at Spotrunner before but thanks for reminding me.

Don,

Is the markup for informercial products the same as normal retailers, 4 times manufacturing? Or, do places like ASOTV typically own the product then only need a 2 times markup?

Excuse me. I am addressing Ron… Stupid Fat Fingers …

Is the markup for informercial products the same as normal retailers, 4 times manufacturing? Or, do places like ASOTV typically own the product then only need a 2 times markup?

Markup for Infomercial vs “normal retailers”.

Markup for infomercials is 5 to 6 times product cost. If it costs them $2.00 to make the product and package it, then they would have to sell it on TV for at least $9.95 plus shipping and handling.

In retail, the manufacturer typical sells the product for at least 2X cost to a distributor. The $2.00 product would sell for at least $4.00 to the distributor. The distributor would mark it up about 50% to $6.00 to the retailer. The retailer would typically double their cost and sell it for $12.00. Different retailers have different markups.

Actually Don, That’s pretty close, but not exactly.

As for normal retail – the manufacturer and the wholesaler are often the same person. Although there are exceptions to every situation – generally speaking, the manufacturer is about 25%, the import/fulfillment is about 40%, sales about 10% and final profit about 30% (gross) – The retailer on the other hand is about 50% – 200% unless it’s grocery where it may be as low as 5% or furniture where it can be well over 1000 %

For additional information on Direct Response selling (specifically QVC) contact Kim Babjak (great lady) on the Inventor’s Library site http://theinventorsmentors.forumo.biz/forum.htm Kim will be happy to explain all the details to you.

Thanks Mark,

I try to keep it simple. Different companies and different industries have different markups. Walmart does their own distribution and has one of the lowest markups – thats why they can keep their prices down. They also drive a very hard bargain with the manufacturer. One way to get into someone like Walmart is to start at the local level. Local Walmarts are willing to support local manufacturers provided you meet their requirements. It’s worth a shot.

I used to own and operate a food products company that sold to frozen food distributors in 26 states. The food business is particularly difficult since the big boys introduce so many new products each year. Once again, start out local first. Keep in mind you are competing for shelf space. Many grocery chains charge “slotting fees” to buy some real estate on the shelf. You also have to advertise and offer deals. Even then you have to prove your product by its success on the shelf or you get kicked to the curb. Start with local independent stores if you want to see how your product will do.

No problem Don,

Find information about this and other great Inventor subjects on the Inventor’s Library site http://theinventorsmentors.forumo.biz/forum.htm

Mark

Don’t underestimate the power of an online shopping cart. If your product is great, your product carries with it the most powerful marketing tool… Word of Mouth! It is the cheapest and best sales tool. Sure, I suppose the inventor knows the product better than anyone, but nobody is more truthful than a customer. I would offer both an order “hot line” to field questions from the newbies, but certainly take advantage of the 24-7 machine for those that want order now. Make it available for those that are informed either through an FAQ page, being a current customer or a referral. Offering all methods to order is best… Unless the product is 100% offered through a distributor network, then you just want to offer information, links to where they can get it and have no ordering method on the site.

Also,unique products, like the few that are mentioned in this thread, are great for viral marketing. For this avenue an online shopping cart is a must!

Ron, I don’t know if you saw my earlier post (somewhere ). I was at a Detroit Tigers game here in Michigan and I believe you would have huge success with sporting event vendors. The vendors that carry the tubs of beer, soda, food, etc… would certainly benefit from Handi-Straps. Man, they were tired by the middle of the game… I also wonder if the teams / stadiums could get an insurance discount if they use them… Just a thought.

To second Ms. Julie Brown’s warning, don’t click on any email link that “looks official” from any institution that handles sensitive data. Delete the email immediately. Just go to the official corporate website by typing it in your browser’s address bar and log in from there. Also any website that handles sensitive data should be secure and preceded with a https: Note the “s”. That means you have a secure, encrypted connection to the website.

Hi Ron,

The latest ‘hot’ thing in websites is a video showing the customer how the product works. That sounds like a great way to go for your product if you are going to do an e-commerce site.

Good luck!

I have a question about “resurrecting” a patent application. I have several products where I was approved by the USPTO for a patent and I didn’t send in the Issue Fee because I didn’t have any commercial interest. Now I have a major manufacturer/distributor that has an interest in these products. Is there any way I can “resurrect” this patents and pay the Issue fee, even though the time has expired?

Hi, Don.

I am no patent attorney or agent.

I know this, however.

Yes, you can attempt to ‘revive’ in one of two ways, as long as you act within 2 years (Please verify the time period):

Unavoidable abandonment OR
Unintentional abandonment

The first one is cheaper but almost garanteed to be denied. The second one is much more expensive but statistically, with very high chances of approval.

Please confirm the details. I may have the unavoidable-unintentional terms transposed. I do know it is possible. I do know that the term is ‘revive’ as opposed to ‘resurrect’

Just search on the PTO site: “Revive abandoned patents”, or maybe “Revive Expired Patents” Get it from the horse’s mouth.

Good Luck!

Thanks Joaco,

I looked it up on the USPTO site and it appears it is possible. Its only been 6 months. Now I just need to find out from my attorney what it will cost to attempt to “revive”. This particular company will only consider products that are patented, not pending. Personally I have given my kids an advance directive to NOT try to revive me when I pass.

Thanks again

Hi Don,

It took 18 months to receive my patent and I understand that it takes even longer now. If you manufacture during that waiting period (pending), and someone sees it, they can copy it and sell until you get your patent. Then, you would have to have enough money to go after them to cease and desist.

At the time I applied (2000), I decided to wait until I got the actual patent (2002) because, being a new, naive inventor, I was positive that EVERYONE wanted my product. As time has gone on, reality has settled in and there aren’t all that many people who actually want it. My lack of marketing an unknown product has a lot to do with lack of customers; however,of those 3000 who have ordered, about 10% are repeat customers. So, there is just enough of a carrot left on the stick to keep me going. Maybe submissions to EN’s searches will get me over the hump.

Good luck with your ‘revival’ – sounds rather religious,
Julie

Forgot to mention the following:

A good example of the patent pending period is the snuggie on DTV (the fleece blanket with armholes). The young designer was featured in Steve Greenberg’s book “Gadget Nation” and someone saw it and had it made overseas and got it on tv before Christmas and made millions. The kid doesn’t have a leg to stand on because the money has been made and the longer it was on TV, the less popular it became until people started saying negative things about it.

Religious, and also Rocking, as in CCR, Julie.

Don, it should not cost that much. As opposed to writing or prosecuting a patent, the ‘revival’ phase is only paperwork (filling forms)

Watching the dashboard:

I suggest that inventors move on to inventing new products rather than watch the dashboard every day. I usually have 5 or 6 products in process somewhere. I have two in the Petsmart search. If a product goes to G-8, that’s terrific. If not, then it’s time to move on to other ways to try and get the products to market. If you have invented one product, you can invent more. Just look around you at daily problems and let your mind come up with solutions – Voila!

Happy inventing.

Don, do you have a working prototype for each of those in process? Just curious how so many people post so many products. It’d be a full time job for me to get working PTs of all of my ideas. My most recent submission involved a description, drawings and a very rudimentary PT. What level of development do others typically post with?

Ian
www.monoMASTER.com

Hi Ian,

Edison Nation and maybe Evergreen are the only two places that consider “ideas”. I suspect many people on Edison Nation have submitted without prototypes. I always produce a good quality working prototype before I try to sell a product. I have a presentation this week with a major international distributor on three of my products which are prototyped. Pray for me. I’m just one of those people that needs to see a working model and touch it and play with it. I get my drawings from a great engineer that only charges $50 an hour and then send the CADS to china to get a prototype. I can usually get the whole thing done for less than $500 or so. Good luck. I like your fishing product.

Ian, What kind of protection do you have when you send your ideas to China? Ever have a problem with copying / stealing your idea?

Don, what’s evergreen?

Ian,

I agree with Don – great product! Love your website too.

To answer your question, I do a little of both. I have submitted with and without prototypes. I may have even submitted a couple without drawings. It depends how much time I have, etc. My prototypes are rough working prototypes to test the concept. They’re not always pretty, but they work. In my personal experience, it has been the ones that I have made prototypes of and submitted video of that have made it to the final stages. But I know that’s not always the case. I must not be able to explain my ideas well in writing so I always try to do a prototype now.

Evergreen is a company of good guys that have lots of experience in business. They develop your invention and look for a market, no cost to you. They take a percentage of the licensing fees.

http://www.evergreenip.com/

Hi Don and Margaret,
Thanks for the Kudos. PT’s aren’t a problem, it’s just I have a million ideas, most of which don’t pan out after a patent search, and others aren’t quite convincing enough for me to move on. I’ve noticed a lot of folks have many, many submissions and it makes me think I should relax my self control and just submit, submit, submit. In this case and considering the submissions I’ve seen on the EN site (eg. “monster pong”) it looks like very little “inventing” is actually required to have a product picked up. If ideas alone are sufficient then that’s a different matter than pitching a new product.
Perhaps a balance between submitting a few rough ideas and a few with working PTs might be the way to proceed.

Julie, I have a relationship with a US-based company with a factory in China that I trust and didn’t just contact a manufacturer in China in the dark. No company is protected from copy-cats, but my product has a specific market and I’m confident that my manufacturing partner will value the relationship we have and not risk the volume I request from them (for this product and the next we’re working on). Also, my main outlets are the US, Canada, Europe and Japan where I’m covered. I’m not Gucci so its unlikely another company would try to reproduce the monoMASTER for the above countries, if they do I’d probably find out and take appropriate measures.

By the way Julie, I think a common misconception of China is that they are waiting to pounce of every idea and copy it. I’ve had inventions stolen by US-based “invent-help” companies before (ever seen the “snore-no-more” in every in-flight magazine?) when I was young and naive, but these guys over there are very pleasant to deal with and mainly just happy to be in business and manufacturing something that is re-ordered.

Hi Ian,

There is no such thing as an “international” patent. An application has to be filed for each country, or group of counties you wish to make a claim. US is one, Canada is another, there are several European counties that come together, then Japan is yet another. Japan is an expensive one as you’ll need to have your application translated. I’m still waiting for the patents to be issued despite having filed some time ago. It can take up to 2 years I’m told. As this all costs a lot of money it’s a good idea to find out if your idea sells before investing tons of cash. Spend a few thousand on a patent lawyer. Have them draw up your application and submit a provisional application for patent (a PAP or PPA). This will give you up to a year to see how your inventions work out in the market before following up with a country-specific full utility patent. Keep in mind, you’re not “protected” as such, it just gives you time before you decide whether to go for the full patents.

I created an invention. Asked for engineering help from my cousins who became my partners. We started selling it on Ebay and used the money to apply for a patent and trade mark our brand name. My customers asked for improvements and we followed through. My invention won Best in Show at a national trade show, has been featured in a leading industry magazine, newspaper articles attracted television news crews to my home. And after 2 years, my invention is in national retail stores and has sold over 1000 world wide. I created an acoustic/electric cardboard box upright bass called “Bogdon Box Bass” that retails for under $100 yet compares in tone quality to any $5000+ upright bass. Of course its a crazy thing, but the novelty is also a marketing tool. I made the first one because i was too broke to buy a real upright bass and all i wanted was the sound of an upright bass for home recording. No one was ever going to see it, but it sounded so good, i had to post it on youtube, and then i began to get thousands of requests to buy it from me. I have a cousin thats an acoustical engineer and his brother is an electronic engineer. Their dad owns a sign shop. So between their smarts and my idea, we’re in business. It is a perfect time because our economy is screaming for a cost friendly upright bass. My competition starts at about $800. It’s selling in 30 countries from Uruguay to the Swiss Alps. I’m still a mailman in Detroit, but I have an ALL NEW product coming out soon, and my retailers already committed to selling it without even seeing it!

Chris! LOL! What a story!

Foks, here’s his one minute youtube video. Go take a look. Priceless!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6cTbaBApM4

Thanks for the inspiration! Now what $5000 item can I remake for $100???

Ian, Thank you for the education.

thank you Linda-Linda… the best thing about my invention adventure is that it hasn’t costed me anything out of my pocket. My uncle put up money to purchase materials to start, he’s been paid back and the business is surviving financially on its own. Even the trips to Nashville was paid from the Bogdon Box Bass bank account. I don’t think I’m going to get rich beyond my wildest dreams, but that’s not the point. The point is that anything is possible. It’s fun to do the impossible!

Back to the Snuggie: as I mentioned several posts ago, the Snuggie was an idea by a young inventor whose product, the Slanket, only had patent pending and it appeared in the book ‘Gadget Nation’ and the idea was stolen. I imagine that the Snuggie people made millions. BUT, I just noticed that the Slanet is in the Solutions catalog and is selling for $39.95 there. It is difficult to get into a catalog (I have been trying to get into Solutions for quite a while) yet they picked up an item which was sold to death for next to nothing. I’m happy the original inventor is getting some kind of chance.

Holly, I just saw something called ‘Organizing Bedskirt’ in the Solutions catalog: not as nice as yours and it is selling for $14.95 (although I think there must be a typo because below the price they state "2 or more just $16.95 each).

Just goes to show that you had a brilliant idea and others want to copy it.

Thanks Don for the encouragement. I have a patent and also have two great working prototypes made from China. I would like for the company to continue manufacturing for me, but I will have to pay the shipping to the USA. Any suggestion about shipping. My goal is to find a company that would be an exclusive licensee to manufacture and distribute this new invention. Check out my Umbrellas Invention on facebook (deborah mccullough or lady d invention umbrella.blogs) Your feed back is greatly appreciated.