I think one, is when/if you can enter one idea into one or more searches. How you do it? and the fact you don’t have to pay another $25 each time.
And when should you do it- for example if you are at G7 can you still enter it into another search?
Basically- everything about this situation. This is always a big one for newbies :-)

What does each stage mean?

Can I submit to multiple searches?

How do I submit to multiple searches?

When will EN let me opt out an idea once it turns grey?

How long does the search take from G1-G7

Is it free to submit an existing idea to another search?

Will EN actively try to licence my idea without entering it into a search since it’s already in their data base?

When will I get a G7? oops…that’s just an actual question form me hahaha :-)

Tania, Thanks xo

I also would say the biggest question seems to be what each stage means.

why does stage 4 (research and development) take longer than all the other stages?

I think Tania hit all the major questions. Go Tania, Go Tania. Toni, it’s so fabulous to put a name to the face!!!!! Yay for your new pic!

Show me the money!!!

If I am selected, how much can I make, and when?!?!

Do you guys give feedback for my product???? LOL!

How about – How many ideas can or must be selected by the search sponsor?

0 – ZERO

Great questions! Thanks for you help.

You guys covered good questions that I think are needed. I got a few more that are not as good, but might be fair game for EN to consider.

OK here I go…

1. Is here a way to determine the length of the scheduled time for a search from the time it is born – to the time the finalist are chosen? (Some searches may have a longer based on the sponsors timetable.)

2. Is there a predetermined value of time and effort the EN staff takes per stage of review? (i.e. Say the total value of search is 100, then the value assigned to each stage might be: 1=5, 2=10, 3=10, 4=25, 5=15, 6=20, 7=10, 8=5. This way folks can get a feel for the anticipated time and importance for each stage.)

3. Are there market price point thresholds for each search that the sponsors are looking for? Is there a cost to profit ratio that should be considered?

4. Is there a simple feedback statement to why a submission does not succeed? (Not looking for an epistle here, but a short 2 sentence statement or a reference a standardized grade system of reasons to drop submissions)

5. Is there a reference to the number of participants who started, got dropped per stage, and number of acceptable applicants. (Maybe a weekly report?)

6. Is there a search manager assigned to each search? If so, can I send confidential questions about my submission, instead of an open forum?

7. Is there a calendar of annually scheduled searches?

8. Is there a index of success stories?

9. Is there a simplified ‘straight talk’ explanation of the contractual obligations for all parties? And what stages the obligations kick-in, and for how long is the term of commitment?

That is it for now.

These may not be frequently “asked” but we’re sure they are frequently “thought” ….

If a company selects a product and signs a contract, is it an exclusive contract? If so, for how long? Will the product ever be able to be marketed through other companies or venues? Does the contracted company have the ability to re-license the product to other companies or does EN have that ability at some point?

Once our product has been picked up by a search sponsor, what does EN do on the inventor’s behalf? Do they follow up with the search sponsor? Are they involved in the manufacturing process? Are they a liaison between the inventor and the search sponsor or is the inventor “out of the loop” at that stage? (We really don’t mind just sitting back and cashing the checks!)

What, exactly happens to our product once we’ve signed a contract with a search sponsor?

Oh, and…what do each of the dashboard stages really mean? ;)

Matt or John,
First of all Happy Holidays, When a submission is X’d for reasons of prior art, Prior patent, very similar product on the market, not protectable, not marketable or any reason that the entry is not suited for any search because of reasons above or not mentioned.

Then can a feedback be given and the product removed from the database. This way you will not have to keep spending time on the same product and also it’ll give the product holder the heads up not to put anymore time,effort or money into it?

Chic,
Interesting question. We will have to consider your request.

Everyone,
These questions are great! I’d like to point out that my intention in this thread is to capture the most common questions and respond to them in an updated FAQ. I am not planning on responding here. With a few exceptions, we’ve answered these questions in other threads.

Thanks again!

Chic, I actually tried asking that question yesterday and couldn’t figure out how to word it. I came up with “If you think our idea sucks, could you let us know so we will stop entering it into new searches?”… as you see, I never perfected the wording! :)

I hate to say it but i have ask that question in the past till i blue in the face.
i even e-mailed the team with the idea a long time ago. because it didnt make any since to have an idea in the fault that {a} kept getting turned down
{b} we didnt know that it was to costly {c} just a dumb idea {d} so on
at the latest i even i believe last week said that “maybe” we could even once a year substitute a new idea for one of those old worthless ideas!
not to take anything away from chic or you mark.
anything to get it across and out in the open is great.

ALSO

I hate to ask but i have been on here running my mouth so much that i havent seen or over looked when we might see movement on the as seen on tv??
also please feel free to tell me to shut up when i get to bickering to much.
some say i`m self centered. but hey i`m me

I guess the difference between what you asked and what I am asking is that you are still asking for feedback. I just want to keep from bugging them with something they don’t want to deal with, sort of like the ab belt idea on season 2.

Mark

no but if you have a product there and you submit it a couple of times and it goes no where. and you remove it.
then its a waste. but what if it was just a simple thing like . it cost to much to make. ok

or it already is out there.

if you keep submitting it your still wasteing their time in every search!

so we need to figure out when we and they want to stop “wasteing time”

I agree with Robert. It gives hope that your product may have life, or slaps you hard to wake up and do something different.

Maybe EN could flag ‘waste of time’ submissions and have some dialog. If there was a misunderstanding of a submission, it might give the an opportunity to correct it. i.e. EN:‘Too Expensive’, Response: WHAT? This can be made less than 20 percent of the target market price, if you use @ instead of $%^&##. EN: Oh!, we never thought you meant @.

I know EN does not have the resource of time and effort to defend every decisions made, but could there be a threshold a submission needs to pass like G6, to get such feedback privilege. Otherwise the reason for being dropped could be a code reference to a index table of reasons.

Walter

I`m not sure what their staffing is like. i`m sure they have enough to do.
but i did have an idea go G7 then the company did not take it.
so now i have a G7 yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa now what lol

Robert, I would like to go to G7, just to have it as support that my concept or product has some mojo. I would include that fact in my business plan, along with the other ‘intent to distribute’ letters I received. Just trying to get something back for my money thrown to EN, should that happen to me.

Walter

we do get alot for our $25.00

you couldnt even begin to get anyone to look or research your idea for $25.00

yes i had a G7 i may never do anything with it.
EN got me that far and i figure if there was a slim chance that its an idea that sells then they deserve their cut now too.

plus with out EN i wouldnt have a clue what to do with it.

IMO, the $25 is well spent, even based on speculation of the levels of the dashboard. Thankfully, my idea DID reach the G7 threshold, which means, I paid $25 for an evaluation that proved what I believed in to begin with… my idea is viable and commercially marketable. To EN, I am forever grateful for that.

The R8 sucked but I believe in the timing of the universe. The fact that I did ANYTHING at all with this idea has given me momentum… and those of you who have reached the G7 level, hopefully, it will give you momentum too. ;~)

I’m not sure if this question has been asked, but if you have a invention on a live product search can you take the idea to a casting call as well. The reason for asking is I’ve readed that some people have ideas on product searches and have had no movement on there dashboards in months, would this work for allowing other retailers to see your idea instead of just the ones looking for that certain product. I was thinking with the casting calls there might be a retailer that would like to get the idea and if it’s just on live product search then the only one that will view the idea is the one putting out the search……any info or answers will be great.

Hi Darrell,
Yes you can bring any ideas submitted to LPS’s to a live casting call. I think your best shot that retailers will see your product is to bring a “refined prototype” along with you to the casting call. Matt or John can answer more specifically to that suggestion. But, you can bring products you have submitted to sponsored searches to casting calls!

John M.

when might we see some movement on the “as seen on tv” dashboards??

Hey thanks for that cheryl I was not sure if you could, because of the agreement for the live product search, but when you think about it you are only showing the product to the people you have already submitted it to and maybe giving yourself another shot at some retailer saying they like that invention and would like to give it a chance in there line, well thats cool thanks.

AS SEEN ON TV MOVEMENT ??????

I am new here and entered the BB&B woman search. I only had one idea and I am not trying to “get rich quick” from it, so to speak. I thought it’s a great idea and I know several people who would purchase it, if available. It’s cheap to make, market and sell and was worth a try. I to, like everyone else, wanted to know what the stages meant. It’s a simple question. It really ticks me off that this “EN team” can’t answer a question that has been asked over 25 times on these forums. Enough farting around with it, stop jerking us around with these answers that don’t answer anything. If it’s a secret, please just state that you can’t let us know. I am starting to feel like I am getting the run around.I am sure every new person has asked this same question. Make a simple explanation for each stage and post it below the dashboard symbol. No one would ask anymore. I know this site is fairly new, but come on. The most important thing to all you people is knowing what it going on with your idea on a daily, weekly, stagely (is that a word?) basis. We pay $25 per idea, just let us know what each stage represents for goodness sakes!!! As far as them telling each individual why there idea wasn’t choosen, come on, they can’t do that! We come online, we pay $25 and we think we are entitled to a huge explantion on why our idea wasn’t picked? How can you even expect that? It would take far to long for them to do that. If you want that type of feedback, I think they should give you the option of paying for it. But I agree with the website that it’s just not possible with the amount we are paying. They are normal everyday people like us, who are probably so overwelmed by the amount of entries they are receiving that to even add that feature for free would put them under. If my idea flops, oh well, I tried. I don’t feel like I would need further information about it. If you want further info, then submit your idea to a company that does give you the feedback. But remember with it comes a huge price tag, which in reality is why most of you are here and not there. I hate to sound like a mean bitter woman, but I am just trying to explain why they can’t give everyone the feedback they think they need or deserve.I am just sick of reading those two questions that are brought up over and over again.

Yes , I know I can’t spell. LOL

Hi, I just recently started entering product ideas and also was curious about folks talking about G7s, G8s and R7s. Looking at the dashboard status I could see that it was numbered 1 – 7, but no 8. Also what did the G and R mean? I had a crazy dream one morning and in the dream I remember looking at the EN dashboard and noticed the color of the status bar was green and I realized that green was “G” and that if the color of the status bar turns red then your product idea for that search is no longer wanted. The red color of course is the “R” that we all dread. So I understand G1 – G7 and R1-R7, but not certain about G8 and R8. I assume that it means your product is going to be licensed. I also kept the following information when I submitted my last product idea. I think it help explains what’s going on.

• Thank you for your submission. The Edison Nation Team evaluates ideas on an ongoing basis. Follow the progress of your submission(s) via the Inventors Dashboard. Please do not send any prototypes or physical materials unless we ask you to. There are three main stages in the evaluation process. Stage 1: Preliminary Metrics. We quickly search to identify the robustness of the target market, uniqueness of the concept and protectability. Stage 2: Database. All ideas that pass the stage 1 evaluation are added to the Edison Nation Database and begin Stage 2 evaluations. Stage 2 evaluations include a more in-depth study of uniqueness, marketability and protectability. Additionally, the Edison Nation Team evaluates each submission’s manufacturability and fit with retailers needs and core business values. Stage 3: Retail Presentation. The ideas that best fit the current goals of the search will be presented to the retailer for review. The retailer may choose to commercialize any number of the ideas submitted.
• Please continue to maintain inventor notebooks, documenting the continued development of your concept.
• Product ideas are judged on:
  o Uniqueness of Concept
  + Search database for similar ideas. Use data mining by searching similar categories for key words.
  o Marketability
  + Solves widespread problem or issue and therefore represents a significant market opportunity
  + Broad market appeal
  + Mainstream need
  + Robust product category, large & growing is preferred. Market size.
  + Product idea price point
  o Quality of potential intellectual property protection
  o Manufacturability
  + Fit with the Edison Nation Team Resources
  + Solution can be made with existing technology/resources (no time machines or hover cars)
  + Can be manufactured cheaply enough to sustain significant margins at target retail price
  o Good fit with retailer image/brand/core values
• The best ideas are presented to retailers

You pretty much nailed it Don. Any submission that makes it to G7 is a finalist and is presented to the sponsoring company by EN. If the company accepts it for licensing, then it goes to G8 once the contracts are signed. If the sponsoring company passes on the idea, then it goes R8.

There is a lot of info on these threads about what the various stages mean. If you type “dashboard stages” into the search at the top of the forum page, you should find the answers you are looking for.

Good Luck!

After weeks of waiting at G3 for the HS I finally made some movement. Unfortunately it went from G3 straight to R5 (luckily I still have 3 more waiting on G3)! I would appreciate help with a general interpreting of this. I take it to mean that the idea is marketable from an R&D standpoint but you did not feel it was a good match for HS. Would that be a reasonable interpretation? Thanks.

Hi John,

I pitched my invention idea to “As Seen on TV” last Friday on 6/1/09 to the CEO Mr. AJ. Khubani, and a panel of judges. This was a very thrilling positive experience for me. I made it to the finals and Telebrands requested to further review my product idea. What I need you to know is that this product idea is entered in your current database contest for “As Seen on TV”. I opted out to avoid any confusion. However, the live product search bar for “As Seen on TV” still appears. I just want to make sure that I am not in the contest.

Thank you for all the Live Product Searches,

Mary

Mary, where was your dashboard at the time? Looks like you made it to Everyday Edison and thus they have first rights. JMO

Hi Penny,

My invention was only at G3. The contest is still open. I opted out prior to pitching my idea to Telebrand. Company. I thought I had a golden opportunity to pitch my idea, so I did just that………. In the contest my idea may or may not have been chosen by the EE product review team to move forward in order to be presented to the company. What I have learned from my experience is that know one can sell a product like the inventor himself.

I have read on other posts that we can opt out of a contest as long it is prior to obtaining a G7. John is this true can you clarify for me and make sure that I opted out of the contest but remain in the database.

Thanks,

Mary

John Hi,

once you have submitted a idea in the Yahoo make it green live product search, can your friends from EN vote for you?

Mary: You might try to send John an email. He is very busy but usually responds. Also check out the support section (top right of screen). You can post question there and see if it is just a technical “glitch”.

Congrats on your progress and good luck all the way! Keep us posted.

So, you are an everday edison? One of the previous searches?

Take care and good luck to all!

Hi Mary,

Congrats on your pitch – very exciting! I would email Matt or go to the support section (link at top right corner of page) and open a discussion with tech support. I should think the dashboard is supposed to disappear if you opt out. I don’t believe your idea is supposed to remain in the database because you are not a Gold member. I think you would have to pay to enter it again, but hopefully you won’t need to!

Penny,
Mary and her friend were co-inventors that were on the last season’s Everyday Edisons show.
http://www.everydayedisons.com/lisaMary.html

Come on guys, leave us hanging on a Friday with G5’s and 6’s and the presentation is Monday! You guys are cruel :)

I know you guys R working long and hard, just wanted to give you a hard time and to let you know we’re thinking of you just as much as your thinking of us going through all those brilliant ideas!

Good luck with the presentation!

Presentation is Tuesday, as my calendar shows?

your right! I lost a day somewhere. Probably kids getting out of school for summer…..Trying to fast forward that I think.

Anyways thanks Penny. I had it in my head Mon was the 9th My Bad!

I think John is on an airplane at the moment on his way back from the WD-40 search (it went great, btw, but more form John about that when he returns)…

Mary, please click on support in the top right corner of the site and submit an issue. Our team will look into it. Don’t worry, if you’re opted out, you have no obligation to us. We’re in the process of completely re-engineering all of the LPS code so if that’s a bug, we’ll make sure it doesn’t show up in the new code, which we’ll be launching shortly. My support team can also remove your dashboard for you for that search.

As a point of clarification for everybody, “As Seen on TV” is not a company – it’s really an industry. Our ASOTV search includes many of the top players whom we have learned to trust through our experiences with them.

One other note, this forum was originally created to get suggestions for the LPS FAQ. Not to answer specific questions; therefore, it isn’t monitored as often as the real LPS support forum, which is here: http://www.edisonnation.com/forums/expert-q-and…

How do we communicate with Edison Nation after we submit a product?

I have followup information that might be helpful in their evaluation but there’s no email address.

Don,
Just edit your idea here with the updated info:
http://www.edisonnation.com/dashboard/live_prod…

If you have a tech support issue, you can contact us at http://support.edisonnation.com

John:

You should have a LPS for entertainment kitchenware. You know, new cool things to enhance the entertaining experience. Clever serving dishes, unique cutlery holders, stuff like that.

Hi John,
Been out of Edison for a bit…so pardon if my question is answered somewhere in the bowels of EN…

Where can I go to see all the products/ideas that have been sold in the marketplace as a result of submission and the process through Edison Nation?

Thanks for helping me.

Deemcbee/Opportunityknocks1

I with Marc on the LPS for kitchenware. I think I have a cool product for a serving dish. Just need a search to submit it to.