John, this goes for all searches, we would love to see the deadline of the search under the title for a quick reference for us late submitters.

Thank you
Chic

Hi John,

After the search ends how soon do you start working on invention submissions? It seems rather quite on the 1st West Point heated blanket and towel search. The search ended on Oct. 1st or was it extended?

Great suggestion Chic. I’ve talked about our upcoming redesign in the past. We’ve already implemented your suggestion in the new design and it will go live when we launch the redesigned site.

Yes John, it is rather quiet!

John, I’d like to know more about the westpoint “generate heat without ac” search. The search was extended until October 1st. Where is it now?

I’m a little confused as to what is an appropriate product. On one hand, it says don’t limit yourself, then it gives a pet bed, which can be a fashion accessory for your home I suppose, and it involves fabric. On the other hand, it seems to be specifically about bed, bath, kitchen—mainly fashionable/decorative/personal-style-type accessories/home accent products.

I believe my product idea could be a fashion statement I suppose for a different area of the home, mainly the laundry room, and I believe it is entirely marketable at many of the retailers they have listed on their site, just not bed, bath, kitchen, and to some probalby not a fashion statement, although it might not hurt to market it that way – the things people buy these days! lol. This product category could really use some livening up.

I’m just trying to figure out if it fits here in this product search or not. It is my dream product, one that I wish I could buy right now, as many other moms do, but it isn’t out there right now.

If I give it a shot and submit it here, does that prevent me from presenting it anywhere else (outside of EN) even if it is not selected for this particular search?

I hope I asked this appropriately, as it is late and I should be finishing my work!

The Westpoint Home Heated Blanket Search indeed ended on Oct. 1. We are currently evaluating submissions and will move the submissions through the next two levels as a group. The evaluations have taken longer this time because the technical aspects of the challenge are more complex than other searches.

Chrissy,
Good question. It sounds like your submission is appropriate for this search. It is safe to add laundry room to the list: Bed, Bath, Kitchen…

Also, if you submit your product idea and it does not make it to “Finalist”, then you can opt out of the idea database at anytime. If you make “Finalist”, then you must wait 6 months before you can opt out.

I encourage you to submit your idea. Good luck!

Okay, thank you.

Hello, John.

I have a couple of comments. (They both relate to the heat without AC. That search is closed and there was no Official Q&A forum for it)

1) As it may always be possible that a submission is misunderstood, and rejected as a result, it might be a good idea to give some general reason, especially if such rejection, is at a very early stage. That way such hypothetical misperception may be corrected by submitter. But then again, more likely than not, the submission might have been perfectly understood, and hence, the rejection well founded)

2) there are still some “Bring The Heat” promos arround the site.

TIA

Transplanted question from another thread…

My submission for West point went in, and confirmed they got it, but, it’s not on my dashboard- anyone else have this problem?
I emailed, but, didn’t hear anything back…?

Heather Stenlake
heather30

One more question…..I’ve looked on the FAQ for the live product search page and ran a search and had a looksee on the forums for the answer…..what is the best way to submit your idea with the application? Pictures, hand drawings? Are there actually instructions to follow? Or will those magically appear to me once I become a Gold Member to participate?

The FAQ’s don’t go into detail, since they can not tell you what you want them to know. I have included writting info, “brochure” info, pictures, Sketchup files, anything that it takes for you to get your information across.

When you submit your documentation, it does have a specific list of questions such as “discribe…”, “are there any others?”, why is yours better?", etc etc… Pretty much think about all the info listed on a peatent, without the limitation of a patent. Heck, you can submit a short movie (2min max) showing your product in action.

Hi John. I have an idea for an untapped licensing opportunity, and dozens of relevant product ideas to go along with it. Target is currently carrying some toy, game, and stationary items involving this relatively new storybook character. I have contact info for the licensing rep, the author’s rep, and I have the ideas. Now, I just need to put the pieces together with the manufacturer. It’s mainly girls bed, bath, and accessory items. Would this line be something to submit for this particular LPS?

Thanks for this thread!

Chic, you read my mind! I’ve asked for the same thing. Sweet. I hate having to scroll through all of the search info, hunting for the due dates!

Hi all – Is it just me or did everybody lose the dashboard for this search??? There is nothing on Innovation Station either. I know I haven’t missed the deadline as I printed up the information and it has an October 22 deadline. But it is kind of hard to work on an entry that isn’t where I left it!!!

I still don’t even have my entry on my dash when it was there!

John,
We need your help! Our dashboards have disappeared is this a website glitch or a glitch with West Point Home?

My product ideas are still in my Database as incomplete submissions, so they are not totally gone. I am really glad I don’t have to start the process over for them cause I don’t think I could remember everything I already wrote.

Cheryl,

I’ll check on the dashboard issue.

The dashboard has returned. FYI: This search will close on Oct. 22.

Hi John,
Just wondering if the first Westpoint challenge for the heated/no ac is moving along. Now, I love Christmas colors but prefer to decorate my dashboard in green.Whoever came up with a “novel petbed product” must be either crazy (like a fox) or a genius!lol Have a good one

We are evaluating the Heated Blanket submissions. You will not see any movement on those dashboards until Monday.

Thank you John

John can I add additional drawings to my West Point heated blanket/towel submission? I though I saw where I had till Sunday night.

John,

Protectable doesn’t necessarily mean patentable, right? I’m not exactly sure that my idea is patentable (maybe a design patent), but it could probably be trademarked. Are they specifically looking for patentable ideas? Thanks!

Margaret, I had posted this answer somewhere else, but I’ll repeat it. I asked this same question from Louis when I saw him last month at the meet and greet. I was wondering this same thing- as I had a great idea (and it’s perfect for WestPoint) but wasn’t sure how protectable it was. I mean how much bedding stuff can be patented after all? He said that if you have a brand new idea, one that is not out there at all, and Westpoint could be the first to market (and ideally saturate the market I’m guessing) then they would consider that as well. But the idea must be really unique! Good Luck with your idea.

Thanks Holly! Like you said, how innovative can bedding be? My idea is kind of an extension of a product line they already have. And I was thinking it could probably be trademarked, not so sure about the patent. I guess I’ll submit it anyway and leave it up to the professionals :).

today is tuesday and we were told that we would see movement on the heating dashboards on monday. but everyone is reporting movement on the bed and bath search instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The movement is on the Craft dashboards- not the bed and bath.

i`m sorry holly you are right but either way its not the movement that i was looking for. i wish we could finish the searches in ther order that they are closed.! good luck to everyone no matter what search it is.

boy i guess i was wrong there was movement. they moved the order in which they were listen on my home page lol. i guess i got what i ask for now how about a G7 or finialist! congrats to the 3 spencer`s winners i went out on with a G7 then went red , but hey i guess its tied up for 6 months of high hopes.

Hello John,
On 10-21-08 at around 4pm PST, I tried to submit my idea for the WestPoint Home product search, but there was no longer a link to it, and even when I tried to click on the “Last Chance” advertisement for the search, the link wouldn’t work. Could you please re-enable the link until the 10/22 deadline? Or just let me know if I’m mistaken… Thank you for your help,
Maritza

Same problem here. I can’t get in…deadline hasn’t passed yet. I have one entry I would like to submit.

ditto. (I posted to the official EdisonNation.com thread)

Maritza, Leigh, Kurt & Becky, are you still having problems submitting to WP Home? My dashboard is fine at 09:00 EST, Oct. 22. I’ll let the web team know there has been a problem.

John I’m having problems as well. I can edit text but can’t upload drawings. I have been trying since last Sunday to upload drawings to the heated blanket and towel search. I just assumed it was closed.

Tom,
I followed Eddie’s advice and used IE vs firefox and it worked for me.

Chic,

I am using Firefox. My wife has Internet Explorer on her laptop I’ll give that a try. Thanks for the tip.

Tom, the search is still open. I’ve notified the web team and will give you an update when I have one. In the meantime, if you find a solution, via a different browser for instance, please let us all know.

I just got my WP Home submission in, with an upload and it did just fine. I use Explorer. John- thanks for getting the WP link back up again :)

Yes, it seems to be working now. Thank you, John.

well still no movement on the heating search. but lots of movement on the other searches and now another search opens that will only have limited submitions. what happened to razor.?? i know they “all pay the bill” but how about an open search where we just throw our ideas in and you all pick the best and find someone for them? wait i guess thats next seasons show sorry.

John,

I was able to upload the drawings by switching from Fire Fox to Internet Explorer. In the past I was able to use Fire Fox to upload drawings. It took forever to upload this time my browser must have been slow. They have added some upgrades for fire fox since then maybe that has something to do with it not working now.

I hope the West Point dashboards and results go as smooth as the Springs Creative did.

Me too Chic, except I hope I actually make it through this time :).

I’m sorry that the dashboards for both of the Westpoint Home Searches have been quiet. There are a few reasons for the lack of attention focused on these searches. First, we were asked to present to Springs Creative this week and all of our attention was directed to making this presentation. Second, Westpoint Home asked us to present the results of both the Heated Blanket Search and the Home Fashion Search at the same time and we are scheduled to do that on November 6. As that time approaches, you will see a lot more activity on those dashboards as we conclude our research and prepare for that meeting. Thank you for your patience.

Thanks for the info John!