Jeff,
I’ll buy one of your toothbrushes when it comes out, in fact I’ll buy four of them. but, if you’re asking what I would do I would remind you that the reason I am on EN and not CNN, is that I have no idea what to do or how to do it, in order to get my product to market and if I did know what to do I wouldn’t have the money to do it!

Cheryl….I think inventors are just bad sales people or something. :)

I like your style Paul.

It’s not the dentists you need to talk to Jeff,
it’s the mfg.s who make the toothbrushes.
Go to Thomasnet.com and look up the mfgs. of toothbrushes – print out the list and start calling these companies and ask for the New Product Development Manager.

Since you applied for a patent, ask him to sign
an NDA and then mail the company your abstract,
drawings, and application. Do not send the claims.
When they come back at you to see the claims,
you get an attorney to make up a Strict Secrecy
Agreement for the Claims. To protect yourself.

Looks like Toni has done her homework.

Jeff,

Why don’t you do this…take a look at some friends of mine www.penagain.com We were talking about teaming up with my writing invention but I think what I have is way too big.

Anyway, these guys started just like you and had an idea for a different shaped pen. Two regular guys. Maybe they picked up 50 or a 100Gs capital somewhere.

Search the net, read their story. The two guys are very nice, maybe call them up and ask for advice…ask for Colin…that’s who I talked to.

They got all kinds of publicity on TV shows, Wall Street Journal etc. They went to trade shows and picked up orders. Sold to small pen shops and on the net. Today, a few years later they sell to Wal-Mart and Walgreens.

Now this is where a publicist comes in. I am sure Pen Again had a publicist to get free publicity. Your situation NEEDS a publicist. A publicist can make your product! This is why I was excited that Orca Communications stopped here to say hello because that is the answer for some here after they were turned down for EN TV show but they still want to try to do something with their invention.

Orca took a guy’s product, a “smart” first aid kit that talks to you and tells you what to do. I don’t know how big that could be but the guy got all-star publicity for it and it made his product go from a dust collector to a boom in the market. The guy is doing great.

For you, try some private owned drug stores to start maybe. Forget the big chains and sell a few, get a sales history…get a feel for the market.

Your product looks like it is ready to go…production model prototype…molds were made and all…you are ready. Is your product ready for shelf or is that just a good picture? If it is not ready for shelf you need a manufacturer that is enthused first.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
www.handi-straps

Paul,
Your last post just made me think of the 7 minute abs clip from “Something About Mary”. I just had to post it because it made me laugh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzxJy-7ggx0

Makes sense Paul…we need to keep in mind though…say a retailer likes the toothbrush. They shove some space aside from Oral-B and put Jeff’s up.

Oral-B might get really mad! They decorated the shelf, come arrange some of the shelves…work with the store with cardboard displays in the front of the isles to promote sales…now Jeff comes along and messes up the plan.

Not to discourage but this is reality. Some big companies buy shelf space…they have the power to put rocks on the shelf if they wish.

This is a factor sometimes. The shelf may have 3 competitors of each product. They want to give the consumer 3 choices. 4 CHOICES DOES NOT FIT ON THE SHELF!!!

Remember this for your Edison Nation submission and your own submission to retailers. Sometimes the best product in the world just can’t get through.

So you as the inventor must realize and have plan a,b,c if not more, and don’t think your idea stinks if plan a&b fail. Most times they fail for all products….even the big guys sometimes.

Why do you think there are QVCs and infomercials? No room on shelves for a product debut sometimes!!!

Ron

Jeff,
Listen to Paul!

Of course there is the loop hole in the shelving issue. Let the store private label it. Walgreens brand toothbrush.

Ofcoarse Paul…sign an extension with EN. I am sure a crack with EN is best for 95% here. You can’t go wrong…a wonderful and maybe once in a lifetime chance…get on TV and all.

Don’t forget…get in that top 10 and you are half way there on your next not even conceived idea cause now you got a rep!

I would like to submit an invention to participate but if there are only 10 winners I would feel very bad about winning because I had my chances…let someone else get theirs.

Everyone all together now…
Sign the extension Jeff!

Most of us wish we had gotten one! Oh hell, if you don’t want to sign I’ll let EN know that I am willing to take your agreement, on second thought don’t sign it Jeff, I’m calling Matt!

Jeff,

1. Sign the extension!
2. The next day spend 8 hrs on Thomasnet digging for 10 manufacturers that fit your needs
3. Find contacts, names, phone #‘s at the top 5 toothbrush related companies- both the traditional and the “alternative”- ones you might find at Whole Foods and other organic type stores
4. Find the angel investor groups and venture capital groups in your area and get their phones and attend meetings if you can
5. Use the next two months or so to create a step by step action plan for exactly what you’ll do IF the EN extension falls through.

Good luck. Don’t make Paul divert the plane.

I’ve seen Pen Again on TV, got alot of press. I’ve also seen bins of them at the dollar store.

I signed the Extention and emailed it back today. Thanks guys. I was going with EE all along I was just confused about not making the show or the push over group. Sorry

I love the Thomas net idea and the angel investor idea. They are my B and C.

And if Oral B doesn’t skoot over I’m going to skoot them over.

HOOOOOORY! HOOOOOOORY

GOOD LUCK JEFF………………

Your a bad bad boy……

Jason…I think you will start to see many bins of good products ending up in the dollar store these days.

A store closes the stock goes to liquidators and ends up in the dollar stores’ hands.

That is what dollar stores do…buy closeouts.

Paul, you’re evil, but really really funny. :)

now that is freaky!

yeah yeah now EE has to use my patent as a weapon and do the thing!!

Ron, My toothbrush is a mere photo shop work of art. Nothing you can brush your teeth with unless you want a paper cut.