Paul, you are correct that it takes money to make money, however, I have to disagree that “Everyone likes your idea (no matter how good or how bad) if they can get money out of you to patent it, manufacture it, or market it.”. Our company turns down ideas all the time. We do not get involved if we don’t think it’s a good product/idea. Also not true – “everything does cost twice what you get quoted.”. Our company stands by our quoted prices .. if it ends up costing more, we eat it. Any reputable company should do business this way.

Sorry, but I felt compelled to let everyone reading these forums know that not all companies are out to rip off inventors.

Your message…

Gina I understand Bulbob’s comments. If you took a list of companies that promote helping the Inventor and blindly picked one your chances of hitting a scam company is high. Google Invention submission companies and the ones that have been fined or are on many sites BEWARE list are the top picks. The ones you see advertise on t.v are from the same grouping.
I checked out your site and it looks very professional. I would ask why you do not list any of your successes. It would definitely give the new customer a sense of what you can do for them.

Roger, you can see some of our sucesses on our website:

http://slingshotpdg.com/portfolio/index.html

I know there are a lot of scammers out there .. but there are some honest, real companies, like us, that want to help people. Yes, for a fee .. we are in this business to make money as well.

Gina-why are there 2 different websites? I had also noticed the lack of documented successes on the website associated with your profile. The 2 websites seem to have the same company name but slightly different url’s with different info.

gina,

Would you market the PET ROCK if the money was there! All marketing companies are in it 1st for the money and “maybe” 2nd to help the inventor.

I have asked several marketing companies that have called me, and said “WOW you have a great invention”, if they were interested in a % of sales. You know the response I got back. Marketing companies are no better at deciding what is a good product then the guy on the street.

http://www.davison54.com/disclosure.php

In 1997, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, captioned F.T.C. v. Davison, 97-1278. As a result of the judge’s decision in the case, the judge has ordered us to make the following disclosures to you regarding our track record over the last five years in successfully marketing our clients’ products. You should read all of this information carefully before proceeding.
The total number of consumers who submitted new product ideas to Davison during the past five years is two hundred twenty nine thousand seven hundred thirty eight (229,738). Davison does not provide evaluation of commercial potential; thus, it has provided no positive or negative evaluation of this or any other product idea in the last five years. The total number of consumers who were offered a Pre-Inventegration? agreement (or similar contract for research services) is one hundred fifty seven thousand one hundred twenty two (157,122). The total number of consumers who were offered a Contingency Agreement (or other contract for licensing representation) is one hundred fifty seven thousand one hundred twenty two (157,122). The total number of consumers who purchased a Pre-Inventegration? Agreement or similar contract for research services is thirty five thousand one hundred forty three (35,143). The total number of consumers who signed a Contingency Agreement or other licensing representation agreement is thirty five thousand one hundred forty three (35,143). The total number of consumers who were offered a Product Sample Presentation Agreement (or any other contract for design services for a virtual or a product sample) is twenty five thousand one hundred thirty five (25,135). The number of consumers who signed a Product Sample Presentation Agreement or similar agreement is nine thousand eight hundred ninety five (9,895). The number of consumers who obtained a written license with a company that is not affiliated with Davison is one hundred ninety eight (198). The total number of consumers in the last five years who made more money in royalties than they paid, in total, under any and all agreements with Davison, is seven (7). The percentage of Davison’s income that came from royalties paid on licenses of consumers’ products is .001%.

WOW! That is really eye opening! Just shows us how important market research really is!

Laura,

The two websites are for two different segments of our company. Slingshot Product Development Group focuses on design, engineering, prototyping and manufacturing coordination. Slingshot Products focuses on product viability and assessment, consumer research, sales, marketing and commercialization. This segment of our business has only existed for 6 months. SPDG has been in business for 7 years.

Paul, no, we would not accept a project like The Pet Rock. You wouldn’t believe some of the crazy stuff I hear, which is why we turn down quite a few projects. Turns out The Pet Rock was very successful for a period of time .. guess we would have missed out there.

Gina,
Your company looks good. Would you be willing to post costs of some of your more common services provided?

I’d rather not Louis. The only “set” price we have is for our Product Viability & Assessment package described here (step 1): http://slingshotproducts.com/services/Product-Viability-and-Assessment-Services.html. Feel free to email me and I’ll be glad to give you more info

Everything other than that is a custom quote, depending on the product and the scope of work to be performed.

Gina, I looked at the Product Viability & Assessment package link you gave and only saw that it explained what you do. There is no mention of a set price. Can you post the set price?

i was thinking the same thing, however, i did send her an email to give me a general cost for my idea.

I simply won’t pay one penny to marketing company because there is no guarentee. I am only interested in finding a company to work for a %.
If the marketing company beleives in the product they would gladdly work for a %. It just shows that none are really able to evaluate a product and feel safe investing for a much larger reward.

Bulbob, nothing in life is guarenteed, especially in the invention field. You can find good marketing firms and ones that are only interested in emptying your wallet. Unfortunately we hear more about the horror stories than the successes.
It is very scary for a lot of Inventors taking that first step to getting your invention to market. That is why they look to marketing firms to help them. They are supposed to know the ins and outs of the business and have contacts you can’t get. PLus, a number of large companies won’t look at your idea unless presented by a markeing firm or broker. This just makes it harder to do it yourself for the average Inventor.
Even the best marketing firm in the world is making a educated guess as to what the company and consumer is lookiing for as the next big thing. As an individual contacting various companies I am making the same educated guesses based on my experiences dealing with various companies. I have sent multiple ideas to a company thinking this is exactly what they are looking for only to find out they aren’t really interested. I had one batch of ideas that I sent out and added one that I felt was ok but not my best, but wanted to send them at least 5 ideas. That idea was the fifth in the batch. The company contacted me a week later telling me they loved the idea I thought was ok and wanted to go forward with it. They saw a market for it and sent me a contract.
I am willing to bet there isn’t an Inventor here that hasn’t walked into a store or seen something on T.V. and said "How in the world did they get that licensed? or “I had an idea just like that!”
Take a look at the Pet Rock craze. That has to be the ultimate “You’re kidding” product. There isn’t a marketing firm alive that wouldn’t have told you that no one would pay hard earned money for a rock. Boy were they wrong.
It just goes to show you that you never know what can happen. The only certainty you have is if Oprah gets on her show and says “This is may favorite product” you will have an overnight winner.

Roger, so lets all (inventors) go and see the show together and see if we can be seen. Or better yet lets start a forum about send your ideas to OPRAH and flood her with this and she will mention it and who knows maybe we could be her next big give show! I am beng serious…

Flooding Oprah with ideas will most likely make her annoyed and cause her staff to have a dull view of Inventors. You can do other things to get noticed. There is a fine line between being persistent and being a pest. She would take that type of tactic being a pest.

Louis, I haven’t received anything from you.

Roger, I’d rather not. I’d be glad to share that info outside this forum.

Paul, good luck trying to find a reputable firm that will work for a %. There might be some out there, but I do not know of any. Most PD companies just do not have the capital to invest in a project for a year without getting paid something. As I’m sure you know, by watching Everyday Edisons, the product development process from start to finish is usually 12-18 months, sometimes longer, depending on the product.

Gina, I just sent you the email again, this time i used the email address from your website. I think the address you have on this site is wrong?

About your fishing invention…I grew up in a family of boating manufacturers and most of them participate in boat shows and fishing tournaments. You could probably get one of them to help you launch a product, if it really helps to catch fish. Fisherman gossip like girls so they will spread the word for you, that’s how my family’s company grew.

Paul,

have you tried http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/ They are located in Columbia,SC and will look at outside ideas from Inventors.
Contact me if you need additional info.

Hello Paul…you and I talked a couple of years ago somewhere on the net. I remember you. Look, you got a product and are selling. That is great!How could a marketing company teach you how to market your fishing product since you are the expert?

Have you tried contacting Cabela’s and Bass Pro? I have talked to Mr. Twister CEO, very nice guy, he would license a fishing product.

Why don’t you try this. I couldn’t put any advertising dollars in. It’s too costly for as single product launch. I got 5000 postcards and 10000 business cards for under $400 from vistaprint.com (they offer special deals after you order once, that is how I got my deal)

Mail them out to researched markets. Get a name and mail. Find the CEO of Bass Pro or fishing glubs etc.

I started with postcards just over a year ago and now there are many editorials written even around the world and we have customers around the world.

Show your product, describe how it works and get these cards out. Hand them out at fishing shows..hit the local sport shops even on consignment. Maybe team up with another tackle manufacturer just to get noticed more. I will be joint advertising with other companies soon just to expand. Do you have a website? If you don’t your not going anywhere. You need it, and ALL inventors do so when you are on the phone talking to people you can reference at the website. You can do it! Your halfway there!!! Good luck!

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

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

Paul…I’m sorry, didn’t notice your website. Just checked…looks great. I am a big fisherman, or was. Trips to Canada and have $5000 worth of fishing lures.

Try those post cards. Leave a little pile in places near lakes too.

I wish you luck. I will buy one of these days just to help support you. One thing I can say, I know there are other guys out there like you with bobbers that are in a smaller market. How about teaming up? I am teaming up with a knee, ankle brace manufacturer, I am building a store and I will also distribute their products in my store….all for more exposure for my product. Best of luck!

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