Carrie,

Let’s look at your question. “What do you think is the first step to move your idea from a concept to more of a developed product?”

I think I would say to understand why a developed product works in the marketplace. To do that you have to answer some basic questions about your product.

You are a consumer, and when you purchase things you do so for one of two reasons. You want it – it makes you feel good, or You need it – you have a problem. Everything falls into those two camps.
“Need” products are normally better then ‘Want” products. What is yours?

Then you have to look at the benefits the product offers the consumer –vs- the detriments the product takes from the consumer. We call this the “Benefit/Detriment Scale” Every product lives on it.

An example would be that the product makes you 5 inches taller (benefit) but it costs $4.99 (detriment) As a consumer you will decide if being 5 inches taller is worth $4.99 of your money. As product developers we know that, so we obviously want to add as many benefits as we can while keeping the detriments much lower.

With this in mind, how does your idea fair when you list out the benefits and detriments?

Hello Carrie,

I can help to clarify our partner companies and the services they offer.

Edison Nation (www.edisonnation.com) helps people turn their ideas into products through Live Product Searches. If your idea passes our internal review we will present it to the search sponsor. If the search sponsor selects your idea you will receive $2500 and a percentage of sales for 20 years. To learn more about Live Product Searches please read through the following page: http://www.edisonnation.com/opportunities.

Everday Edisons (www.everydayedisons.com) documents the development process of inventions and the parallel stories of the people who invented them. The series invests in each chosen invention at no cost to the inventor. Selected “everyday edisons” will have their inventions commercialized and receive royalties on all product sales for 20 years. Unfortunately we are not currently holding casting calls to review ideas for Everyday Edisons.

Enventys (www.enventys.com) is a product development and engineering company. To learn about the services they offer their clients from prototyping to branding please visit the website.

Thanks :)

Thank you Mark and Marla.

Marla, it seems that the products featured on EE benefit from the product development resources (via Enventys) but that the LPS submissions depend on the interested company for product development. Is that correct? For me, that is the confusing part.

Mark, thank you for the information. That does help me to get thinking in the right direction. It is a need product. Recently I’ve been considering a more complicated design. I think your detriment/benefit scale reinforces my gut feeling that it may be better to keep it simple. I’m not sure the bells and whistles really add much benefit, but do add some detriment.

Interesting post Mark

Hi Carrie
People like simple and they tell me simple is the best.

Hello Carrie, yes it is very rarely that we will make any changes to a product entered in a Live Product Search.

Thank you David, and yes, Simple is best!

Just always think of your product on the benefit detriment scale and it will help you stay focused on simple. I wrote a long article about this subject awhile back, but it’s over on that other site we’re not supposed to talk about….so shhhhhhh

It’s really just Newton’s 3rd law of inventing. Opposite and equal. 

Carrie,
I’d like to add to Marla’s response…

Most of the ideas that are submitted to Live Product Searches are anticipated by the search sponsor to just be “that spark.” Our partners all have teams of people who are talented in refining ideas into products – they just need help identifying the innovation and that’s where you come in. Of course, when people submit ideas that are much further down the development line, it’s always a nice plus – but not necessary. The point is that any idea that is selected will benefit from the same type of professional product development – it’s just that sometimes that team will be the team behind Everyday Edisons and other times it will be the manufacturer or retailer who sponsors the search. In no case would you ever be expected to pay anything additional to produce your product if selected for a Live Product Search.

Also, our team does develop certain products, depending on the search. For instance, if you submit a viable idea to one of our quarterly As Seen on TV Live Product Searches and it is selected, the exact same team that you see on the television series will be investing any time and resources necessary to take it to the next level for the testing phase of the product.

Thanks for the reply, Matt. That is very helpful information. It gets at exactly what I was curious about. Is it common for LPS winners to have just submitted just the idea/spark or do most winners have a more developed product?

Carrie,

I’ve read your other post and saw how it turned. Glad you abanded it, I see no merit in even leaving up on the forum. Anyhow, I think I know our situation. Others might have a differing opinion, but from my perspective, I would want to take the concept to someone that is a professional in that apsect of manufacturing that is of concern.

To try and clarify this, for example: A new tent design

You have what you believe to the best tent on the market, widely distributed, a favorite amongst those that would be in the market. Purchases it and discovers there is something that would make this tent 5X faster to setup, fewer parts needed, stonger, lighter and sleeker in design.

Inventor A: ego driven
Spend a great deal of time learning a CAD software to design something that he has no idea how to build, builds the proto-type in the cloak of secrecy, proves the concept and applies for the patent. Now that he can divulge his wonderful drawings to manufacturers he gets quotes from one manufacturer of tents, WHOA 15X more expensive than what a tent costs in the store! Ego deflation, months waisted, time lost, geez, I hope he didn’t quit his day job.

Inventor B: Ignorant and ego driven

Designs this new product, gets the Provisional filed, and looks for a fabricator so he can go toe to toe and make a million. His little improvement makes this great little tent cost almost double at Reatil. This price based on the quote he got from one manufacturer. He checks around and starts getting quotes that are all over the place. Hope he didn’t quit his day job either.

Inventor C: Humble

Same situation, but – he knows someone, a friend hopefully, that works in industry (a seasoned manufacturing engineer- that specializes in THAT field of fabrication) I’m not talking about someone that sews canvas awnings, but an engineer in metal fabrication if that is where the solution lies. This inventor, with out describing its application, takes something that resembles the component needed and asks his friend what it might cost to fabricate based on realistic numbers 5,000 or 50 million (be realistic), is there is anything that could lower the cost??? tooling, design, or qty. Now this person needs to be honest and know what he is talking about.
If you get an answer that you can live with, take the same thing to another trusted expert, you may bet another completely different story. You might try this with another.

The road you are considering is a very long path, there is no reason to hurry. But I would want to make sure that I have the manufacturing cost pretty firm before I went and pursued any kind of IP protection.

Just an FYI, I had parts quoted by 3 different shops all with the same capabilities. They came in at: No Quote, $19.95, and $65.00 each, the qty to be quoted was 200,000 units~ do the math.
I quoted my customer 16.95 with me doing the fabrication and still lost the job.

I’m glad this was pulled forward again. I missed it. It’s like Carrie has been reading my mind. I want to know how to present my ideas to make sure they are at least taken seriously.

I have an embarrassingly long list of invention ideas (I’m having too much fun), only about 5 have rough protoypes that actually work, and only a few will work for current searches. Others are either electronic devices that would be impossible for me to actually produce to demonstrate effectiveness or bigger items that require me to buy stuff to make the prototype (which I could do if requested). The prototypes I put together are functional but in no way slick presentation-wise. I imagined EN slicking them up for the search sponsor. I guess that usually doesn’t happen. Good to know!

My videos and photos of my lame prototypes might not be the ticket. So maybe hiring an artist/ cad design person to produce an image might be the way to go? Do most folks make a sell sheet like they mentioned in another thread? Any other tips or suggestions? I won’t be spending any patent-related money, so that stops some action. (I promised my husband, “never again!”). I think we could afford some design assistance though.

Thanks for the post, Scott. I think I’m in the “ignorant and humble” catatogy. It is great to learn from others’ experiences. So, thanks for sharing.

Jane, I like the way you think ;) You know it is funny. I used to have a cat that looked just like yours. Your cat isn’t named Haliey is she/he? That would be too weird.

I think sell sheets are used mostly for those trying to find opportunities outside of EN, though I guess it could help in a LPS search. In contrast, I think a better prototype/design would most likely be beneficial for both EN submissions and in pursuing other opportunities. I think within EN “home videos and lame prototypes” are just fine. I got motivated to do someting when I got a R8 and this thread is the result of me thinking about how to best move forward in ways that would be useful for future submissions and potentially for other opportunities (realistically probably more the former than the later). I’m glad this got bumped, because I’d lost some of my momentum and this motivates me a bit.

Ignorant and humble. We should start a club! I appreciated Scott’s post too.

The cat is Ricky, the name he came with from the shelter. My son used to wear him like a scarf when he was a kitten and he put up with it. He’s attacking a drive-in theater in this picture though, so he can be Godzilla-like at times ;-)

I really think I need to have more drawings to submit with my prototype photos. Most of my ideas aren’t hard or plastic surfaces, so cad drawings might not really be that great. I can sketch, but then again it might look kinda lame compared to these guys. I don’t know… we learn as we go I guess!

Sure. One good suggestion that I got was to see if any local art students might be willing to do a sketch. You’d have to think about NDA’s and such, but something to consiser at least.

I like that idea! We live within a couple miles of a vocational school… hmmm. I need to check into that.

I emailed the school and they forwarded the request to their Graphic Commercial Art teachers. I’ll update here if it works out. It might be a really good way to go with an NDA, of course.
Thanks, Carrie, for the suggestion.

This is how I solved that problem with my invention. I like simple and cheap solutions, doesn’t everyone? I needed a drawing, a professional type of drawing so people would understand what I was explaining to them. So, I had a friend draw it it in a 3D CAD software program. Nothing fancy and it only took him a 1/2 hr to do it. This gave me something to look at in different views and show others my idea, which I could then judge by their reaction and comments weather or not my invention had merit.

I have been to the local colleges, University engineering program, used friends, tried it myself (not so much) and Craig’s List to find help for my invention. All of these pursuits were free.

When I wanted to and was ready to go to the next step (and that’s a key point here “ready”) I needed a computer aid designer (CAD) to help me design all the parts of my product. I went to “Craigs list” and posted an add for help. I interviewed several people and ended up with a great situation that worked really well for me. Now, I did not divulge specific info. regarding my invention to anyone until I hired them and had them sign my NDA.

My question to all innovators is; will it sell?

P.S. This web site is great!

I have a question that pertains to prototypes! I am pursing a license agreement and I received an email yesterday from a very big kitchen company (not current EN searches), they wanted a video (which I sent them) and a prototype. UGH! I don’t have one. Now I am not sure if they will turn my product down because I do not have one. I searched my local area and found a prototype company (close to home) and have started conversations.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Anyone have this same situation. Should I assume that they as a kitchen company have an R&D department (I know they do) and could come up with one pretty quickly? What if I spend all this money on a prototype and then they don’t want to work with me? Lost! Help!

Andrea, I’m wondering if you did go “all out” with a great prototype…would this kitchen company be willing to return it to you if they chose not to pursue it? I think I would insist on it (and perhaps fib a little and say it was the advice of my attorney?)

Andrea,
A prototype for a license agreement is meant to prove that the solution works and can be produced. For the product that I licensed I went to K-Mart/Wal-Mart and bought products off the shelf that I could cannibalize for parts. When you look on the shelves, look for what parts the products are made of and what you could use to make your prototype with.
Often any money spent on custom made prototypes is lost when you are looking to license your product because the manufacturer will have their own set of capabilities, expertise, and styling that will all come into play for your final product.
Your goal is to show your potential licensee that your product can be made using existing technologies and that it will function per your solution. After that it is all industrial design, look, feel, and pricing which is the manufacturers expertise.
So what I would do, is buy some items off the shelf. Take what you need from them and get a functioning prototype together. Save your money unless there is no way that you can get your product to function without custom components. Hot glue and a dremel will be your friend :).
The video I sent to my licensee had a combination of graphic images that showed what I thought the final product would look like and video of my garage prototype working.
I hope this helps :)

I agree with Greg. Cannibalizing other products and using current technologies to build a prototype is a inexpensive way to go. I did this until I needed to refine and produce the actual part.
For my product I could not find the plastic connectors anywhere and I new I would have to have them custom made using one of the many prototype methods available. It took me a year before I pulled the trigger and spent the money on having the connectors prototyped using a method called SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) During this time I researched everything to do with prototyping; fit, form and function. I found a company close to home that I used and toured their facility to further understand the process.
Having a working prototype that people can see, feel and functions is sometimes needed to get the point across. As long as you are protect (patent pending, NDA etc) I don’t see a problem with providing a prototype to the company.
If they don’t want your invention then move on to the next company or manufacture. Not all will be lost because the first company said no. Just my thoughts.

I agree with you both, I am feeling like I should have had one to begin with and put the cart before the horse so to speak. I probably can do a little cutting and gluing and I then wonder, what if it’s a shotty prototype, could that hurt more than it helps? I did tell them that I am looking for way to produce one but currently do not have one. I am thinking that if they tell me no without it, then I ask for an extension until I can come up with one.

Well, off to the store!

After a very long time posting information on this site it’s a huge thrill to see novice inventors giving other novice inventors GOOD advice! It shows people are reading the stuff that the professionals in the industry take the time to post….

Greg and Paul are 100% correct….it is EXACTLY how an inventor should make a prototype. This low cost gorilla approach to prototyping is what a manufacturer expects to see from an inventor. It will not only show that you took the time to actually “Invent” your idea, it will gain you the respect of that company because it shows them that you understand a little bit about the challenges they face.

Great advice Greg and Paul….keep inventing!