Dear Rose…you surely are a superstar in this field because you have moved forward so swiftly and efficiently with your project. You filed a patent, built complete packaging, sought professional graphics, built a set for a trade show like it was some well established company…the list goes on and on.

You are a model to people who want their dream to come true because you show us..JUST GET UP OFF YOUR ASS AND DO IT AND STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!

You have also asked no one to do anything for you except advise. You did it yourself and with your own money.

You know you are enjoying your journey and are proud of yourself and for good reason…I am proud of you too!

As far as certification, it can delay sales but it can help sales too. Being certified almost automatically gets you sales and gives you a “leg up” on some other products sometimes.

I went through the thoughts of certification..I know it’s tough to find testing facilities and for them to evaluate. Turned out there is no catagory for my Handi-Straps.

You doing spectacular! Stop complaining!

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

As always you crack me up! You’re right I must be having a bad day. It ‘s just been a pain in the ass and I want it done NOW so I’m complaining.

Thanks for the kick in the butt and even more for the kind words. Ok — back to work!

Rose, I understand. The SleepyHead Pillowcase just got rejected by several buyers (as that big show in Las Vegas) because I don’t have certification or testing stating that a child could not suffocate while using it. Have been in touch with UL University and a few other labs but no one seems to do ‘breathability’ testing. I’m thinking of kidnapping the neighbor’s kid, pinning him down and finding out how long it will take before he can no longer breathe.

The bump in the road, before the above mentioned bump, was the new lead content in children’s products: managed to get that report from the manufacturer of the fleece.

Good luck to you and know that others are pulling for you, and as Ron mentioned, it is admirable that you have done this all by yourself. (I would be interested in your packaging and how you decided what to use: this is the part which is a real pain in the ass for me.)

Rose, I agree with Ron and Julie. You are doing a great job of pushing forward. You are doing your best to look and be professional in your appearnce and certification. All of these aspects can only help keeping you moving in the right direction. Don’t give up. Remember the three P’s. Patience, Persistance and Positive attitude. They will help you succeed. : )

http://www.rogerbrown.net

You don’t know all Rose has done. Ordered the first production run, has a production model prototype, has orders already, UPC code for her product…and you should see the pictures of her booth from the show she attended! Looks like she has been in it for years!

Another thing…and I have to start a thread about this. Why do women many more times than men storm forward and get their idea fully ready for retail themselves? 3 out of 4 times I see a product made shelf ready all by an inventor it is by a woman. Why? Do they have less fear of failure or something? Or maybe they don’t have to answer to another as much if they fail….don’t know what it is…but it’s something.

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

Thanks so much Ron, Roger and Julie.

Julie, I have definitely not done it alone. I’ve been working with Jim Debetta on the retail consulting side (and I have Ron to thank for referring me to him) and Jay Johnson on the graphics side. For manufacturing overseas including design evaluation and safety testing, I’ve been working with Edie Tolchin. There’s no way I could have gotten this far without them.

Ron, interesting thougt in regard to women in the industry … Not sure of the percentages but I can tell you that many women are natural problem solvers. If they got into this industry, they know they have something and if they know they have something, they’ll work at it, network, etc. until they get it done.

From my experience Rose, men may create too many imaginary hurdles and decide not to go for it or to strictly license their idea with minimal work and women seem to go all out more often and develop a full product and even sell some.

This is not saying which gender is more successful. I’ve seem some women go blindly into market and lose all with a not so good idea and I’ve seen men pull off licensing deals worth millions.

I’m just saying I see more women go forward with full development of an idea and hustle it up out there and go get some sales themselves.

Maybe women don’t have to answer to their spouse as much if they fail? Could be. The woman may get away with failure in this field a little easier. Maybe it’s that the men are not so much worried about the woman’s success or failure…just as long as a woman’s project keeps them busy so the woman doesn’t nag them so much…so if they fail it’s ok. If the men fail at a venture…it’s a good chance for divorce. (I’m starting trouble again)

Rose, wait…I’m sending our neighborhood kid to you for the suffocation test.

Opps..Last reply was for Julie! Rose..keep up the great work, I believe your efforts will be rewarded and hopefully very SOON!

Keep up the good work Rose!!

ro, at least you are moving forward!…good for you…