I have gone out and asked random people on the streets about products before. It was fun, but now I see not totally needed that particular way :-)

I have had tween focus groups for girly products.

By the way Girls LOVE a cool product called Girl Tape.
Started with my daughter in school, the girls all wanted it, so one mom actually went to the States and brought some back. Now it’s here in Canada and the girls are nuts about it…just thought you all needed to know that lol.

I think it’s a good way to get more information about your product Ed. The more you learn about it, the more benefits you have to show the manufacturer or even the company you want a licence agreement from.

I haven’t used a company. I would want to see the results myself, personally :-)

I think market survey companies are full of it. Say you invented a kitchen gadget…probably because you love being in the kitchen and cooking for many years.

I invented Handi-Straps after years with a bad back and doing medical research.

Now you tell me what some probably 20 something yr. old can tell me about the market for Handi-Straps? I am the expert as I have researched. How could someone with general experience become an “expert” like me after spending 5 hours learning about my product in a survey?

Maybe you are a carpenter for 20 years and you have a new tool. You know who to ask about marketability…everyone in the trade you know. What would some marketing kid be able to tell you in your trade???

This is why you may hear, these marketing companies give all the inventors the same exact report.

This is not to say more expensive indepth marketing companies can’t help you understand your market and help you place the product, but you are most likely the expert for your invention.

I have been called several times and have participated in market surveys. They really don’t just pick people randomly. They first call you and ask you a series of questions. You don’t know what the right and wrong answer is. Then if you “fit” they ask you to come in and participate in the market research. They pay you for your time usually an hour of time and the ones I have participated in, the check was any where from $85.00 to $125.00. My first one I did, I was very skeptical. The survey was actually for a customer service survey for Grainger, because I am the main buyer for our company. They just don’t pick random people, my daughter has been used too, because she fit the age range and the consumer type they were looking for.

edit- And if you want to be the only one purchasing your product then you don’t need those market researcher :-)

Sally….by the numbers you speak of that is a market research that may be useful but it costs many thousands.

When you hear of a company offering inventors a market research for $700 to $1000, they can’t possibly get anything done useful that cheap…those are the marketing researches that I think we are talking about for us small inventors.

Tania,

What is Girl Tape?

I’m sure you are correct Ron:-)
I still think at what ever level the research is done at they don’t just pick random people.

Like Tania doesn’t go to an old peoples home to ask their opinion on Tween girl products. LOL!!

I think if you truly want an honest opinion you have to look beyond your own, even if you feel you are the expert. Ultimately we want others to like, value, and purchase our products.
I love all my ideas, but that doesn’t mean they are good
:-) LOL!!!

ohhhh Patrice, your little ones would love it! The girls I’m talking about are 14-16 years old and playing with it.

It’s like a roll of colored, pretty foam tape. They unroll the amount they want and then just rip off the piece.

They can wrap ponytails, make headbands from it, use it as sweat bands, holds up socks, make a belt with it…it’s crazy stuff.It self sticks…so when you overlap it, it secures itself.

My daughter wanted to make a youtube video with it, but won’t until I go and resupply her lol.

So I have to get that done very soon here.

I can’t find it online to show you, but Walmart has it in the States, I believe :-)
Inexpensive, cool fun!

I too was paid for research. They paid me 60.00 to chew 8 different disgusting pieces of gum :-)

Sally….VERY important to show strangers or have a friend show your invention without you there for market research.

One of the MAJOR reasons for this type of research, can the public grasp the usefulness and benefits of your invention? It may go right over the public’s head. Can they figure how to use it probably…since most refuse to read directions.

You can’t “see” this, you know all about your invention…consumers don’t.

My problem, with the pages of info I have, does the public realize how very much Handi-Straps can do for them? I thought it was so obvious.

Further market research may have told me it’s not obvious. This just means extra work for me and maybe more money marketing….but it can also mean total failure of a product

You are right Ron. I have read all the posts about your Handi straps, but unless I try it I might never grasp how useful they truly are. I don’t lift alot of heavy objects. Thats what boys are for:-)

Hey Tania, that’s what I thought you meant. Mark R. sent me like a whole case of them for my daughter’s 9yr old b-day party. He said his friend invented them. They were a real hit at the party!

well, now Mark R can send everyone else a case hey Patrice? ;-)

Did he send you yours too? He’s such a great guy!

Yes, it’s only recently available in Canada :-)

that sounds pretty cool!

Ron… I’ve been wondering something about your picture. It looks like you’re either eating a sandwich or playing a harmonica. What’s the story?

Hey Tania, are you on the wrong Thread? This is for serious inventors. No cross talking. lol.

oops,,,I thought I was posting in the right one
:-)))) I’ll head over to the Q&A and try there…thanks ED!

heehee

Well as long as you are here I guess it will be ok. But next time, pow! to the moon.haha

Hi Heather, That Perdue product must be a east coast thing. I don’t think I have ever seen them out west. Looks like an easy way to have a good dinner fast.

hahahahahahaha…wrong thread Ed! OMG 2nd favorite,you are too funny! :-))

ooooooo crap, you got me. As soon as I sent it I said maybe she won’t see it.

ha-ha-ha Ed , she is a sharp one, nothing gets past her!

The value of a market survey depends completely on the questions asked and/or techniques used. A survey can be completely useless and if anything misleading, or it can be invaluable (hypothetically).

It depends not only on who is asked, but what is asked, how it is asked, what isn’t asked, and what is observed.

A survey can be something you do on your own, but first figure out the key questions you need you need answered (which aren’t necessarily just all along the exact lines of ‘would people buy it,’ and answering them doesn’t necessarily mean asking them). And maybe ask someones’ advice if you know someone who is intelligent and willing to give you some objective input into the survey contruction.

I agree CD. When I did the surveys and market research the questions were very specific and they asked that you thought about you answer and only answered it according to their criteria. So they really didn’t want vague answers.

Great info. You are right there are so many variables involved. If any part of the survey is off it becomes useless information. You can lead a person to any conclusion you want. I don’t know if I could be objective enough to conduct my own survey. Like sally, I love all my projects,lol. It would have to be someone with nothing to gain be it positive or negative. I just don’t know how you could measure the results if you hire an outside firm. Leap of faith I guess.

OK…here’s a market survey for ya done Ron’s way. The two first things I did was one, call the Texas Governor’s office and tell them I had something to greatly help the military. They had Handi-Straps tested with an UGLY prototype in the National Guard Headquarters.

I got the first ever known military endorsement to be posted on my website with permission.

Next I went to EMS and especially FDNY, NYC EMS Division and told them of the benefits to save backs, shoulders and victims’ lives.

Another round of testing with all great results. Marketing survey done, with references for sales.

You can do this with any product. Got a kitchen gadget? Test with a big restaurant chain. Got a cleaning device? Check with a hotel maintenance dept. and so on….

This is the best type of marketing survey you can do…and it is free…everyone will always try your invention.

I think you are right Ron. I just need to hit the pavement in my spear time and talk it up, and see what happens. Thanks buddy.

ed, email me…i do them only for my inventing pals…it started out simple—over 1500 people contacted me for my product—i gave many away and made many sales…i went back to those people and asked them questions about their experience…i received both great feedback, and constructive feedback which let me know one facet of my product was not desirable—ie ironing on….so i was able in one quick month, change my direction big time…it never occured to me that people hate to iron—why?….i did not mind ironing…this data was from people i did not know…and i took all that data and presented it to my now licensee—and it sealed the deal….i have gone back to that same database—and now have hundreds of new names added—for fellow inventors…..it’s not the most scientific of methods i use, however, it’s great for knee-jerk feedback…just ask meri, rosemarie, or lisa g. from this site….ps i am about to send a survey out for one of the women i featured in ID…i can email you the link to see..