Ron. I agree, not enough time is put into thinking about the marketing side of inventing. I ask Inventors all the time “What is your target market?” and the response is normally " I’m not sure." When I come up with an idea I research to see if it is on the market and what markets I find similar items. That helps me target the companies I want to approach for licensing. Inventors are wasting their time putting the product before the research. I know an Inventor that spent $5,000 on a prototype and getting a sell sheet done. Once he had everything in hand he was devastated when he saw his idea in Lowe’s.
If Inventors would take the time to do things in an orderly fashion instead of running like everyone is out to steal their idea. They feel that if they don’t get it protected within 20 minutes of having the idea it is gone forever. All they are really doing is causing themselves more pain than gain.

http://www.rogerbrown.net

I do my research clearly before I submit an idea, yet it still may not be an idea that anyone is willing to pickup on no matter how much they like it as price point and functionality always seem to be factors that seem to come back and bite me in the rear end………

There are a lot of things to consider, wouldn’t even want to list all the things.

But, the most important thing, the numero uno one to never forget, is that if you do not stay with it, no one and let me say that again. NO ONE is going to make it happen for you. They might make it happen for themselves, but not for you.

Most marketing material will be thrown in the trash can if you manage to license a good product, there’s always room for improvement.

But being willing to present your product, no matter how well you do, is the most important thing I can think of

How does one go about finding which market is hot and which is not.

How do you follow trends. I am from a jerk water town, trends here are not up to date enough, to use.

Is there search engines for this sort of stuff?

David, the problem with trends is that by the time you hear about them you are already to late. Think about Snuggies, now is not the time to come out with your own version. What you need to look at are trends that last a while. Like right now the economy stinks and will for a while. The effect is more and more people are cutting costs spending less to make ends meet. They are eating at home more which means they will be looking for things to make that chore easier, faster, etc. So kitchen items will be a safe bet for a good while.
You want to look ahead, lets say you hear about a new Spider-Man movie coming out next year. You know they are going to be selling toys and other products with Spider-Man on them think in that area. Look how quickly people started coming out with things for Tiger Woods once the news hit about his affairs. That will be a short lived trend. There are seasonal trends. Think of items that would sell well during a holiday, like Valentines.
There are news stories everyday about compaines merging, going bankrupt, starting a new division, gas prices going up, people having trouble sleeping, wanting more apps for their phone, etc. Be aware of your surroundings and ideas will come to you. Listen to people complain about hating this or wishing someone would do something about that.
I got the idea for my Pizza Scissors while wandering the mall looking at products in the stores. I heard a woman at the mall complaining to another woman about the Pizza Cutter wheel ruining her pizza pan making cuts in it. So, I started thinking of a way to cut the pizza without hurting the pan. Then added the spatula feature. The product solves an issue and is built with quality materials so people see it as a product they can use.
No matter where you live you have access to some stores, you can get online at home or the local library. You have to be creative in your pursuit of ideas.

http://www.rogerbrown.net

David, LOL, fellow you do no not know what a jerk water town is??

I lived in and was educated in the San Fransisco bay area and after I got out of the military and moved to Paradise California I felt as if I moved into a town that was at least 100 years behind the times and if my product is picked up and I make any serious cash I am outta here:}

My biggest drawback is that I do not consider myself and inventor.
If I see a problem with something or something on the market is to expensive, I try to find ways around it. I have invented a tool that cost less then a dollar to make, and replaces a 325 dollar machine. I do not have imagination to come up with something out of thin air, just because the market calls for it. I have to wait until the market falls across my ideas, instead of the other way around. But I thank you, for I now have a better idea when to present ideas and when not to.

Let me add…there are many markets that are CLOSED to independent inventors and these markets are usually the biggest.

The reason why is the company(s) dominate the market/shelf space and DO NOT NEED YOU to sell products. They have their design engineers they pay $75,000 a year to and get their ideas from there and these people should be able to provide being trained right “under the roof”

Some of these companies think why let an outside inventor in and give 5% royalties (20% of profits about) ??? We already dominate the market and are selling product. We don’t need any help from outside inventors.

A friend of mine has a patent on a new computer mouse. He got his patent and then tried to license. The computer companies don’t need him! They are selling computer mice just fine!

Stores and infomercial companies don’t care if they sell all bags of rocks to make their money. You having a better product may not mean anything to them.

What I am saying here is to make sure the field you pick is penetratable by the independent inventor and the inventor will be respected. Sometimes 3 giant companies dominate the market and just won’t bother with the small guy.

To explain…take Roger’s pizza cutters. If 3 giant companies dominate the shelves and market with pizza wheel type cutters…..well guess what…Roger isn’t getting to play in the market…he can sell them out of the back of a pickup truck maybe.

Some markets are dead. Toy markets right now are in a great transition as kids all play computer and video games. Sports equipment is also slowing for years as you see kids only play sports on computers now (recreational sports) Board games and other games now are played on the computer. Yet some inventors keep coming up with new toys and games and expect them to do well.

I want to write an article for Inventors Digest on food inventions…if you can call them real inventions. I like to watch the food network show Unwrapped. They show all the food invention history company by company. I think most inventors/creative people can do well in this field too and it is generally unaffected by bad economies. Some very poor people are very fat because eating food is generally very cheap entertainment.

I saw a cool food invention this week. A tiny company made an ice cream and cake “hot dog” and another did it with cupcakes. The great thing about food products is they are manufactured mostly here which creates lots of jobs.

Milton Hershey did fantastic in the Great Depression. The reason was figured a person can afford a cheap indulgment in a chocolate bar to make them happy…one of the few things they may be able to afford.

Snuggies did so well only because everyone was trying to turn down their heat a degree or two because all fuels got so expensive. People could turn down the heat a bit if they hang out in a Snuggie and save a bunch. The general public does not even realize that is the reason people went nuts over Snuggies….but I do….I also study the psychology of the consumer…down to what colors mean what in a psychological definition…matters MUCH. The wrong color can ruin a product!

All this stuff…so important. Investors and executives in companies like EVERY ONE of my invention ideas almost all the time. I believe I have a 95% success rate with inventions while they say everyone else has maybe 5%. Why? Because I research the field first and then do the inventing. Do this and you don’t have to be exceptionally a good inventor to be successful either. In fact, the sharp entrepreneur with a bit of creativity will usually beat the inventor who is just “genius” with creativity. FACT!

I understand what you are saying Ron. The path I choose to follow in making things, should not be affected by anything you mentioned. As I make things that are cheap to make, so cheap to buy, I make things that are going to be used, no matter how much a hamburger costs. Mostly I make things that are used for work, and everyone must work. And the things I have, make doing something you are going to do anyway, easier.

As for the big Companies not needing ideas from people like us, I can see that, but doesn’t competition between companies, help to promote the use of inventors.

One more thing, if I approach company A, and try to get the best percentage I can get from them, would talk about going to company B, help or actually hurt my objective.

I almost always brought company A and B into the presentation in a professional non threatening way.

All I am saying here is many come up with a great idea only to find there is no path in that market to the final point of sale for the independent inventor. The hurdles are too high. I like to learn about the company first sometimes and then come up with the idea. Did that with 3M and Anheiser-Busch…worked out well…til the corporate lawyers came into the negotiations.

Just know if it is even possible to swing over that fence before you swing….or try another field.

I guess having no way in, is why so many have decided to produce, and market there product, in there own small business start-up companies.

I guess I could go that route, but I know my product would be knocked off and on the shelf even before I made a sale. Product is to easily made.

Remember also, fear is the biggest enemy of the inventor. 90% maybe with an idea sat and never did anything with their idea because of fear.

Sometimes I think if you just fear nothing and never stop trying you must be successful with an idea….if you push yourself and get hands on. Licensing only the odds are much much tougher.

I am just kidding myself Ron, I could not afford all the things it takes to even start, something of this nature. That is why I am trying to get the tool companies to take a look. I am close to retirement and have pretty much worked dang near all I want to.

You know, David…you just hit the nail on the head. Your last post is a reflection of some of my “meditative” thoughts I had today, and now I’ll briefly blog about.

It seems , after reading a lot of veterans’ advice the last day or so, that “don’t quit your day job” is probably the most viable advice. However, in the same breath, I hear that it’s practically a full time job to do this “hobby” right. What does that leave? The age old problem of it takes money to make money…or it takes time to do this (kind of like looking for your first job and everyone wants experience…huh? How do you get experience if every job requires experience?). Therefore, the most ideal (seemingly) inventors would be those of retirement age…they have time.

They also have a lifetime (at least in my case) of “gee that would be a good invention” type ideas, because they have been on this planet longer than anyone. I guess the real lucky ones, are the energetic younger ones who can come up with these ideas without needing to be on this earth so long, and still ( as you referred to, David) haven’t quite worked dang near all they want to. Ugh!

I’m kind of in the middle…not retirement age, but just sold my business, so I’ve got a little time, a little money , and a little energy to devote to “the dream” . Hopefully I am seasoned enough to put this long-ish life’s worth of ideas into play, before I run out of money, time or energy, while I can. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Dunno.

I do know that Walmart’ s always looking for greeters if nothing works out. (Now THAT will give me energy and motivation!)

You guys….listen….ANY deal under the sun can be made up with inventions and companies. You can make a licensing or percentage deal and then tell the company you want to help out some….want a job or even just push things along for free…like contacting catalogs for distribution….maybe some marketing, graphics, maybe you help in shipping two days a week…whatever.

This sometimes can really help your cause if you offer to get more involved because a new product can be a pain for a manufacturer with overwelming work. Maybe if you offer help sometimes the deal is easier for the manufacturer to take on.

Sometimes the manufacturer will not have you anywhere near…but get creative and offer help if you want. Most smaller manufacturers hate marketing. If you help with that they might be very happy.

This might work for the 5% of the people here, but most do not live near large manufacturing, outlets, or distribution outlets. We have Myrtles, she even has a gum ball machine near the parking area, good gum to, its always empty by the time I get there.

Ron I wish you would either eat that sandwich, or put that bike down. You are making me tired.

David, you don’t always need to be near a company to make things work. You have Skype, FEDEX, Snail mail, the internet. So your alternatives are high. The main thing is to do it as professionally as possible and do it from an informed stand point.