Congratulations Susan. Do you plan to license the product or manufacture and sell it yourself? I also received a notice of allowance on my patent recently and just need to pay the fees and it is mine.

I’ve tossed around the idea of licensing the product for a couple years. At the end of the day, I believe it’s the best decision. The product has a great deal of potential, so I’d like to see it in the right hands.

I’m thinking about submitting my product to the ‘As Seen on TV’ LPS that ends on March 1st. I’m not sure if this is a good move for a patented product I already have $10,000 invested in. I’d like to have my product considered for the TV market, so it seems like an excellent opportunity. What do you think?

Congratulations on receiving your notice of allowance. Do you know how long it will take to receive your patent once the fees are paid?

Thanks Susan. Talking to my friends who work for patent attorneys, they say once the fees are paid that it will be 30-60 days before the patent is issued. Personally, I would give EN a try with your product. Given you have an allowed patent means a lot and you know for sure if it gets past G5 you’ll get at least a G6 ;-) Best of luck.

Do you know the size of the paper the patent is printed on? I’ll run out and buy my frame this weekend!

I just read through my Notice of Allowance this morning and discovered a few changes had been made to the claims. Two claims were amended to include a more detailed description of an attachment structure. Six claims were removed because the amendments made them redundant.

Susan, congrat’s on your patent allowance. I remember not long ago you were freaked out about getting the USPTO rejections. See it all worked out for the best.
Welcome to the inventors world with the ups,downs,and stress that go along with the process. You made it through the Patent hurdle, now its time to buckle down and get someone to get your product to retail. Thats the toughest task you will have Believe me your going to have the same up,downs, stress plus (Frustration) you had with the patent app. Dont let it get to you,keep moving forward contacting as many companys as you can.
Once you pay the Pat issue fee your attorney will get a date on when the patent will issue. Like Dond said I think its 30-60 days from what I remember.

I would think real hard about entering your product in one of the LPS if your going to contact companys on your own while your waiting to see if EN decides to take your product on. Lets say one day you move up to the level that locks you into there contract before the final decisions made to take on your product, then you get a call from one of the companys you contacted on your own they want to try and work a license deal out with you. How are you going to handle the situation then.
Think it out very carefully before you do anything.

Again,,,,,congratulations on the Patent..and good luck in the future with it

Gizmo,

That is excellent advice and very situation happened to me. A major company called me about my lid when I was at stage 3 in the HD search which I had emailed prior to that. To be fair I had told them about the search and if they where serious about my product and were willing to put it into writing then I would consider dropping out of the search before it reached G7. They got back to me after it went G7 and said to do what I was doing because they had already chosen their new products for 2010 but would still be interested in taking a better look at it.
I made the decision to let it ride with EN from the beginning if nothing concrete happened before G7 if it got that far. I know I could make more money if I where to manufacture my self but it’s getting into the market place that is the toughest thing. I figure that getting something is better then nothing and besides if it does make it through it could fund my other ideas and maybe those I could bring to market. Just thought I would chime in. Good luck to all.

Thanks for the excellent advice, Gizmo.

I’ve decided the best thing for me to do is to seek a licensing agreement. As much as I’d love to have the product manufactured and bring it to market myself, I don’t have the capital to do this. It would be much better in the hands of someone who can bring the product to its full potential. (I’ll just cash the checks.)

Last year I contacted the major manufacturers who produce products in the same category as mine. I also contacted a couple other companies who produce related products. I sent out three or four product information sheets after receiving signed NDAs. Nothing amounted from it. I suppose it’s time to move to round two.

Now that I’ve received a Notice of Allowance from the USPTO, is it OK for me to let everyone know what my product is? I’ve been keeping it a secret for 2.5 years.

Tim – My product is also related to painting. Can you share any information on some inventor-friendly companies in the field?

Susan, at this point it’s ok to expose your product, you have a patent allowance now.
I wouldnt worry to much about if a companys inventor friendly at this point. You have Patent Protection and claims. you dont need to worry about any NDA’s at this point. Contact as many companys and manufactures as you can, the more you get your product in front of the better off you are. Do your research on companys, you would be surprised how many manufacturing companys are owned by major companys.
One example is Newell Rubbermaid, they own Irwin Tools, C.H. Hanson Tools, Lenox,Calphalon cookware, Amerock cabinet hardware,Levolor blinds,Goody, DYMO, Sanford, Sharpie, and many more. Thats not including there subsidary manufacturing companys.
You just never know who owns who anymore….

Good Luck

Does this mean I also don’t need to worry about non-disclosure agreements? That would be nice!

I’d love to get some feedback from other ENers regarding my product and also add it to my profile. I may do this tonight. Maybe some good leads will come out of it.

Susan, you dont need to worry about the Non-Disclosure Agreement….I mentioned it in the above post (NDA).

SUSAN…KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT YOUR PATENT. DO NOT POST THE PATENT HERE EITHER UNLESS YOU STAND TO REALLY GAIN FROM IT…YOU TAKE A CHANCE AND EXPOSE ONLY, ONLY, ONLY IF THERE IS A WORTH FOR YOU TO TAKE THE RISK BECAUSE HERE ARE THE 4 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR YOUR INVENTION:

1) Jump on the market share
2) Jump on the market share
3) Jump on the market share
4) Obtain a patent.

Patent or no patent you still keep quiet so you can get your product to the market and brand it into people’s heads first!!! My protection is the general public asking for Handi-Straps as they heard from “the guy down the street” or their cousin…NOT my patent. Suing is a last, gruesome chance.

Do you know, there are a couple two man lifting systems out on the market…TOTAL different inventions than mine, you need two people and mine works for everything, theirs don’t. Do you know that distributors have turned me down because they already carry something THEY THINK is similar??? (But it isn’t)

THEREFOR…keep your mouth SHUT and only show a company if you stand to have a chance at a sole partnership with them on your invention which is what you need so together you can GET A JUMP ON THE MARKET SHARE!

You may still request an NDA to show that you still wish them to SHUT UP about your invention and business plans…even if it is legally nonrelevant…do it anyway to show them one…you are not blabbing to all so they do have a shot at the JUMP ON THE MARKET SHARE and two you are still trying to keep all a secret for that jump on the market share and they should respect that.

AS A RULE…you can figure any patent can be got around as any executive with an MBA believes or else someone can go export your idea from China to the U.S. and sell your invention they made, make some millions and then stop making when they think they hurt you enough. What can you do? Learn Chinese and go fight them in an alley in China??? Your not suing them in a Chinese court.

PATENTS ARE FOR POOR SLOBS LIKE US…who have no other protection and that is our last hope.

FOR BIG RICH COMPANIES IT’S….JUMP ON THE MARKET SHARE…FORGET PATENTS (I mean they will get one for $10,000…but they sure as hell don’t wanna have to enforce it!!)

Susan…you take your time and pick ONE company at a time to try and work with. Give them 30 days to atleast let you know where they are in the analysis process of acceptance or rejection. You gave something good so use your head. You don’t want to go with one company and then the other company finds a way to knock you off…and it does not have to be because they found a better way! It’s just about who gets to the consumers ear first.

ONLY EXPOSE YOUR PATENT LIKE AN OUT OF CONTROL WILDMAN AS A LAST RESORT…when you have exhausted the ways above and just about give up pushing and are down to your very last hope. If you DON’T LISTEN to my way you will most likely get ripped off, knocked off etc.

Let me tell you…when a CEO is interested in your idea they will look into your eyes and ask who you told…because they want to ensure JUMP ON THE MARKET SHARE. They don’t want to invest millions and get knocked off or pushed out of the market because you blabbed to all! When that CEO asks you who you told…if you say not many and get all nervous YOU ARE DONE…the CEO will most likely not deal with you.

CEO’s want brand new fresh kept secret ideas patent or no patent. They are not in the suing business and don’t want to play the game in court. They also want to hear they are the only “player” on the table and the first approached and that the idea is still unknown. Got a patent too? Very nice…that protects the inventor BUT NOT the company that invests millions. Yeah you hear the story of suing for infringement for millions but you don’t hear all the companies that got hurt from infringement and never had the strength to sue.

In 3,4,5 years you still don’t have a deal…yeah…post it all over…even on the toilet walls if you wish…see what bites….until then….SHUT UP!!!!!!!!

Moreover..do you know the smart thing to do is for a company to just take your idea and sue? Do you know this is what happens most times as a company knows this way is the easiest way for a company to make a licensing deal with you? This is for a very large company….but for a large company it is easier for them and less costly to settle on a licensing deal with you in court…if you even got the #@! to come after them. What the heck, their corporate lawyers need something to do anyway…they’ll be happy to go to court on an infringement case with you….and weasel out of back royalties too…and offer a lower royalty and a judge may MAKE you take it! I’ve seen this with 3 friends! This is not always…but you always need to be AS CAREFUL AS YOU CAN

Hope you are hearing this to Gizmo….

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
www.handi-straps.com <<< See…now I can blab…I’m out in the market around the world..blabbing is all I can do

To answer your question about the size of the actual patent: APPROXIMATELY 7-3/4" wide x 11-1/2" high but there are pages within the packet.

Congratulations! Very exciting and stressful about what to do but weigh all the options and trust your gut.

I chose to control the whole thing myself in order to get a record of sales so I would have a viable business to sell, including the patent. After 8 years with quite a bit of success, I am now entering some LPS’s in the hopes some company will take it and run with it. Marketing has been my downfall: designing a product which never existed before has caused all marketing reps. to turn it down.

Ron – Thanks for the advice! I chose not to disclose anything until I heard from you. Your information hasn’t steered me wrong in the past.

Julie – When you mentioned that your product is something that never existed before, were you talking about your pillow case? If so, I’m in a similar situation. The basic purpose of my product is common. The approach is entirely new. This is why I believe I didn’t get any bites from the information sheets I sent out. The market has never been tested for a similar product.

Now that I know my patent application made it through, I’m ready to move to the second round of contacting companies. I need to spend some time updating my product sheet this weekend.

Thanks for your help everyone!

Ron , I dont agree with you on this one and it’s not the first time LOL. First off I didnt tell Susan to disclose the product. She asked if it’s ok now that she has patent allowance, ( BY the way it is ok to disclose her product).
I also suggested for her to (Think it out very carefully before you do anything).

Susan’s patent app was already published to the public, her patent allowance will be also in a few months. It’s up to her to make the decision if she discloses her product on the forum. What good would it do to have a company sign a NDA at this point ? First off it would be hard to prove if a company/manufacture exposed her product to an outside source. Even if she told someone in confidence about her product it still doesnt mean that person wont start blabbing about it.

Heres a good example of the scenario Ron.
The first time we talked on the phone I told you (Ron) about a product I licensed out to a company before the patent app was even published or examined by the USPTO. I got a pretty good size chunk of change (6 figures) up front for a good faith gesture and it wasnt towards future royaltys. You should remember the conversation Ron, you were impressed. As a matter of fact you were so impressed you started a thread on Invent Right about it and gave the exact 6 figure number on the forum. I had NO idea you started the thread until I checked my email, there were at least 10 private messages sent to me from some of the members asking if I got that kind of $$$ up front. I really didnt know what they were talking about until I look at the thread. I was like holy $hit what heck is Ron doing, I told you the $$ amount in somewhat of confidence. All I could do was shake my head and think, well another lesson learned (Again). It really wouldnt of been that big of a deal to me Ron if you would of told the story without posting the $$$ amount.
Lets use Newell Rubbermaid for example, if they were the company I had the license deal with and gave me the good faith $$$$. Now if some other inventor approaches them with there product and Rubbermaid wants to cut a license deal, there gonna want good faith $$$$ because Gizmo got it with his product. Rubbermaid going to ask the inventor how do you that. The inventor’s going to say Oh I read it on Invent Right some Big Mouth started a thread on it and gave the $$ amount……. Do you think for one second Ron that my phones not going to be ringing with the CEO of rubbermaid on the other end. Do you think Rubbermaids going to ever give good faith $$$ again…..Nope because some Big Mouth ruined it for all inventors in the future.
Ron you comment about (Hope your hearing this to Gizmo) in your above post makes me laugh.

Ron your the one that says get magazines,websites,etc to get product exposure, now your saying wait 3.4.5.yrs. Susan already has 10 to 12,000 invested,somewhere in the 3,4,5,yrs she will have to pay patent maint fees and still may not have her product licensed or on the market. Who’s pocket is that $$$ coming from, not yours or mine its hers…Thats when the panic mode kicks in,she has to either pay the fees or let it go.

It’s easy for anyone to get a patent if they believe deep in there heart and gut in the invention and really worked and thought it out carefully. Getting the invention/product to retail is the toughest part. I was told by one of the HD buyers they consider a product a winner if they average 1 sale a day. I had a hard time believing that so I started asking other company buyers the question Lowes,Menards,Ace, etc. To my surprise it was true, they will jump through hoops if they get a chance to grab a product with that kind of sales. My sister-in law is the manager of a Walmart so I asked her the question. She said oh hell yes 1 a days great because there looking at all the stores combined.
Susan needs to promote her product as much as possible any way she can. Websites,Twitter,Facebook,Youtube,etc. She needs to get the word out anyway she can with her product. Everyday that goes by is costing her money. She needs to approach as many companys as she can all at once,sitting back and waiting for one company at a time to make a decision is a waist of time in my book.

Both of you (Ron and Gizmo) have made some excellent points. Ron is the only person on EN who knows what my product is. From the start, he’s warned me to keep it under wraps because he felt it was a blockbuster idea. I’m grateful for the advice.

As much as I’d love to get the word out so I can bring in some feedback and potentially obtain some much needed leads, I can understand the importance of staying under the radar. At the same time, contacting one company at a time and giving them 30-days before moving to the next company would seem like an eternity and may take a very, very long time.

It’s a tough call.

Ron I actually made a mistake in the above post. When I stated retailers consider a product a winner if they average 1 sale a day . It should of been 1 sale a (week) per store is considered a winner.
I think my brain was off this morning,Im flying to Chicago from Florida next week. Just thinking about the cold weather there has my brain screwed up…

Susan, it is a tough call. You need to remember the USPTO maint fees sneak up pretty quick. If your products as much as a block buster idea as Ron says. I would think approaching multiple companys at the same time could be good for you. If you get multiple companys that are interested you may have the option to multi-license the product to all of them rather than giving one company the exclusive rights.. Then you can cash more than one check every month from different companys … :)

Im sure you will play it smart what ever you do..

Good Luck

You should always at least try to get a NDA in place with a company prior to a license deal. Two reasons for this:

1. Your patent may not disclose everything about your idea. You are also licensing your business ideas and technical “know how” which may not be included in the patent. The NDA hopefully protect those.

2. Asking for a NDA upfront sends the message to the company that you are serious and have done your homework.

Just my $0.02

I do have one possible agreement that could be hatched with a plastics manufacturer I’ll be meeting with on Monday morning. They signed an NDA last summer and were very excited about my product. (Their designer said it was one of the best he’d seen in a while). I was temporarily living in California at the time, so they asked me to contact them once I had relocated. (They’re about 45-minutes away from my home).

Funny thing is, I just emailed them ten minutes ago to see when we could schedule a meeting and they immediately wrote back saying they wanted to see me right away… Monday at 9:00 A.M.

This company hinted at the possibility of partnering with me and mentioned they could take care of tooling, production, packaging, and inventory. I don’t have any experience in this area, so I’m not sure what kind of proposal I could expect from them, if any. If they’ll be fronting the start-up costs, I expect they would want a good chunk of the pie.

Susan – yes, the pillowcase.

Things are moving very quickly for you and that is great! However, I would certainly take a friend you can trust, or a professional, with you to the meeting. I have taken friends with me to several meetings and introduced them with different titles (none of which were true). The friend doesn’t have to say anything but if they take notes, that is even better: their presence might keep the other people a little more honest . And, whatever you do, sleep on it first – no contract has to be signed right away.

I wish you all the very best….

Hi Susan,

Sorry I haven’t replied until now and congrats on getting your patent. I had the same stuff about the rejections but it all turned out fine. At the movement I can’t talk with any company’s because I’m a finalist in the Home Depot search so I’m just waiting to see what happens with them.
I’m very interested in knowing what your product is? also if possible to hear more about the manufacture your going to meet with I’m always keeping my eyes open for possibilities that might better my chances of getting my lid into the market place. Do they already make things for any major retailers or company’s or vendors? I have talked to various manufactures for pricing including mold making costs here and in china so I’ve got most my numbers to present to a retailer.
If things don’t work out with HD then I’m going to contact Sherwin Williams again because they’re the company that called me about my lid and said they where still interested in looking at it in more depth even after knowing about the search. The buyer had asked me if I had manufacturing or if I was looking for it, I told him I had it in place ready to go but it really depended on how the relationship worked out and that I was open to what best suits my needs. It would be great to talk with you about things if you like.

All right Susan way to go! I’m right where your at right now. What direction do we go?
I kind of stalled out waiting as a finalist for ASOTV II for seven months.
But this Thread is remotavating me, thank you.

According to the EN blog this is the product that won ASOTV II this last time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl1SBLNdhg0

It looks like a great product, and ready to go already.
Good job Judy with your Pet Hair Picker Upper.

I wasn’t sure whether or not to bring my husband to the meeting with me. He’s never shown much interest in my product design… only the amount of money I’ve put into it. I didn’t want the manufacturer’s rep to pick up any negative vibes from him.

Tim – I’ve contacted representatives from Sherwin Williams and Dunn Edwards by email without any luck. I always thought in the back of my mind that these types of retailers would only be interested in a manufactured product that was shelf-ready. Have you received this impression from Sherwin Williams?

A couple years ago I found an area on Home Depot’s corporate website that said they have an open call for inventors to introduce new products once or twice a year. I’ve tried to find that page again without any luck. I do have a corporate contact at Home Depot I can try to contact. I’m open to the idea of hopping on a plane if they’ll give me a fair shot.

Todd – Sometimes I don’t know what direction to go. One week I’m highly motivated. The next thing I know, the project has been on the back burner for months. Meeting with a manufacturer is a good step for me to take. This is the first time I’ll be able to meet face-to-face with someone who has shown genuine interest. It will also be my first opportunity to get some objective feedback from someone other than a family member or a close friend.

By the way, that Pet Hair Picker Upper is amazing!

hell it does look like a great product there on youtube,
is that the one that won the search?

To Brad F:

EXCELLENT! I always knew you continue to ask for an NDA patent or not if you feel vulnerable in any way because you still want to show secrecy, but the correct legal advice from a business lawyer would be to get an NDA because marketing schemes etc. will be exposed and for that part you want secrecy. Logos, trademarks…all that stuff will be exposed…so you get an NDA to “blanket” all correspondences between.

Susan,

When I emailed SW I didn’t expect anything except maybe an email back stating they weren’t interested but they’re sales rep called me personally. He asked about it and if I could send them some photos and or computer renderings because I had only sent a description of it. We spoke a couple more times after that although he hadn’t called back before I went G7 on the Home Depot search but he did apologized for not getting back to me sooner and recommended to continue with what I was doing. They had already picked they’re new products for 2010 and they take up to a year to decide on what those are going to be but he was still interested in my lid. I said I’ll let them know once I find out the results of the search.
I think I have a serious shot with them at least that’s how it feels. If you can hook up with a manufacture who supply these company’s with product and they can get your product in with they’re that’s the way to go. Maybe the one your going to see has a contact and they see the value of your product. I have a contact with a manufacture here(Ca) 5 min. away and is willing to help out by supplying the casings for the molds at no cost as long as I manufacture with them and supply the plastic for the first run of couple hundred, I would have to pay for set up. There is still the cost of the molds and most importantly having a customer to sell them to. I know I could go door to door and get them into small retail but I just don’t have the funds to get it all stared.
I think this year is going to be different and things are going to happen, ya just can’t give up as long as your idea has merit in the market place and the #‘s make sense. For me I have no dout that my lid does even though it’s taken so long to get it to this point. Is there a place we can see your product? and if I can help in any way I will. Good luck to all.

Sue, Please do not take anyone who doubts you or your intentions: you are right, negative vibes or body language can be picked up. I have friends who still think I am nuts (even after 10 years) but I also have friends who not only believe in me but in the product. Positive support is very important – especially in a meeting. Did you do a test market yet? If so, who gave you the best response – maybe that person would be a good choice if they are available.

Susan…if you were the manufacturer, and I said to you…listen, I researched your company and I have chosen you to approach first. I believe we are the right fit for the future success of this invention. I have told no other company so the news of this new invention has not leaked. OR

Another inventor approaches you and says, hey, business is business I have chosen a few companies to show this invention too (showing I am impatient in a business deal/partnership proposal and only looking for the best financial offer) I tell you I have blabbed and another company could be making a knockoff or similar replacement product right now (So the manufacturer must be careful in how much they invest in a product launch).

Susan…which person would you want to do business with? Which one will you offer premium royalties? The first one I am sure that had great respect for your company.

Now Susan…if the first few companies turn you down, you tell company two and three why they turned you down of it isn’t negative about the invention, be honest. Tell companies exactly the trail you left with exposing your invention, THEY WILL APPRECIATE THAT

Take my advice….and Gizmo…NOBODY on this website can beat me in marketing strategy. that is what Susan’s issue comes down to. Not even the owners of Edison Nation can beat me. The CEO of 3M and the Director of Marketing for Anheiser-Busch know me quite well for multiple correspondences on paper too for marketing plans for the entire direction of their companies. Two grand master schemes.

I was in the position with these companies I could only dream of. I became just too sick to make any major move and work with these companies, relocate, dedicate executive level extended hours etc….too involved in my health battle and spending as much time with my kid just in case.

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

Ron, good marketing strategy to me is to get the product in front of as many companys as possible. You know as well as I do it can take 8 to 12 weeks for a company to get back to the inventor. So that means you get to approach up to 6 companys in a yrs time and still may not get anywhere, Its hard to get to companys as it is anyway. The majority of companys wont sign the inventors NDA unless youve done buisness with them before.
If your lucky and get a license agreement it takes at least 18 months to bring the product to retail. How many inventors do you know thats got any money up front towards future royaltys. I bet not many………

The last provisional app I submitted to the USPTO a couple yrs ago I sent out the end of Nov.I over nighted it and new they received it. The next day I had 5 companys sign my No-compete/Non disclosure agreement and mailed out the info and prototypes the next day. In January I was working on a license deal with 1 company giving them an exclusive.
Two days after the agreement was signed one of the other companys called me looking to work on a licence deal with me. It took them forever to get through all there corporate BS to make the decision if they wanted the product. It was to late to do anything about it, because the exclusive agreement was with someone else. Now had they moved a little faster I wouldnt of gave the exclusive to the other company. I would of been sitting in a different drivers seat .
Susan could be in the same situation if she approaches more than one company at a time. You know as well as I do all companys that are interested in a product are going to ask for an exclusive…thats fact..and would be stupid if they didnt. If 2 companys are after it at the same time Susan has more options towards her financial future. This is no different than playing cards,sometimes you can split your cards and have a better chance at winning……

I’ve been doing what Derek touched upon – contacting companies who produce well known brands that carry similar products. Unfortunately, there are only two major companies that produce products in my category and three or four smaller, more specialized companies.

The two major companies produce a basic product that’s cheap to produce. The don’t produce a higher-end product like the smaller, specialized companies do. However, as Julie mentioned earlier, it’s difficult to sell the idea of a product that’s never existed before (and doesn’t exist yet.)

I can try a second round of contacts with these five or six companies. After I’ve exhausted my efforts, I need to figure out where to turn next. Because my product design has taken something traditionally found in the electrical/lighting aisble and turned it into something that would sell much better in a painting department, my thought was to contact companies that produce painting accessories and related products. A company that EN did a LPS with last year, Zibra, reviewed my information (outside of the LPS) and passed. I can see this happening with other companies who specialize in products designed to apply paint (rollers, brushes, etc.) My product wouldn’t fit into their existing lines.

I do plan to update my product information sheet tomorrow so it goes beyond explaining the product to visually demonstrating the problem it solves. If I can clearly show why consumers will want to buy it, it will make my product much more compelling.

Thanks for the post, Derek. I know the exact type of person described in that article.

I don’t consider myself to be a paranoid inventor. I’d charactorize myself as a smart inventor acting in the best interests of my invention.

Like Ron pointed out, the value of a potential deal could be dramatically affected by the number of people aware of a new product design. Would you rather get in on great opportunity that’s exclusive, or a great opportunity many people are already aware of?

Hi Susan, Not certain if you are a fan of Doug Hall and Eureka Ranch, but one of the questions he believes good product information should answer from a consumer view point is “What’s in it for me?”. Clever design and cool features don’t matter unless they really help the user. Best of luck.

Derek…you don’t understand or know about what she has…but you tell this big story of advice as you always do…a blanket for everyone to follow.

I know what Susan has. She has a blockbuster idea for mass markets. You have a protractor for roofers or framers (which I spent 10 years doing, roofing and framing) You have a highly specialized product. Susan has something that can become GIANT.

I also gave Susan my contacts for the very top buyer for Sherwin-Williams and Home Depot. You guys just don’t know…you see…I am the master. I have a friend who was paid 9 MILLION FOR HIS PATENT BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS. My advice to Susan was correct. No paranoia…no bull….her product can be picked up by SW and guess what…if I tell them I say it is good to the executives over there they will listen to me. (I know many people in this field…people up at the top of the game)

Derek, please don’t call my advice B/S when you are all the way in Australia and doing business in China and then giving advice for what is going on here in the U.S.

You and Gizmo actually even have the same invention but you will do things differently that make sense because you live in a country very far away.

Susan’s strategy will be different from yours. Who will knockoff a specialized roofing protractor? She has a product that if leaked she will find knockoffs on the shelf before she even gets a chance to get hers on the shelf. cheap China knockoffs on something like she has can even be faster than the proper system of bringing a product to market. Susan may be also held up waiting for a UL rating. Derek, that is something else you do not know about Susan’s product.

In the U.S. we have Underwriters Laboratory that is recognized as help regulating. Your country has something different and China knockoffs have no regulators to slow them down. I also don’t think Susan’s intellectual property is bulletproof. Seems to me there may be a way around the thing she is trying to accomplish.

Boys…kiddies….there is a good reason why I am the only one that knows what Susan’s idea is. Also, she knows I TOLD NO ONE…she just knows that. I would NEVER blow her secrecy!!! I want to witness her winning…not blab so some stranger can be the winner and I never get to witness. I hope she STILL knows why and tries to protect her secrecy still on this potential GIANT blockbuster idea. Her invention is NOT just another old idea of many….and there will be many more.

She may have a giant winner…or possibly nothing at all too. Let’s not teach her to be reckless with something potentially worth millions of dollars in a licensing deal….which by the way….making over a million in a licensing deal is a RARE occurance….anyone that tells you different is full of shit. Susan has a chance to be one of the rare ones.

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

Hey Ron, PM me the names of the top guy you know from S&W and HD will ya. This way I can tell if your full of it. It just so happens one of my good friends is a big painting contractor back in the chicago area. Ive been out golfing in the past with all the top dogs with S&W a few yrs ago,,,,many times They wined and dined him many times and still do. Hell Ive golfed at Medinah and Cog Hill with them.
Also send me the top buyer for HD, I know a few of them also. By the way theres a bunch of them for different departments, and they havent been called buyers for some yrs now, there Global Product Merchants . I can tell you for sure Ron, not just any Joe Blow can get to see them either….

Actually me and Derek dont have the same invention, mine has way more technology in it. Its not a roofing protractor anyway Im not sure where you got that info…Dereks is… Sure mine will do what Dereks does but has so much more uses. Hell it could make a pro out of you in a few miniutes……..

When it comes to my particular product, I believe Ron’s advice over the past couple years has been on the mark. I’ve always been cautiously optimistic about the potential success of my product, even though it solves a major problem and nothing else like it has ever been on the market. I’m just trying to be realiastic and keep my head out of the clouds.

Just to use an example, there’s a big difference between a product like Tim’s painting/storage lid and mine. There are many products out there that hold and organize paint brushes, rollers, etc. When you shop an idea out there, you’re selling your design as something better. It may be more user-friendly, solve a problem the others don’t, or provide more storage options. Nothing like my product is out there yet. It would be nice to keep it that way until I can bring it to market.

Thanks for all of your advice and information. I really apprecaite it!

That’s a girl..stay SHARP and figure a strategy by researching. Don’t just wing it and pay for your mistakes later.

Gizmo…I got one of Ford’s recent CEO’s home phone number. I have the phone number and talk to one of President Obama’s czars. Don’t worry if my connections or network are real. I have no time to play. I have no reason to make any of these statements if they are not true. The top two buyers or purchasers for Home Depot as of 3 years ago, a man and a woman and they both have very different names for a man and a woman. If you know them you will know what I mean.

Anyway….it does not matter except if you be honest and hard working in this field….and just be nice to people (Dave Thomas founder of Wendy’s best quoted business advice)….anyone here can amass some good helpful contacts by networking with all good intent.

And Gizmo….golfing may get you your contacts…you must have read Donald Trump’s books (I’ve read ‘em all)…but Tiger Woods has now wrecked the entire game of golf and all the business credibility for all the deals that go down on the course…all wrecked now….so your contacts…networks….no good…..can’t be trusted. Your buddy Tiger wrecked it all for you.

I’ve done some thinking Ron. Over the last yr Ive heard you say your a Master Marketer,Master Inventor.Master Carpenter, Master Roofer, and Master Fisherman.
I know you fished with Lures before, have you used Live or dead bait. If so wouldnt you be considered a
Master Baiter also. You deserved that Ron from the “boys kiddies”.

Your not the expert on all things you think you are I know that and so do you. We have talked many times so dont pull tht BS on me. The rest of the members may believe it I dont. I called you out on the S&W contacts, PM them to me I wont tell anyone if your full of it or not.
Good thing I’m going to Chicago this week because my painter contractor buddys going to in Florida the week after next playing golf at Bay Hill with the S&W boys. I was asked to go but have some medical issues to take care of with my father in the Chicago area.

Susan I wish you all the luck in the world with your product.

Actually Ron theres many name besides the 2 your talking about. If one of there names is Billy spelled with a y and not Billie then maybe your right. You may want to do some research Ron because a bunch of the Global product merchants in the last couple yrs got $hit canned for taking bribes from suppliers. Did you know that, maybe your contacts are in jail with Bernie Maddof. There were male and female HD merchants that got the boot. Thats why everythings bought out of Atlanta now, so it dont happen again.
LMAO,,,,Tiger Woods hasnt changed one thing how buisness is done, where did you come up with that one.

I never said I was a master fisherman or roofer or contractor!!!!! I was just joking with that master comment and told you so as soon as I said it!!!!

Drinking again? No need to prove ANYTHING to you. No need and no time for it. We don’t need to prove things to each other. We have talked many times off this forum. No need to play games with you on here. You certainly have your specific talents in inventing. We all do and I respect your talents but I am not playing games with you. The Sherwin Williams people in retail know of me well for 20 years. My contact comes from respect from retail management…a recommendation that goes straight to corporate headquarters in Ohio. You won’t be getting the name. I don’t play with things like that.

Geeze Gizmo…you seem to be getting mad. Now you know better…we always just help each other….and nobody is considered special above others. We also have shared contacts in the past. You know who I know already. You knew I was kidding about that master thing…just a joke…a figure of speech in a light challenge….after all, I was called full of ****

Gizmo…Tiger did too wreck the whole game of golf…you’ll see. Gizmo…I got the leads from Home Depot out of South Plainfield, NJ where half of corporate headquarters used to be but that half moved to Atlanta…but ya know what…I should go back there and see who is left here in NJ. My family all comes from South Plainfield but the lead comes from Handi-Straps, not living there, my contacts are in Atlanta.

The top buyer in Atlanta…the big shot and then there are departments like you say…but the big one’s name sounds like kooky and is a kooky name…..but many names are these days…..who made the name Ron?…all kooky names maybe…don’t wanna knock anyone’s name cause look what a name can do. Some mom wrecked a kid calling him Tiger….and then he went and wrecked an entire sport! Gizmo…don’t play golf anymore! No good….your business contacts will be no good too!

I always thought golf was a dumb game. There’s no defense! What kind of game is that? You know why it is a white man’s game too…because you don’t have to jump!

Stupid game…why don’t you play a game where you move the ball and somebody else goes and chases it down?? Why would you have to go waste your time and go chase down your own ball? Golf needs some defense…and Tiger out and maybe it will be better.

With golf, your ball gets thrown off by a worm’s hole and your all pissed, throw your club up in a tree and your in the 19th hole drinking to lower your blood pressure! Stay away from golf Gizmo…you got enough problems!

Heres some articles on the HD merchants. Not all of them are named in these articles……
By the way Ronnie, Im not drinking dude. I quite smoking today…LOL.
I need to stay in shape to play Golf…….

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=120454493...

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=120242800...

Good Gizmo!!!! Don’t smoke! I can help you with that. You DO NOT want treatments like I get cause you smoked. I get more chemo tomorrow…another set of treatments. I think now….I liked sucking cigarettes….and now if I could all trade it back…and I LOVED my cigarettes.

I actually had one drink last night…like my 4th in a year. Didn’t like it! I was at the bar singing…rather sit there and drink my soda!

What an old bat I’m getting to be…don’t even chase women anymore…..still can belt out a rock song like singers on the radio though….

but seriously Gizmo….we all have out talents here and must pool our knowledge. NONE of us here is even close to being a master or know it all in inventing…it’s so damn intricate.

You do have a talent talking and working with companies. Not all here have that. You have also managed to start up a WONDERFUL, LOYAL relationship with a major tool manufacturer…you NEED that…can be worth millions to you!!!! Lots of inventors need that…loyalty, alliance….I am GREAT friends with my manufacturer….you don’t wanna go out there and jerk a bunch of manufacturers around.

These deals with manufacturers are BIG PARTNERSHIP DEALS…they take time. you can’t spend a few minutes with each and run off to the next one. a licensing deal is a MAJOR MAJOR business deal!

Inventors tend to think of it as nothing with much impatience and THAT is the reason 95% of inventions don’t make money. LISTEN TO ME ON THIS. Yes, don’t beat a dead horse with a bad invention but after over 20 years actively in this field I have seen so many really good ideas that inventors drop because they quickly run through “the motions” and then pass off the idea and go to another idea…run that idea half-assed, see no results, think the idea is bad…go get another idea…and never land on solid ground with an idea with a company to make a deal!!!!

With all your talents researching Gizmo…you can find the right company before you even call……then be patient but demand some kind of constant progress and nurture a GREAT business relationship!

I will tell you this. I have my major medical distributor and that is all I want right now. Another infomercial company contacted me on Friday, one of the major ones…it’s still ugly out there. The #3 big home improvement retailer was really having a bad time less than a year ago. Talked to buyers there too 84 Lumber. I like those guys. with bad times still around licensing deals will have to be played very DELICATELY……don’t go out there like a wildman expecting companies to jump for you immediately or your off. HAVE THE RESEARCH DONE ON YOUR INVENTION SO THE DEAL CAN GO FASTER!!!

I had the marketing research already done whenever I approached companies…or some amount of necessary research done. Know what happened? I actually in a way told the company how they would answer me about my invention or idea I was proposing. They had to follow my lead because I did the research to prove my idea was good. Few inventors/innovators/entrepreneurs do that.

If Susan has all her Is dotted and Ts crossed her invention should be like giving ice cream to kids. Who will say no? She just has to research which company she likes best. If she does not do that she will probably get ripped off or knocked off.

No Gizmo…don’t think I ever talked to those Home Depot buyers in that article but the article shows you what really goes on. Many ugly things like this so the little guy could never even get on the field to play.

This is some of the reasons why I am doing my own thing. I just keep proving my product. Keep building the following which builds my leverage and makes the whole thing worth more for me in the end. I don’t have to answer to ANYONE now. Not even my manufacturer. They let me do what I want. I need money for anything besides my share they split expenses…all I have to do is ask. I love it this way. It will stay this way atleast until the economy picks up. One year ago Home Depot couldn’t even sell a damn tape measure once in a while almost.

Well, Well, Well, I see you got your crystals turned back in place, nice to see you back to normal. Wow now your a Master Rock Singer to..Add that to your list….LMAO….
Ron you make me wonder at times. You mention you like 84 Lumber,the rebel John Daly (The Golfer was a spokesman for them in the past). Not sure if they gave him the boot.

Working on the smoking, Im testing a 100% natural transdermal patch I came up with….No nicotine what so ever.

If HD dont watch it they will be going down the tubes or Lowes will surpass them. Arthur Blank needs to get back in the corporate office and not worry about his Atlanta Falcons football team.
Keep a closer watch on the HD money, he can watch his Falcons from the board room

Wow from what you guy’s are saying maybe I entered the wrong search (Home Depot) lets hope they get they’re act together especially if my lid is chosen.

Everyone has different experiences, so I know I’m not going to get the same advise from everyone on the board. That’s what so great about it. I can learn what has worked for other people and apply a little here and there to my particular situation.

As inventors, we know there isn’t one “cookie cutter” solution that applies to everything. The solutions are as diverse as the products we create.

I met with the manufacturer this morning and showed them my prototype. I also brought some working models that demonstrative particular features. They seemed impressed. They’re going to work on the numbers for tooling (steel molds produced in China) and manufacturing at their local plant.

One option they put on the table would be for their company to front the cost of the molds and trickle this expense into the manufacturing end of things. This would prevent us from having to sheel out $40,000 or more in mold fees out of the starting gate. We’d essentially pay for the molds as we go. Is this a common practice?

Before they can put another offer on the table, they need to review the numbers and have a meeting with the bosses at their corporate office.

Congratulations Susan. Sounds like they like your product. Hope the numbers work out for everybody ;-) Don’t understand what you mean by “trickle this expense (the molds) into the manufacturing end of things” I thought that was a given?

Dond. I didnt understand that part either. I thought Susan was trying to License the product…..