Hi All,

If I would have read the forum rules first I would have realized that it’s OK to share inventions and I would have included a link in my first posting. I have created a new product called the Skyscraper Garden TM (www.skyscrapergarden.com) that is a kit for growing climbing vegetables and flowering vines vertically. I have teamed up with one of the countries leading garden writers and horticulturalists and the product has been picked up by the AP – please click on the ABC news story: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?i... With the price of vegetables skyrocketing and considering this country is in a major recession I’m hoping that the Skyscraper Garden takes off. I could go on about my product but my first thought was how many of you out there that participate in the live product searches already have products for sale? Would you be interested in a forum catagory for new products created by EN participants. EN – I completly understand if this is something that you may not be interested in and I do see that the products that are for sale on your Website have all been funneled through EN. Have you ever considered selling EN participant products that they have developed on their own?
For all of you out there considering participating in a live product search for the first time I encourage you to do so – it’s a great way and inexpensive way to give your idea a shot. I do have a G6 in the BB & B outdoor living search and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I have three products on the market and have entered two of them in about 6 searches. Made it ALMOST to the end with one of the BB&B searches.

The pillowcases are covered by a patent – the RV step cover, an original design, is not patented and has been copied already.

www.E-ZzzSleep.com (100% cotton flannel pillowcase)
www.SleepyHeadPillowcase.com (Baum Fleece pillowcase primarly for kids)
www.TravelersTread.com (RV step cover)

Hi Julie,

I checked out your Websites and I am impressed. The tread is more in line with what I would be interested in and there is a monster RV sales place close to where I live. I’ll make a copy of the Travelers Tread homepage and drop it off.

Thank you, Scott. Where do you live?

Julie Hi,

is Sir Edward still with us?

I think a lot of things happened: some forums got too vicious with personal attacks and many participants are busy with projects.

Hi Julie,

Pittsburgh, Pa area. How about you?

Yuma, AZ at present.

I have never been their, do many people have vegetable gardens?

We are the iceberg lettuce capital of the world so the people who grow are really large farming companies. It is desert and the temps. can be 118 in the summer: right now it is about 78 during the day but it drops to about 48 during the night. Our ‘soil’ is mostly sand.

As I was writing this, I realized that one of my best friends just planted several rows of vegetables. She has done quite well with the other things in her yard so I bet she would love one of your great products around her mail box. Thanks…

Please check out this link: http://gardening.about.com/od/shrubsvines/gr/Ad... It’s a review for another product that I have called The Cascade Garden Adjustable Height Trellis. If you read to the bottom of the article you will see the vendors link where you can watch a short video and purchase. This is the first adjustable height trellis on the market and I presently have one manufactured design. People have always made homemade contraptions for their climbing vines so I decided make specific adjustable height designs for different locations around the home and landscape . I have trellises for lamp posts, mailboxes, the side of your home or shed, fences and decks among others. If sales on the first trellis start to move I hope to start production on a few other designs. I have teamed up with the company that made the first composters (www.compostumbler.com) and we did take the trellis to some shows last year and the feedback was wildly enthusiastic but with this slow economy only the big well established companies were making sales. The smaller vendors didn’t or could barely cover the cost of the booth. I hope this economy turns around soon.

Hang in there: things WILL get better. I truly believe (based on garnering information from those ‘in the know’) that the smaller companies, not driven by greed, will be the most successful companies in this recession.

My strategies right now are: for both pillowcases I am concentrating on how one can save 5% for every degree the thermostat is turned down and on the fact that sleep deprivation is a growing problem. For the fleece pillowcase, I am aiming at children being misdiagnosed with ADHD when sleep deprivation may be the cause. The approach for the RV step cover is that one small, inexpensive improvement to the look of their ‘home’ can make a huge difference to the surroundings.

Growing one’s own vegetables, in a limited space (maybe an apartment balcony) can be a a great cost-savings. Maybe offer a list of fast-growing, hard-to-kill vegetables would be a plus: I have managed to kill Geraniums and Lantana but I might give it another shot with some type of encouragement aimed at a non-gardener.

I have an idea for window boxes for motor homes: they can be easily installed and removed when traveling. Not sure I will ever do anything with the idea as my energy and finances must be directed to the three current products.

A large windowbox company that I am working with will be adding my products to their website soon. Do you think there is a big enough market for mobile window boxes? Pillowcases – as you already know 40% of heat loss is through the head and sleep deprivation is a big problem so I think you’re on the right track. Did it occur to you to sell earplugs and an eyecover with the pillowcases – a kit if you will? I gave my daughter and her college roommates earplugs when we moved them in together; they all use them.

Since the flannel pillowcase does block SOME noise and a lot of light, I never considered earplugs or an eyemask. Shift workers and people who take naps have bought the pillowcase and the reports are very positive.

In a think tank, composed of free-thinking business women, someone suggested a little pocket be sewn into the top corner of the pillowcase and it could hold an iPod. I am still considering that suggestion and if I do it, I would also sell sleep CD’s for children (or whatever it is an iPod uses).

I DO think there is a market for the window box for motor homes: not everyone travels full-time – like me.