Archive for September, 2009

Do I need a patent attorney to write my patent or can I write it myself?

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

I’ve always thought of it this way… You hire an auto mechanic to fix your car, why wouldn’t you hire a patent attorney to write your patent? Patent attorney understand the language of patent law. A good patent attorney works on dozens of patent cases a month. He has seen what an examiner will pass and what he won’t pass as a valid claim… and knows how to negotiate claims with the patent office.  Yes, a patent attorney is expensive, but he’ll be worth his weight in gold if you ever have your patent challenged and/or have to defend it in court.

Plus, a good patent attorney knows how to write a licensing agreement that will stick like glue.

I know there are books out there that show you how to write and file for a patent. There are also books available on how to do open heart surgery. The bottom line: “There are people who do that.”

Who am I  and why am I contributing to the Fork Fed Blog?: My name is Paul Tuttobene and I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life helping  small and medium sized companies market new products and services to this ever changing marketplace. For more on me, go to www.Inventonomics.com

With unemployment hovering around 10%, there’s a new crop of creative people looking for a new direction for their life. History has shown that, in slow economic periods, talent is freed-up for innovation. But how does the novice inventor/entrepreneur get his new invention from idea, to product, to market?

I hope my blog contributions will be a free and ranging discussion from experienced inventors and entrepreneurs that will help the “first-timer” and the “old-timer” become more effective and successful in process of invention.

The topics that will be discussed will be as broad as “How the New Patent Laws will affect the inventor” and as narrow as “How to select a good plastics molder.” Everything is important and we can all learn for each other’s successes and mistakes!                                                                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________

Note from Jeff Gawronski:  Paul Tuttobene is also an inventor that took an idea (Buck Magnet) and made it a reality.  He shares all the highs and lows in a must read book titled ‘INVENT-ONOMICS’  If you have an idea for a product invention before you go any further you have to read this book.

INVENT-ONOMICS

Posted in Inventing, Patents & Trademarks | Comments Off

What Makes a GREAT Invention?

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Can you spot an amazing invention when you see one?

My bet would be placed on the side of:  You Can’t.  Don’t take it personally because if everyone was an invention expert only the very best products would be produced.  The problem is that which captures the public’s attention can never be fully understood.  Take for instance these inventions:  The Topsy Tail, Thigh Master, Flowbee and the Snuggie.  They were all a smashing success!  …Really?!?   Thinking present day it is hard to believe, but it’s true.

If you look at these products what makes them better than featured products you see on Yak About It?

flowbee thigh-master snuggie topsytail

The Answer:  Nothing

What made them better was that they captured the public’s attention. Is the Flowbee a better way to cut hair? The Thigh-Master the best way for toned thighs? The Snuggie the best way to stay warm? Or the Topsy-Tail the best way to create a hairstyle?  I think everyone would agree that the answer to all those questions is: NO.  However, once people saw or purchased these products they couldn’t help but tell everyone they knew. Basically these inventions were all Yak’d About and that is what propelled them to fame and fortune.

What has to be understood is that a product doesn’t become Yakable by necessarily being ‘better’.  What makes a new product succeed comes down to an ‘IT’ factor.  It’s often a factor that cannot often be explained or controlled.  For this reason there will always be creative inventors hoping their product idea can serve a need and perhaps more importantly capture everyone’s interest and enjoyment.

To all those entrepreneurial minds I wish you the best and I hope your first or latest invention is able to bring personal success and usefulness for all.

Posted in Inspirational, Inventing | Comments Off

Essential PR Tips

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Public relations is a vital service to building a business or launching a new product. If PR is a new concept for you, there may be a lot of questions.  What needs to be in a press release?  How do I prepare for an interview?  Is PR the same as advertising?

Understanding the difference between public relations and advertising is the first step.  Advertising is paid placement while PR is editorial coverage in news stories, feature articles and interviews.  Commercials and full page magazine ads allow you to say what you want about your company.  Public relations professionals work closely with editors and producers on feature stories, which implies a third party endorsement.  PR pros value their relationships with members of the press and maintain those contacts.

Before gaining the interest of a newspaper editor or television producer, you will need to come up with something catchy and to the point.  Press releases are formal announcements and are rarely read thoroughly by the media.  A simple paragraph about your product could generate a television segment at your local station or grab the attention of a national magazine looking to feature gifts in a round-up for Holiday Shopping.  When a press release is necessary, media outlets look for the appropriate Associated Press format.  The headline is the most important part of the release and should grab the reader.  The body of the release should answer who, what, when, where, why and how.  Correct grammar and spelling are imperative.  There are various online resources with free press release templates including, Prnewswire and PRWeb.

When working with media outlets think of the big picture.  The media loves trends!  Do your research and find out what’s going on in the news right now and how you can tie in your product or service.  Attaching your company to a bigger story gives you better chances for immediate coverage.  Another great way to generate coverage is through hometown stories.  Don’t underestimate the value of news features in your local market as well as small regional magazines, trade publications and even online editorials can drive sales.

Once you have sent your pitch and get booked on a local radio or television show, you must prepare for the interview.  Make a list of three points that you want to cover in the interview.  Don’t forget to mention your product and company name don’t just say ‘my company’ say the name of the company as much as possible, without sounding like a commercial.  Remember the segment is part of a news story, you aren’t there to sell your product on television. It’s also important to respect deadlines.  If a newspaper requests a product sample or photo of the product, it’s in your best interest to respond quickly.  Also, tell the reporter if you can’t meet their deadline.  But remember to snatch the opportunity while the interest is fresh.

Reporters prefer to cover successful companies. A small start-up is less newsworthy than a company that’s booming. Keep this in mind when questioned about sales numbers. You might use ‘projected sales numbers’ or an increase in distribution and retail outlets to showcase success.

Media outlets say their number one complaint is when guests ask for a copy of the segment.  Set up a recording beforehand or have a friend tape the segment.  There are also media clipping services where you can purchase a tape.

It’s important to use the power of PR!  Many companies display media features in a ‘press’ link on their websites.  This adds credibility to your brand.  The media interest and coverage can increase your product distribution and retail presence.  It’s an excellent selling tool!

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Your Start-up Location (embracing home)

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

What if I told you launching your new invention out of your home is a good thing? Many start-up inventors feel self-conscious not having an actual office and warehouse for their start-up company.  This feeling is absolutely normal, but I am here to say be proud of your home based warehouse and office.   This flies in the face of what’s acceptable to big retailers so you wouldn’t want to broadcast it all over Twitter and Facebook, but in all truth where you are located doesn’t matter.

What does matter is that you are RELIABLE.   Big retailers only frown on a home based warehouse and office because they are afraid they can’t trust you.  This trust is so important that a retail buyer will actually turn down your great invention if they are uncertain of the stability of your business.  If they know you are shipping out of your garage they will unfortunately be concerned that you won’t be able to deliver your goods.  However, the great part is… THEY DON’T NEED TO KNOW AND THEY’LL NEVER ASK.  As long as you can be responsive to a retail store’s phone calls, emails or faxes and you can ship on time as required, then where you are located doesn’t matter!

When I first launched my invention I was using my garage and basement as the warehouse and a spare bedroom as an office.  I was concerned about shipping my product out of the basement and taking important calls in a spare room, but what I quickly learned was it didn’t matter.  At one point I was shipping my invention to Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens ‘N Things and The Container Store.  None of these retailers knew I had product stacked next to the washing machine!  After all, it is hard to imagine 10,000 units of an invention taking up an entire basement and garage.  The height of running my start-up from home was when I had 10 pallets of product waiting in the driveway to be picked up by a tractor trailer for a retail delivery.  I am certain if these major store buyers could have seen my set-up that they would probably not have worked with me.  It doesn’t exactly evoke confidence seeing products staked on pallets in a residential driveway.  The good news was that as long as I shipped according to the retailer’s requirements, where I fulfilled the order didn’t matter.  I worked hard to make my start-up conditions not inhibit my interactions with retail customers.  Eventually, when demand and finances allowed for it, my start-up company moved from the garage to a real office and warehouse.   Waiting until my company could afford the added rent and utilities expenses was essential in ensuring a financially sound company.  The foundation of making sure your new start-up company is financially stable is one of the most important things any new entrepreneur must follow.

Whether currently running your start-up company out of your home or creating a business plan stating your home will be your warehouse, you can feel confident that starting out of your home is a good thing.  Embrace it!  Bring a great product to market, be reliable and you’ll know when to add the expense of a warehouse and office.  Overall it will start to feel right once you can financially afford it and when the high demand for your product starts putting your RELIABILITY at risk.

(Technorati: 8qywp9mikg)

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Yak About It …Why all the Yakin’?

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

In a recent Yak Poll 72% of you stated that you have had an idea for a new product or invention. Only 5% of you stated you have never had a new product idea.

What does this mean?

It means that 72%+ of people could pursue bringing an originally created product idea to market. That is a pretty impressive %! Of course for a host of both good and poor reasons we all know most of us don’t bring our invention ideas to reality.

Now imagine this:

You decide to jump in. You read books, talk to people who have done it before, find money and pour everything you have to make your product idea happen. Then after sometimes a year or more of hard work your invention is finally retail ready. YAY!!! Your family and friends throw you a party. You take pictures with your product. It is a great day … and it should be!

What happens next is so terrifying that unless you as an inventor hit a pot of luck early or you have friends in high places, you’ll struggle. You expected everyone to beat down your door for your product and inevitably some will, but most won’t even know you exist. Here comes the really terrifying part. If you did a solid business plan then that might limit the stress, but trust me it won’t be gone. What will really burn a whole in your stomach is that which will burn a hole in your bank account. You’ll be spending more than you ever expected just to get people to know your product exits.

After you’ve plunk down $15,000 in trade shows expenses, $5,000 for your trade show backdrop and materials, $10,000 in advertising, $5,000 in travel and host of other marketing expenses you begin to either panic or pray.

Then all of a sudden orders start coming in. You’ll feel a euphoric joy that your invention idea is something people want and find useful. It’s exciting and you’ll feel like you can do this little thing called being an entrepreneur. There is one problem though. If you have any shot of succeeding and earning a salary you’ll need to sell product quickly or get a big order. Due to the amount you spent on marketing and product development, you’ll need those orders ‘yesterday’. Many inventors make it, others are forced to move on and some keep their invention as just a hobby. Yak About It would like to see all inventors find their definition of success!

… So why all the Yakin’?

Because Entrepreneurs and Inventors do need YOUR VOICE!  To get their product noticed, purchased and into more retail stores it takes good, old fashioned word of mouth.   Yak About It is meant to be that launching pad for discussion about inventor-based products. Yak About It won’t replace all marketing expenses, but our goal is to have a fun place that makes new products and unknown inventions easily found, noticed and Yak’d about by YOU the consumer.

Yak About It is less than one week old, but the vision is to create a place where all independent entrepreneur inventions launch. If Yak About It can achieve this (and we can only do it through YOU) then those inventors like those in the ‘imagine story’ (above) will have that much better odds for success.

Posted in Entrepreneurial, Inventing | Comments Off