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FEATURED MOM INVENTORS > LAURIE GADBOIS
Laurie Gadbois was a single mom to baby, Tor, when she first began developing her invention,
Baby Light & Clip, five years ago. Today her innovative product, which helps parents trim baby's nails more safely and confidently, is on the shelves of retailers nationwide. Her product was also recently featured in USA Today. In her interview with Mom Inventors, she shares details on how she approached the prototyping and manufacturing process, and she offers tips on marketing, trade shows and more. Here is her story.
Describe your company and your product (or product line) Baby Light & Clip® is a patented Lighted Nail Clipper that illuminates from under a child's finger nail so parents can see exactly where to safely trim in a dark or dimly lit room. Baby Light & Clip® also has other important features such as: built in Safety Guards that help prevent a baby's tiny fingertip from going in between blades, a Nail Clipping Tray that helps prevent nail clippings from falling into baby's bedding, a Comfort Control Handle for easy holding and maneuvering, and a Travel Case for moms on the go! Baby Light & Clip® comes ready to use with an AA Battery. Why did you start this company and when? Like most new moms I faced challenges. One of those was trimming my son, Tor's, fingernails. It was difficult to see where to cut and he wouldn't stay still. So, when I went on the Internet to see what other moms were doing to accomplish this task, I discovered that just about every article I read advised to trim baby's nails while they sleep. So I'd wait until my son, Tor, was asleep but even during his afternoon nap I found it difficult to see just where to safely trim. I thought, "Why doesn't someone make a nail clipper with a light on it?" and thus after 5 years Baby Light & Clip® was born! Now trimming Tor's nails is easy, and more importantly, safe. What were your initial goals? To find a nail clipper that would allow me to see where to safely trim my son's nails. After searching I found that this product didn't exist! 
Describe yourself and your family.
When I began working on Baby Light & Clip® I was a single mom to one son who is now 7. I recently married a man who my son and I adore. My husband is my biggest fan. My parents and my sister have also been a tremendous support. My friends think it's cool that they know someone who's actually invented a product. What is your background and how does it relate to your company? I have no experience in any of this. Learning about inventing, manufacturing and marketing was all done by trial and error and lots of hard work. Have you ever experienced an epiphany that changed the direction of your life? Yes, to trust in the Lord! His word says that He wants to bless us and He's done just that in every area of my life including bringing this invention to market! What process did you follow to develop a prototype? The first prototype was carved out of bass wood. Then, by adding wires, a subminiature light bulb, battery contacts and a switch, the prototype was fully functional. The first one looked more like a long neck goose then a handle for a clipper, but after two or three shapes it had a cool little design. I then had 3-D CAD drawings done. The data was then taken from the 3-D CAD files and converted into a working resin model. This is called stereolithography and through this process we were able to make a working prototype. This was very exciting because we could finally see what the clipper was going to actually look like! Many modifications were necessary before and even after the steel mold were built. I was told this is typical. 
What process did you follow to determine your product's marketability (is there a need, would people buy it)?
I had no idea that parents found trimming their child's nails to be such a difficult task until I faced the challenge myself. Moms began telling me their horror stories of how they or their husbands had accidentally cut their child's finger while trimming. I knew I was onto something! I searched the market for a clipper that would solve this problem and found nothing. I also read the Internet articles written by top pediatricians and health care professionals that said to trim while the child sleeps, and how to treat the finger when they drew blood. That was it for me -- I recognized there was a big safety issue and I knew I could help solve this problem! What process did you follow to find a manufacturer for your product? I had corresponded with many manufacturers but none of them worked out. I contacted Mom Inventors, Inc., who recommended resources for manufacturers and it's worked out great. My manufacturer has been an important part of the success of my product. I didn't want to hire a manufacturer, start selling and have everything fall apart because they drop the ball. I also found a talented artist who did my marketing material and packaging. She is a gem! Were there any setbacks in product development that had to be overcome? Yes. After the initial modifications were completed we had to go back and modify the safety guards. Then when I was visiting my sister she took the clipper out of my purse and when she went to turn on the battery it had slightly tilted, thus, loosing the connection. A tiny foam pad was added to the inside of the lid. Thank God we caught these problems before we ordered our first shipment. It was very time consuming to go back and forth on changes that were incorrect. I was even accused of splitting hairs! I truly believe that the fine tuning is crucial! Small things do matter. I knew that I would be the one standing behind the product and I wanted to be proud of it. The whole product development process is a hurry up and wait while meeting many different deadlines. What was the biggest learning curve in terms of developing your product? Understanding the broad spectrum of terminology when developing a product and starting a new business. I had to educate myself in every aspect of business so I would know what questions to ask to hire the right people. Time, effort and common sense are things you must have to start the learning process because truly that's all I had when I began. 
Through what markets are you selling?
Wholesale mostly. My customers include USA Baby, Buy Buy Baby, Bellini, Toys R Us Australia, Pharmacies, hospital gift shops, baby boutiques, gift shops and Internet based businesses. Baby Light & Clip® will also be appearing on QVC! What secrets have you learned in terms of publicity and marketing your product? Hiring a PR person has really paid off! For a certain amount they get the product in the right hands and hopefully get you the exposure necessary to help launch your invention. Advertising can be expensive, so PR, by far, is the most cost effective approach. What was the biggest learning curve in terms of marketing your product? Exhibiting at trade shows is huge in my industry and I have had to learn how to work this one area effectively. This included various things such as designing a booth, what to say when talking to potential customers, handing out materials etc... Another area of learning is where to advertise effectively both before, during and after the tradeshow, i.e.; trade magazines, brochure stands that are outside the booth, and press kits for the PR attendees. One tip: Find out from the show what magazines will be featured at the show and contact those editors in advance. If you have a new product, many times they'll mention your product or choose to write about you for FREE! How long did it take to get your product from idea to market (conception to product launch)? 5 years. How have you managed to juggle the roles of business owner and mom? What falls by the wayside (laundry, work-out, etc. etc.)? My personal appearance has suffered greatly. I still jump on my treadmill as part of my wake up routine to get my endorphins going. I've learned to multitask in order to keep the house clean, run a successful business and keep my life simple. I still make time to volunteer in Tor's class room at school and fit in a date night with my husband once a week! 
What kind of support system do you have in place personally and professionally?
Well, when I told my sister (mom of three girls) about the idea she said, "I never had trouble cutting my kids nails." Ironically, we later found out that our mom had cut her finger when she was a toddler. Despite her initial response, she is one of my biggest supporters. I have a very supportive husband, and encouraging friends. My family and the people who I work with say, "You should really be proud of yourself, most people never get this far." How did you finance your business (personal contributions, loans from friends & family, loans from bank, credit cards, outside investors?) Savings plus loans from friends, family and people who believed in the product. How much money have you invested so far? After patenting, trademarks, copyrighting, 3-D CAD drawings, prototypes, steel mold, product testing, forming a corporation, getting a business license, designing a logo and packaging, printing brochures, store displays, press kits, product pictures, postage, mailing material, building a website, obtaining product liability insurance and leaving enough to order the product, too much! However, doing a lot of the work myself has saved me a lot. How do you feel about that? I really believe that the product is a great help to parents and am beginning to really see it pay off. What is your company's current financial picture and what are your projections? Since launching Baby Light & Clip in April 07 we are doing phenomenally and it continues to grow, especially as people find out that that Baby Light & Clip® exists. I expect more sales and income growth in the new year. 
What has been your greatest success or "high point" in the process?
Seeing the first resin model was surely the "high point!" When you take an idea and actually make it-it's surreal. But, the most satisfying feeling I get, still to this day, is hearing a parent explain their past troubles or anxiety about clipping their child's nails and how they appreciate my invention. It sounds small but truly my vision is to help Moms and Dads throughout the world with this small but worrisome task. It's my way of giving back and serving others who can relate to me being a mom. Have you experienced a "low point" and if so, how did you rally yourself to get back on track? I wouldn't call it a low point but waiting for samples to come from overseas and having them arrive with flaws was disappointing. Mistakes happen but when you put your heart into something like this and then things go wrong, it can be very frustrating and costly. But like anything, I just make the changes and corrections and go one more round. Who has been your biggest source of inspiration? What keeps you going? Testimonies from parents who use Baby Light & Clip® and also, being able to reflect back on how far the business has come. Did anyone in particular help you along the way? My husband came in late to this whole process. However, his background in sales has definitely helped with the marketing of Baby Light & Clip®. What advice would you offer other moms developing their products/ideas: When you find people with integrity hold on to them! Respond promptly to keep the momentum going. This tends to keep the people you're working with on top of things and focused. Write everything down and file it in case you need the information at a later date. Until you have confidently hired a person for a specific job, continue to gather leads. This way you can compare quality and pricing, and you'll learn something new from every person you talk to. Start your patenting process as soon as possible. Keep yourself motivated and inspired by creatively working on your logo, tag line, domain name and packaging design etc.... Sit down with a S.C.O.R.E. counselor and talk about your plans. These are retired executives who can really help you get your business going and it's all FREE! But most of all be realistic with your efforts, goals, and time. This will bring eventual joy and satisfaction. Is there a resource that proved to be invaluable that you would like to share with other moms? The Internet and the Thomas Register. The Thomas Register can be found at the library or online at Thomasnet.com. This was an invaluable tool when I was developing Baby Light & Clip®. It lists companies that supply everything from the product parts I needed to the final packaging. Because good people are hard to find, I ended up putting together a resource guide. Is there anything else you would like to add? Follow up on any material that you send out! In general people seem to think you get an idea, patent it and start selling it. I wish it was that easy... And any advice given by those who don't specialize in a particular area - take it with a grain of salt. Lastly, if you really believe in your product you can make it happen, too! | ||||||
