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Is there a particular resource you need to help develop your business or invention? Please post your needs in the comments below and we'll do our best to help match you with the right resource. This area is specifically for finding product and service providers to help you grow your business. This is not a place to post general questions or requests for advice.
Also, anyone is free to join the discussion and offer help in reply to a member's query -- just use the "Reply" button. You can also subscribe to this discussion area with the checkbox below the "Submit Comment" button. After looking through the Resources Directory and reading The Mom Inventors Handbook (which will answer many of your questions), if you can't find what you're looking for, post your need here.
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Ok, I need some direction. I had an idea. I'm having a prototype made of it. Then what? It's so hard to figure out these steps! Do I find a mold maker first then a manufacturer? Suggestions?
Hi Kimberly,
Have you read the Mom Inventors Handbook: How to Turn Your Idea into the Next Big Thing? It provides a road map with the steps you need to successfully bring your product to market.
Warmest wishes,
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
I'm reading it now but I think bc I am trying to develop a product and there are over 100 different designs, I'm having a hard time figuring things out. I currently hired a sculptor to make 2 prototypes so I can then go to my mold maker and get pricing. But for all my future designs, I'm not sure if I need an engineer or graphic artist?? Any ideas?
Cheers,
Kimberly
I am looking for a company that would be interested in publishing a cookbook or an agent who represents new writers.
Lisa Ekus of The Lisa Ekus group is one of the better known cookbook agents around. You can google her. I published a cookbook myself using a company called Teach Services. It depends what type of book you are looking to publish. Today, to develop a cookbook for commercial use, you must first submit an outline to see if they are even interested. It is very difficult unless you are a TV personality or a well known food blogger to get a publishing deal. You are better with small independent publishing houses. If you visit my blog http://foodfanataholics.blogspot.com I have a section all the way down on the right side called
Cookbook Writing Info Sites. There are coaching sites listed there. Dianne Jacobs is a cookbook writing
coach who is excellent. Click on her link.
Thanks!
Hi Elise, I have a cookbook of my mother's recipes, gathering dust. I don't know if I will get around to publishing it. It is way out of my product lines. But I will save your info in case I ever do. I just want to thank you for the excellent info. InventingJoy
I would tell you that for a family cookbook, if you are not interested in mass marketing it, that Morris or one of the digital printing services (LuLu) would be the way to go.
I strongly urge you to put your mother's recipes into book form. That's how I started writing my cookbook. I loaded it up with family pictures and went from there.
There is not a day that goes by that one of my children, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends don't e-mail me to tell me they are using the cookbook. It would truly be a sin to let these recipes go by the wayside :)
Elise
Thx Elise, That's really good advice. I'll put it on my to do list after Camp Stamp season. You R right. I'm glad I kept the recipes . My family comes from various parts of Eastern Europe. The recipes have been handed down. I always had it in the back of my mind to ad a map & history of the recipe & the area & why some of those recipes were developed. The development of recipes were influence by so many historical, socioeconomic, & religious factors. Pork was dangerous at that time, so it became customary to eliminate it from the diet for Jews & Muslims who followed certain dietary laws. 2 sets of dishes were necessary because dishes were washed with sand in the desert. Water was scarce. None of that is relevant now but it became part of religious custom. When I was a kid, I poured milk into a meat dish. My aunty let out a scream as if she had been stabbed. I looked around. No blood. Then she ran outside & buried the dish muttering something about the full moon. Smoked fish & meat were cheap ways to cross the ocean without refrigeration. Now we are lucky if we can afford Lox at $16 per lb or salami, corned beef & pastrami. They used to be poor people food. Now they are expensive gourmet food. My mother used to make the most fabulous corned beef.(Don't know why its called "corned"). I don't know if anyone, & certainly not me would spend that kind of time & effort. But it sure was yummy! It would be good to not let it dissapear into history. You've inspired me. Maybe I'll try to get my mother in law's recipes. Hers were even more fabulous. Her baking was amazing. Got to focus. Got to focus JOy. Get to work Joy. If I had a slave driving boss like me, I wouldn't work for me. Oh, I'm the boss! Can I fire myself? InventingJoy
Hi,
Do you all know of a company that help with patent search, provisional patent and prototype. This is a product for the kitchen.
Thanks in advance,
Twana
My company does patent searches, provisional patents, prototypes but we are wait listed until next July for prototypes. You can email me if you want to get on the wait list. We could probably do the patent search & provisional patent in the next month. I give a discounted price between 2 – 300, depending on the product, for mom inventors. However, you do not want to do a provisional patent unless you have done your market study, have set up your financing, manufacturing, distribution plan etc. The reason is: After filing a provisional patent, you only have 1 year to either file a patent or get your product to market with the financing to advertise & promote your brand so that competitors don't try to undercut you. If you file a provisional & don't follow up with a full patent within 1 year, your product becomes public domain. That does not mean you can’t produce your product if you aren’t infringing on someone else’s product. It does mean you lose the rights & protection a patent provides. It would be unlikely you could license it, go on Shark Tank etc. I think you should start with a patent search. The reason to start with a patent search is to see if you are infringing on someone else’s product. It also helps you further develop your own product. Then, when you are sure you are not infringing, do a prototype. A prototype will also further help you develop your product. Then Do a market study. A market study is a list of questions that cover the scope of your product fromfinancial, distribution, market share etc. This is something I provide with my consulting services. Then decide if it is even in your best interest to get a patent on your product. I only do a provisional if I am doing something publicly like American Inventor or Everyday Edisons. I did one when I was on Everyday Edisons, hoping they would finance the invention. They didn’t so I contacted a large company who waited for the provisional to expire & then stole & produced the invention. Would I do the same thing again? Yes. Bcs inventing is a gamble. I gambled that someone else would finance the invention. They didn’t & if I ever get the money I could still market the product but I can’t protect or license the product. Neither can they. It is now public domain. The situation would be the same if I had put the product on the market. A competitor changes one feature & goes into competition. That’s why you do a market study. Part of the study is to predict what your competitors may do & prepare for that. But don’t quit your day job. In my case, Camp Stamp. Part of preparing is to budget your time. When I go into Camp Stamp season, I don’t have time to launch a new product, especially within the year required by a provisional patent. To me it doesn’t matter that companies have stolen many of my inventions, names, ideas & more. It means I have good ideas. Good enough to steal. A real inventor can always go on to develop another product. I have about 40 gathering dust on the shelf.
There are so many inexpensive ways to market a product these days. It is so exciting to have options I never had when I started with Camp Stamp over 20 years ago. Email me if you want to go forward with the patent search &/or wait list for a prototype. Even a provisional if, after considering the facts, that’s what you want to do. Please be sure to include your ph# earliest & latest I can call without disturbing anyone. Good luck. caringpro@gmail.com InventingJoy
Hi, I have a very useful baby product I would like to license (patent pending). I am looking for baby manufacturer contacts, possibly Babies R Us. For many reasons I do not want to manufacture it myself. I have made a working prototype and have done extensive research. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You for any input.
Julie
Hi Julie,
I don't have any contacts but wanted to see if you would tell me who did your prototype. I am having problems with the company I am using.
Jennifer,
We actually made our own prototype, but the finished product was manufactured by a company that is no longer in business. Henceforth the reason licensure would be a great option for our product. I will agree that you keep your product confidential until protection paperwork is filed.
Erica
Hi Julie,
When I was looking into licensing, I got in touch with trend lab, land of nod, etc. If you look at manufacturers who make a similar product, a lot of times they have licensing and some you need the actual patent. What product category is it?
Hi. Did you just call the main number for the companies and ask for someone to talk to about licensing, submitting an idea? It is made in fabric, so I was able to make my prototype, It would be in the travel, on the go category. I came up with the idea after having 4 kids, and sure could have used it myself.
HI. I made my own prototype, sorry.Thanks for replying.
Hi Julie,
I don't have an answer as for as a contact, but you may want to search Thomas Register for manufacturers. I would suggest that before you show anyone your prototype you make them sign a nondisclosure form to protect yourself. There are so many knock-offs in this industries, a patent pending is not going to do it.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Elise
Thank you.
I am in Nashville, TN and we have invented and acquired a patent on a product by the name of Keep-A-Dose. We currently have an inventory of about 10,000 pieces and would love to have th product placed in small shops and boutiques to see how they move. We would also like to take a look at making our packaging more compact so that it takes up less shelf space. We would ultimately like to license out the product if possible, but for now we just need some general direction. Our websit address is http://www.keepadose.com, and I would love to hear your suggestions.
Erica
Dear Erica,
Tamara's Power Mentoring Program beings on January 23, this Monday. This seems like it may be the perfect fit for you. You can read more about the program at this link: http://www.mominventors.com/2012/01/02/get-support-get-focused-make-this-your-year/. If you have any questions, please email info@mominventors.com.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Humphrey
Administrative Assistant
Mom Invented
Elizabeth,
That would be great if I could attend the mentoring program, but unfortunately we have a very small budget that will not allow for that type of expense right now. Thanks for suggesting it though. I am really looking for avenues that I amy be able to explore and navigate myself with my shoestring budget.
Erica
Hi, Since this is my first time being a Mom I was without a clue on what to get and what would be the best chooses, so I let others help me pick and recommend. My only thing is that I started to see different ways to improve and even have a couple ideas to create. My only question is where to start, what to do to really make my ideas come true. I am so sick of all the scams on the internet, couldn't even look for a new job since half were scams that I applied for. Please help me.
Hi everyone, I want to apologize to those who have contacted me & I haven't yet responded. I was in hospital & now behind on everything. If I haven't contacted you by the end of the week, pls feel free to email me again. FYI it appeared to be a heart attack but wasn't. Women have different symptoms as men & count for a huge percentage of heart attacks. If someone would invent a system for telling the difference between acid reflux & heart attack, I would be very grateful. Acid reflux is also dangerous but not an emergency. It takes about 3 days of hospitalization to tell the difference. If someone could may inexpensive home tests out of some of those tests they do in the hospital, we could save people like me a lot of time & the medical system a lot of money. The acid, was causing spasms in the vocal cords preventing proper breathing & causing all kinds of nasty symptoms. I'm sharing this for others who may be experiencing similar symptoms. If you think your having a heart attack, go to ER unless U have death or disability in your schedule. If U think a little bit of heart burn is nothing, it isn't. Get it checked out. It can cause heart, problems, lack of oxygen problems & more. If U know of, or U invent something to tell the difference let me know. I'm on Obama's team for health car reform & would be glad to mention it to a committee. Again, sorry for the delay. I'm playing catch up. Feel free to email me at caringpro@gmail.com InventingJoy
I invented an intersting type of cage for birds, hand made, but the design could be improved on industrial scale with little additions.. I use the cage I made for my parakeet birds I would like to license my invention. I am willing to share profits with investors. we can discuss percentages upon agreement. I am sure many would love my cage because my birds preffered it over other cages.
In NY city, I'm in need of a place local or internet that sells terry cloth fabrics, ideally i'd like on where I can print my own design. I"m also looking for a seamstress or company that has exprience sewing prototypes. Thank you.
Hello All,
I am in need of a person that can help me with a specification drawing for a prototype. Thanks
My friend has a degree in Art, she might be able to draw what you want, her Eglish is not very good, I can facilate communication between you.
Does anyone know of a reputable packaging manufacturer?
My company does some packaging. Can U give more details? Is it retail or mail order? Do you require a point of purchase display? What is your product? size? Type of shipping? Quantity in a box? Pls contact me wi phone# & earliest & latest U can be called without disturbing anyone. caringpro@yahoo.com InventingJoy
Hi,
Does anyone know of a good plush toy mnaufacturer? Trying to find one that works with eco-friendly materials.
Thanks!
Hi,
Does anyone know of a good plush toy mnaufacturer? Trying to find one that works with eco-friendly materials.
Thanks!
Hi,
Does anyone know of a good plush toy mnaufacturer? Trying to find one that works with eco-friendly materials.
Thanks!
I need a women inventor to partner on an improvement for a female urinary device suggested by my daughter-nurse. See for example http://www.go-girl.com. I am a retired patent attorney. Leo Aubel
Hi Leo, I love the product. It fits with a product I'm developing for baby boomers. Contact me caringpro@gmail.com thx InventingJoy
Hi,
I need help with this new toy/game/concept I have designed, for toddlers, that comes as a kit. Since it involves a video production, I only have developed the items in the kit to prototype form. I did all the pre-production work and its ready for video production and have pricing from China manufacturers for the rest of the kit.
I have 3 young children and we're a low income family. Before I put the rest of my money into this and try to raise the remainder, I would really like to test it to see what Mommies think and any feedback. So far I have only tested it on family and talked about the concept with a few friends - who have given me positive feedback. It's also hard to test a product that contains a video that hasn't been made. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Anthi, I think U R very wise to do a focus group or many focus groups before sinking money into a product. However, you cannot do a focus group without a prototype of your product. . What is stopping you from making a video yourself? If you don't have a flip cam or phone that takes video, borrow one or contact your local collage or art school or advertise on Craigslist for someone to do a shoot. There's always a way. If U shoot your own video & the feedback U get from strangers (& they must be strangers), is smokin' & U decide to go forward, U can always have a professional shoot later. You R going to have to overcome many more issues than this in getting a product to market. This is the easy, fun part. Am I missing something? Is there some reason for not shooting it yourself? InventingJoy
Hi everyone,
I need to get a patent search done. Does anyone have a company that does it? I used my attorney for the first one and it was very expensive. I'm looking for a company that specializes in patent searches.
Thanks!
Hi Jennifer, I do patent searches for approx $200 to $300 depending on the the product & complications. Pls contact me at InventingJoy@InventingJoy.com
HI Jennifer & everyone, Re: Doing a patent search for you. I am having problems with that email so pls contact me at caringpro@yahoo.com
btw, Jan will be the beginning of my CampStamp season . http://www.CampStamp.com . I may not have staff to do patent searches again til the end of the summer. So if you want a patent search pls contact me next week. InventingJoy
Ladies,
I am looking for an individual or a company who has accounts already established with businesses who sell kitchen items. Let me start from the beginning:
I finally received my product from China. I'm so excited to actually see the trial run of Cuffitts: the new and improved 3-in-1 pot holder, handle holder & oven mitt! I signed up with a manufacture representative company at manufacturers-representatives.com hoping to find a good and trustworthy representative who would represent me and my product by getting it out to businesses/companies that sell kitchen products. I found two whom I really liked and I thought would best benefit my company. In the beginning we were making contact regularly (sometimes 2 and 3 times a week). I sent a sample of my patent pending product to both of them (one in Florida and one in California). And I have not conversed at all with either of them in the last two weeks....not because I have not tried!! So now I'm back to square one: I need a representative to market my product. Any ideas or referrals? Let me know!!
I am also looking for someone to maintain my website. Any ideas or referrals? Let me know!!
Check out and/or purchase the product on my website: http://www.cuffitts.com
Thanks,
Fe - Creator of Cuffitts
Felicia,
You might be limiting yourself by thinking just of kitchen type stores. You might want to think about getting a booth at the New York Gift Show or the Stationary Show both at the Javits Center in NYC. I believe George Little Management Company runs both of those shows. No one can sell your product the way you can. You could also contact a repping company that displays at those shows and let them show the product for you. The exposure you'll get will be tremendous. I also noticed that these can be personalized. You may also think about joining the ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) I think they are in Langorne, PA. They are the people that do all the imprintables for logo and promotions. You can get your product out to 1000's of distributors across the country through them.
Here are links for George Little and ASI:
http://www.glmshows.com/
http://www.asicentral.com
Hope this helps
Elise
Elise,
Thank you so much for that information. This helps tremedously!! I never thought of contacting a company that displays at those shows to let them show the product for me!! My budget will not allow me to attend a show on my own at the moment so this is a great idea! I will join ASI.
Thank you again Elise!
Fe
Glad to help. There is a magazine called Gift and Decorative Accessories and they usually have repping companies listed in the back.
Here is another link for another trade shoe
http://www.valuemerchexpo.com/
Hi Felicia, Generally reps want you to have a line of products before they will represent you. Perhaps you could partner up with others on this site who have kitchen products & present them together to a rep. Good luck. InventingJoy
HI Felicia, I wouldn't panic over 2 weeks. Those guys R on the road a lot. InventingJoy
Hi! I'm looking for marketing or sales reps who work directly with baby retailers. Need someone to help get my product into the smaller boutiques around the country.
Also, has anyone had good success with direct mail marketing to baby retailers? If so which company did you use to purchase the mailing list?
Hello, I just came across this website. I have an invention and am going to launch my own web-based company selling my product but I'm having a hard time finding financing through a lender. The lender's want to see 6 months - 2 years of tax returns but bc I am a new start-up company, I do not have that bc I haven't started yet! Does anyone know of any place I can get the help I need to get my business up and running?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Kimberly,
Have you tried SCORE? I have found it to be invaluable. There are workshops on every aspect of starting a business and most workshops are free. They also offer free business counseling and mentoring. They are a nonprofit and a resource partner of the SBA. They have wonderful classes on EVERYTHING. You can find them on the SBA website or http://www.score.org. Sign up for the newsletters. I receive emails on what classes are available each week... It's a fantastic program.
Good luck. I hope this helps.
Katherine
Hi Katherine,
I have tried SCORE. As far as lenders go, I've tried every avenue. Everyone wants 6 months to 2 years of tax returns. Looks like I'm going to have to go the investor way. Thanks for your advice though!
Kimberly
Thank you Katherine! Xoxo
I am in the early stages of product development for a baby product. I need a contact in China to manufacture the item as well as a US contact who can communicate everything to China. There is an electronic component to my invention, so I really need a good overseas and US contact for manufacturing. I also need contacts of marketing groups at baby retailers. I would so greatly appreciate someone's help!
Hi Lauren,
Have you contacted Aiello Design? Justin is experienced and has good contacts in China.
Never heard of this person. How can I get the contact info? Thanks so much for your suggestion.
Aiello Design is featured on this website. You can follow/click the link below and it should take you to the home page. He is really great to work with.
Best of luck with your product.
Katherine
Hi,
I am at the stage of getting costs from manufacturers for my product. I am planning on sending my specs to 2 manufacturers in the US. Since I am patent pending in the US, how am I protected in other countries? I would like to get costs from India and China as well.
Has anyone dealt with this?
I am in the beginning phases of launching my business and need help with the initial structuring of the company. I have 2 partners so there are 3 total. I need a good book or any reference to sources that will help me create this partnership and LLC. This will be a little tricky since one partner will have a small share and be a silent partner, while I will have the controlling share and the third person will have the remaining share. We also want to make it clear in the agreement that no profits will be payed out to any partners until all the loans are paid off and substantial growth has been made within the company. In other words, no one’s getting paid until all loans are paid and the company is making considerable profit. I’m not sure how to do this. All the forms I have come across for standard partnerships etc are for 2 partners and don’t include these details that are crucial to our company’s structure. Where should I start? What should I do?
I highly recomend "The Partnership Book". Even if U incorporate, it contains some important info abt having partners. U can purchase it at Nolo Press in the bay area. They also have books on incorporating & discussing which type is right for U. Good luck. InventingJoy
Hi, I need help. For months, I have been trying to look for someone to help me package a condiment product. I have a sauce that I want in a condiment pouch, much like a ketchup or soy sauce pouch that you get with your food. I live within the New York City/Long Island area, and I want something nearby. I have called many companies and have had no luck. I am very new at this and want someone to help me from start to finish (without stealing my idea of course) I would appreciate any help. It should be a plastic pouch that measures 1" by 3" and I need someone that will fill and seal.
Inas,
You might want to try some companies that employ the blind of the handicapped. They do a lot of packaging and fulfillment work as well as help you locate the correct packaging. I am in upstate new york and here is a company that I can recommend, they are a few hours from you but you could probably handle this over the phone. Here is the link for their website:
http://www.herkimerindustries.com/
Elise