Each month we write up Q&A from discussion with a leading industry innovator. This month: Michael Horowitz, president of Southern Enterprises Inc. of Dallas, TX. Many people don’t know his company by name, but they know its products well – Southern Enterprises is the wholesale manufacturer responsible for many of the inventive new home and office furnishing sold by national retailers including Walmart, Target and JCPenney. Here’s perspective from Michael: Q: How do you assess a new product idea for possible licensing? Michael: We know where our customers perceive value, so we assess new products accordingly. Three elements are most important.
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Industry leader Michael Horowitz on innovation
In this issue... Industry leader Michael Horowitz on innovation New inventors’ survey results Case study: Find us on Facebook Invention quote of the month Need help? Click here or call New on the Inventors’ blog - The best BBQ inventions for summer - 10 keys to great design - So a Croc walks into an auto factory. Click here to read entries  AbsolutelyNew, Inc. is the consumer goods company that partners with inventors to launch innovative products. The company offers services including product development, marketing and licensing. AbsolutelyNew is a Certified Professional member of the United Inventors Association. |
New inventors’ survey results
Our latest national inventors’ survey provides a wealth of good insight. Thanks for participating!
To return the favor, here are key findings—we’ve aggregated them so you can see how your opinion compares to others’, and so we’re not divulging individual’s answers. Want us to sponsor more of these surveys, and to keep sharing the results? If so, let us know. And please don’t be shy about suggesting questions that you’d like the broader community answer!
Inventing minds are clear on the Top 3 traits that make them so good, compared to others, at coming up with new ideas:
Case study:
Lessons from a launch
Starting this month, we’ll open up and share the behind-the-scenes story and lessons from an invention we’re launching. Every product experience is of course unique, but each also offers learning that can be leveraged by others. This month’s focus: The Nail Driver™ push-hammer.
The light-bulb moment
Inventor A. Nemeth’s journey began 17 years ago when he smashed his thumb while installing a roof. The incident sparked him to explore making a better hammer. Nemeth quickly recognized that stores were full of hammers, and that his would need to be very different in order to be successful. His light-bulb moment came many years later: driving down a freeway, he suddenly envisioned a spring-powered hammer perfect for inserting picture nails into drywall. He fashioned a prototype with disposable pens, motorcycle parts, refrigerator magnets and paperclip holders. He patented it in 2007.
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Invention quote of the month “The details are not the details. They make the design.”
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