Each month we feature Q&A with a leading voice in innovation. This month: Sean K. Fay, the infomercial pro who played a very big role making George Foreman Grills and OxiClean household names. Sean subsequently founded and became CEO / Chief Creative Director of Envision Response, Inc. , now one of the leading players in the world of “direct response” television (DRTV) advertising development. His latest work includes Brainetics, Space Bags and Foodsaver DRTV ads. It’s an understatement to say he’s seen thousands of new products and made more than a few very successful via DRTV. Here’s perspective from Sean: Q: A lot of inventors come to you with new products. How do you consider them in general, and for selling on TV in particular? Sean: There are many important criteria. We’ll want to see the product in use because this gives a glimpse of how it may appear on TV, to touch and feel it in order to experience it first hand, and to go through a broader range of evaluative yes/no questions. Among them: Is it highly demonstrable? Is it patented? Is it a prevention product? And does it offer a 5:1 mark-up, meaning can you sell it at 5 times your cost to make it? We of course have many more questions, which we’d want to go through with an inventor in order to be thorough and constructive.
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Infomercial pro Sean K. Fay on innovation
In this issue... Infomercial pro Sean K. Fay on innovation Uncle Sam wants your invention Case study: Lessons from another launch How do you spell relief? FYI: Upcoming tradeshows for new inventions Invention quote of the month Questions or comments? Click here or call New on the Inventors’ blog - Drive-thru business lessons - Innovation enables “game-changing” couch piloting - More tips from the Shark Tank Click here to read entries  AbsolutelyNew is the consumer goods company that partners with inventors to launch innovative products. As a Certified Professional member of the United Inventors Association, the company also offers services including product development, marketing and licensing.
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Uncle Sam Wants Your Invention!
Invention success can be difficult to achieve. It can also get expensive.
So we thought you might want to learn more about getting the U.S. government to help fund your invention or enterprise. After all, Uncle Sam does want inventions… at least in certain sectors, if it can serve the public good.
Case study: Lessons from another launch
Every product experience is of course unique, but each also offers learning that can be leveraged by others.
This month we go deep into the much-more-inventive-than-you’d-think-from-looking-at-it Glove Caddy™ sports glove clip, sharing the behind-the-scenes story and lessons from its launch.
How do you spell relief? Does inventing sometimes give you a headache? What about working to get your product out to stores nationwide? If so, keep reading—we’re giving away Headache Reliever® treatment bands, invented by neurologist Steve Landy and spacecraft designer Brand Griffin (hold the rocket scientist jokes—this product delivers serious relief). |
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FYI: Upcoming tradeshows for new inventions Tradeshows are great for showcasing inventions and/or making contacts with industry leaders. The key is to plan ahead, to get the most out of each show you attend. So looking beyond this month, here’s a list of U.S. tradeshows happening in the October to January window. |
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Invention quote of the month “When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone to tell you you’re nuts.”
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