What’s a Morel Mushroom?

Develop an Eye

Part of success is knowing what to look for.  Developing an eye takes experience.  You see products come and products go.  Years go by.  In new product reviews, it’s more about knowing what hasn’t worked in the past, then knowing what will work in the present.

The same is true for mushrooms.  There are many varieties to identify and poisonous false morels that lead to sickness.   Making mistakes is costly.

The Morels blend into their environments so it’s hard to see them through all the bushes, grass and trees.   Once a patch is found, it generally continues to produce mushrooms for a few years so knowing where to look is a big advantage.

When It’s Dry, Keep Walking

Because of intermittent rain the lands in our area are vastly different. Don’t waste time in a dry place. True of life too, but sometimes just keep walking till you’re out of the woods!   Don’t give up.  Seasons change.  Looking for As Seen On TV products is the same.  There are times it’s dry and you don’t find anything worth investing in.  It’s dry.  Then suddenly you arrive at the spot where the winner emerges.  The next big As Seen On TV winner could, literally, be just around the corner. Keep moving forward and don’t give up.  When it’s dry, keep walking.

Carry A Big Stick

Having the right equipment is important to any endeavor.  In mushroom hunting, a good walking stick is very helpful.   It provides extra support of rocky ground and slopes but also is a great tool for moving leaves, scrubs and branches.

With product hunting, it’s about gaining peoples trust so they share their product ideas and being able to gently tell them “no thanks” when they aren’t a fit.

The usual phrasing “speak softly and carry a big stick” was apparently invented by Theodore Roosevelt in 1900.  Basically, he meant that one should be a gentleman and avoid quarrels, but stand up for one’s rights.  He believed that was best done by speaking gently while showing that picking a fight isn’t smart.  The way I say it is “Have real credibility and be nice!”   Often, telling someone their idea won’t work is a challenge.  Other times, encouraging and inventor to TAKE THE DEAL, is a gift.

Wear Boots

Have you heard the joke about what a Ph.D. stands for?  Piled High and Deeper.  Inventors are prone to over embellish the attributes of their products so wearing boots is equally important in mushroom hunting and product reviews.   Enough said.

Rest When You’re Tired

Working hard is hard work.  It’s important to take time for yourself and enjoy vacations or “staycations”.   Rest when tired.  I’ve walked in the woods so far my bones hurt.

Similarly, I review 30-50 new product ideas a day much of the time.   Videos longer then 2 minutes become draining and when people don’t get to the product and it’s benefits fast, interest lags.

In the woods, I may just shut my eyes on a tree hammock.  On the computer, sometimes just closing the eyes with a 5-minute power nap does the trick.   After all, if it were easy, everyone would do it.   Working in a field that’s demanding and difficult makes finding the payoff feel more special.

Savor the Payoff

After hours in the woods with nothing, we stumble upon this little patch of morels that boasts more then 22 shrooms.   Now that’s a “Wow” factor!    Suddenly, we aren’t’ tired anymore.  We’re fresh, excited, energized.

Be Generous

Share the wealth.  Generosity is a gift to the giver and much as the recipient.  Seeing the look in people’s eyes when you offer what they did not expect, earn or deserve is a joy.

Stewart and I have our parents over for breakfast.  We serve special omelets and fried Morels, swapping stories from the hunt and laughing together.

Working in teams is so much more rewarding for me.

The same is true of business.   My team of product scouts work hard, some submitting product after product that gets rejected with a sentence or two.  They are dedicated, loyal and hard working.   I care about them and their families.   I want the payoff to come as a team.

It’s what I expect from my team at Will It Launch too.   I expect to be paid on time and fairly.  People don’t want to have to hunt down money or exercise audit rights.   In the end, most of us want to enjoy and trust the people around us at work and play.

Generosity is the key.  Be to others what you want to receive for yourself.  The laws of reaping and sowing are a time-tested truth.  If you want beans, don’t plant corn.   If you want to find morel mushrooms or new product inventions, start looking, gain experience and don’t give up.

Submit Product Ideas to:

Carrie Jeske

www.WillItLaunch.com

© 2017 Jeske.  All rights reserved.   To publish whole or in part contact carrie@inventiveideas.com

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Before You Submit

How to submit?

Make A Demo Video

The best submissions feature you demonstrating the product in a unique way that makes people say, “WOW, I want that.”.    Don’t spend alot of money.   Use the best prototype that you have and shoot the video with your smartphone or digital recorder.  

The video should be short (less than 2 minutes) and clearly explain THE PROBLEM, YOUR SOLUTION and the BENEFITS (or mass market uses of) your product.  

 Vimeo  or YouTube are great places to load your video because you can watch the number of views and delete the video, at your control.

• Vimeo: Please be sure to set your privacy settings to “only people with a password.” Don’t forget to inlude your password in your submission email. Also, please select “download the video” option.
• YouTube:  Please adjust your settings so the video is “unlisted”, then share the link with us via the submission form.

Send and Email or Submit Online

Submit to Carrie Jeske’s email, directly at Info@InventiveIdeas.com

If you submit via email, be sure to include the PRODUCT NAME in the Subject field, then attaché a link to a video or website in the body of the email.

What Happens After I Submit My Product?

SUBMIT your concept or continue to LEARN MORE about the As Seen on TV marketplace.

Keep Learning….  Review this important information.

ASOTV

The post How To Submit My Invention to ASOTV appeared first on Inventive Ideas, LLC.

Paul writes, “Thank you for responding. It’s rough when your idea isn’t moving, but it’s hell being ignored. You are one of the few people that takes the few minutes it takes to tell us what we need to hear. If I’m correct you are saying that I have been beating this horse for a long time and that might be the problem. I will decide whether or not to let it die, but I really do appreciate your honesty. Maybe you have the ability to show some of the people in the industry how to say no. It feels better than wondering if we might still hear something positive from them.”

Carrie Jeske responds, ”

Thanks.  If you’d write that in a LinkedIn recommendation, I’d really appreciate it.   It takes extra time to correspond but I believe that the key to success is not always in the first product idea.   You’re creative and have other ideas.     I’d like to train you to hit winner.

Regarding this idea…. there’s a fine line between tenacity and accepting failure as a lesson learned.  Only you can decide the timing or fork on that one.   If you do decide to move onward, the best approach is to gain sales growth with as little cash as possible.

You can get in catalogs and sell through online retailers as a drop ship item pretty easily, starting with a small production run and making sure you build in good margins.    Save the profits in a separate account for re-orders and don’t pay yourself till it’s financially smart to do so.  Keep your day job.

Inventing is a risky game so I always recommend saving cash.   Which is why I love the Inventing For TV angle,

I’ll look at concepts so the only money you’re out is the cost of materials for an inventor “mock-up” prototype and the time it takes to make a homemade video to demo the value to me (under 2 minutes).   See my blog How To Submit a Concept For TV.

Items that are low cost and solve everyday problems are best.   See 7 Criteria For Successful TV Products.

Keep inventing,

Carrie Jeske

If you’re into social networking, please connect with me on:

FACEBOOK      LINKEDIN        YOUTUBE       TWITTER

product invention

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Your idea will not be stolen.  You can’t ever really be sure, but in general, ideas are NOT stolen.  Products that are selling well ARE.  To combat this learn about IP and product protection strategies to avoid knock-offs.

Proving a product idea takes thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of $$ to get to market.  Most companies are not willing to take that risk for an unproven concept.

Inventors have to start trusting someone, somewhere.    My best advice is trust your intuition.  Don’t buy service unless you know in writing what you’ll get and when you’ll get it.   Educate yourself with books, blogs, social networks, training videos and be sure you know what you need, then specifically ask for it.

Get non-disclosures signed if you don’t have a provisional patent and sometimes, even if you do.   Don’t depend on them though.    The USPTO recommends you use an Inventor Notebook.   Although the USA is now a “First To File” rather than “First To Invent” country, the regulations allow for a 12 month grace period to file.    For AS SEEN on TV products, this is good news because we can look at concepts all day long with little out of pocket expense to the inventor.   If you come up with something we move forward on, you can file your patent applications at that time.

Take the shot.

Life is best learned by doing, rather than sitting on the sidelines afraid.   There are no guarantees.

My extensive experience is that the scam artists in the inventor community are more interested in charging people for services they don’t really need, then putting money toward products they’re uncertain of.

Here’s a link to my bio.   I can’t promise I can help you, but I can promise to tell you the truth and give you honest feedback on what I think you should do next.  The rest is up to you.

How to Protect Your Business Idea Without a Patent by Stephen Key
Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226595#ixzz2TODzbGsa

Carrie Jeske

If you’re into social networking, please connect with me on:

FACEBOOK      LINKEDIN        YOUTUBE       TWITTER

Carrie Jeske

The post How can I be sure that my idea will not be stolen? appeared first on Inventive Ideas, LLC.

Innovation Process – with lots of patent questions.

.

Inventors Center of KC members meeting, webcast LIVE from the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, July 2012. Special guests – expert panel, ICKC Board of Directors & Committee Chairs.

Low Cost / High Return Inventing Steps

1)  Watch this video to learn how to earn up to $100,000 per product, as a product scout, while you sharpen your skills in our category. 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/how-to-make-330000-inventing-for-tv/

2)  For even more help read blogs and watch links: 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/inventors-corner/

3)  Also here’s some NEXT Steps if you want to work on licensing outside ASOTV.

http://inventiveideas.com/when-as-seen-on-tv-wont-fly/

4)  Also here’s some of my agents available for hire, to make connections for you.

http://inventiveideas.com/licensing/

5) Also join me on social networks and keep learning and helping others.

FACEBOOK      LINKEDIN        YOUTUBE       TWITTER

Just takes 1 winner to earn millions.

See you on the shelves,

Carrie Jeske

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Free Samples? Testimonials? Formula Protection?

Here’s the follow up from a FREE consultation I did with a man who has a consumable product.     Products that are ingested or applied topically have higher standards of accountably, by law, when selling on TV.    Here are some of my suggestions that came out of our conversation.

1)  Free Samples 

No more free give away’s unless you are certain of the value you’ll get.   Sometimes, especially with consumables or repeat type products, giving samples can be a great strategy.  Unfortunately, too many inventors give valuable product away with no accountability at the start.   It’s time to make it a business and track each bottle you choose to trade for a “before” photo, at least.   Have whomever you give a bottle to, sign an NDA and agree to email you updated photos each week or month.    Get more organized about collecting this data.   You need it to validate the product, even if you don’t go forward with clinical trials.  Almost all phones have video now.  It would be awesome to start getting quick video testimonials and posting to your YouTube channel.  Your sons should be able to do this well.

Also, when you’re just starting out, everyone wants a free sample and it’s easy to get caught up in giving them away, without realizing how much money you’re spending.    There are times to give product away, but in general I suggest you charge wholesale value, at least.    If people are truly going to help you by investing, etc, then they should be willing to start by paying wholesale.

Tell them once you agree on terms to move forward, you’ll reimburse them the cost or allow them to return it at 100% refund.   If someone is telling you they want to help you, but not willing to do this, how serious do you think they really are?     I can’t tell you how many people wasted my time and took my sample, just because they wanted free product.   It’s more common then you think and easy to get lost in excitement and expectations of success.

2)  Need Clinical Trials

Done by Third Party to validate claims, if sold on TV.   I’m working on getting a list so check the website to see if it’s there.

3)  Research Intellectual Property Protection (IP Strategy)

For protecting formulas.   There is some concern that when the patent grants, your secret recipe will be public.   More and more inventors are choosing to protect formulas or lists of ingredients as a trade secret.    Examples include:  The formula for Coca Cola is not patented.  It’s a trade secret.   Many other examples worth looking into.    You need to research this information on your own to maximize your time with a patent attorney.

You asked if you could call me anytime, which I’m sorry I cannot do.    Thanks for understanding.

I’m focused on As Seen on TV products now and cannot help you with this one until you have clinical trials.    If you’d like to talk again, I charge $50 per 30 minutes consulting and normally save people much more because of my experience and contacts.

Here’s a PayPal link, if you ever want to do this.

I’m posting more and more free info on my website also.    Keep learning and keeping your mind open to As Seen on TV products.

http://www.inventiveideas.com/index.php/services/inventor-video-educaton

________________________________________________________

RESPONSE

Carrie

Thank you so much for your time. Down to earth people are hard to find.
Ed

Carrie Jeske Resources & Free Education & Reviews

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gabriele-udell/6/ab3/209

1)  Watch this video to learn how to earn up to $100,000 per product, as a product scout, while you sharpen your skills in our category. 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/how-to-make-330000-inventing-for-tv/

2)  For even more help read blogs and watch links: 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/inventors-corner/

3)  Here’s some NEXT Steps if you want to work on licensing outside ASOTV.

http://inventiveideas.com/when-as-seen-on-tv-wont-fly/

4)  Here’s some of my agents available for hire, to make connections for you.

http://inventiveideas.com/licensing/

5) Join me on social networks and keep learning and helping others.

FACEBOOK      LINKEDIN        YOUTUBE       TWITTER

Just takes 1 winner to earn millions.

Stay close,

Carrie Jeske

Should I give Free Samples To Get Testimonials?

The post Should I give Free Samples To Get Testimonials? appeared first on Inventive Ideas, LLC.

Should Inventors Split Royalties?

Hi Carrie,

Thanks for giving my contact information to Rose.  She has skills in marketing that I don’t have and need, and has suggested partnering in the endeavor of getting my baby coat to market.  She suggested a 50/50 split and I was wondering if this was normal?  I feel that I really need someone like her to help me, but also that the invention is mine and I intend to pay for the initial production of the coat.  I would appreciate your opinion on such a partnership.  Hope all is well with you and your family.

God’s Blessings

Jane

________________________

Jane, I’m glad to hear you’re making progress.  Here’s my thoughts.

Team Member Splits –

50/50.  There’s nothing wrong with that as long as you are both doing a fair amount of work.  Having the help of partners or a management team can be valuable.  The 50/50 should be out of the pure profit number, less expenses such as marketing, inventory, etc.   If she’s going to incur expenses for marketing she should pay for that from her own money since you’re paying for inventory and keep receipts for future reimbursement.

You keep control of inventory at your location, in case things ever go south, you don’t want to have to track down product.   That means you’ll have to do the shipping, which is a pain when volumes get higher.    However, the hope is that volumes do get high and that you either end up licensing the patent and just collecting royalties, or you continue to build the business with her, taking all revenue in and paying all expenses out of.

Whatever you do, keep track of every dime you spend on your own money.  You should account for money going in as a loan from shareholder (you).   Hopefully one day the company will pay you back, plus interest.    You can keep track of any money she spends as simple expense.  You are the owner and 100% equity shareholder of your company and patent, regardless of how you end up negotiating compensation for team members, partners, etc.

Standard Sales %

Straight commissioned only sales people normally make 10% of wholesale value.   Distributors usually want 30% gross margin.   Online retailer and brick and mortar retailers usually want 50% gross margin.   All these are on the Expense side of your accounting records, in one category or another.

Timeframes & Sales Goals

Also, there should be a goal set for sales with a timeframe attached. If the min sales are not made by x date then the agreement is void.

Intellectual Property

Finally, do not agree to any ownership of the patent.   You are the patent owner always.   You simply license the use of the patent to others for an agreed upon royalty.  In this case, it’s more of a management partnership for marketing purposes, but the patent should always remain yours.   What most people do is form a third company and have the inventor license the patent rights to that company.   The agreement for profit split is between her and the company you set up, less expenses.   There are other ways to do it and I’m not a fan of a lot of legal fees or corporate complications at the early stage.   You do want to be certain you’re comfortable with worst case scenarios though, by reducing the risk of them.

Having help is a good thing, if you have an intuition of integrity and get everything agreed to in writing without a lot of legal headache.   The agreement should be simple and easy to understand by you both.

Carrie Jeske Review, Testimonial, Free Resources

1)  Watch this video to learn how to earn up to $100,000 per product, as a product scout, while you sharpen your skills in our category. 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/how-to-make-330000-inventing-for-tv/

2)  For even more help read blogs and watch links: 

http://www.willitlaunch.com/inventors-corner/

3)  Here’s some NEXT Steps if you want to work on licensing outside ASOTV.

http://inventiveideas.com/when-as-seen-on-tv-wont-fly/

4)  Here’s some of my agents available for hire, to make connections for you.

http://inventiveideas.com/licensing/

5) Join me on social networks and keep learning and helping others.

FACEBOOK      LINKEDIN        YOUTUBE       TWITTER

Just takes 1 winner to earn millions.

Stay close,

Carrie Jeske

split royalties

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Is Inventive Ideas “just another invent help type company”?

Inventors are cautious by nature and that trait can work in your favor and against you, depending on the circumstances.    It’s always a good idea to ask the questions you have and it’s even better to learn and experience the inventor business community on your own terms so you can begin to sense the roses from the thorns.   Here’s a thread from the great comments and concerns about Inventive Ideas.    Amazingly, this same thread resulted in a product submission that went quickly to a TV test, and as I write, being pitched to Home Depot.

Inventive Ideas is a low cost, high return company that provides invent help services with a high measure of accountability built in.  Monthly feedback and buyer and licensee responses are provided.   There is a company named InventHelp, but we have no affiliation, partnership or relationship.   They do offer a nice trade show called Inpex that Inventive Ideas enjoys attending every year. Is Inventive Ideas “just another invent help type company”?

Innovative New Product & Service Innovators & Inventors LinkedIn group discussion.

  Pablo Olivera

If I understand correctly you are acting like a Middle Man between inventors and manufacturers ?

Carrie Jeske 

Took our patented http://www.SportsShade.com to $300,000 annual yearly sales on QVC, and in many other retail listed on my site till 2008 hit consumer products hard. Now I sell it online direct to consumer at a much higher profit.
Grew Inventors Center of KC, a non profit helping inventors from 40 people to 1,500 members with live webcast videos, about 50 attending regularly at the Kauffman Foundation monthly. I’m all over their video achieve http://www.theickc.org
Through that volunteer effort, I gained valuable business contacts through our group hosting an annual inventor contest for 7 years, with sponsors who paid us to find inventions. We licensed 7. Lot’s of testimonials and success stories on my site and theirs and Youtube channels with inventor video testimonials.
I understand the caution inventors have. Just trying to leverage my contacts to get some TV product wins now. If I find one, I get a piece of the pie on the licensee (thanks for the correction) side. It’s like making a half court basketball shot to find a winner, but I believe, with practice, we can hit one. I give specific feedback to every “no” (about 90%) so they can keep inventing, in hopes of a “yes”.
What other questions do you have my optimistically cautious new friend, Sam? May I inquire about your credentials?

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