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Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Wed Nov 17, 2010 7:03 am
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Other Inventors need YOUR support!
VOTE TODAY FOR YOUR FAVORITE TOY AND GAME INVENTORS!
Voting Closes November 17th
Winners and honorees will be celebrated at a gala dinner and awards ceremony on November 19th at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Featuring a private viewing of the museum’s exhibit, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, the event will bring together industry leaders – from Inventors to Manufacturers, Retailers, and of course, The United Inventors Association – for a night of networking, celebration, and fun!
The Award Nominees are....
Toy Inventor of the Year: Robert Croak, David Fuhrer, and Paul Rago/David
Small Game Inventor of the Year: Mary Jo Reutter, Joe Wetherell, and Donald Vaccarino Rising
Star Inventor of the Year: Dominic Crapuchettes, Herbert Brothers, Daryl Hannah/Hilary Shepard
Young Inventor of the Year: Scott Ballentyne, Kate Daniels, and Ali Ryan
What? You don't know what they invented? Read about them at http://www.tagieawards.com/ , then show your support for a fellow inventor by taking a moment and casting a vote for your favorite.
Dinner is Served.....
Put on your Sunday best and join us at the elegant Awards Dinner on the 19th at the Museum of Science and Industry– over 300 of your colleagues will be there celebrating these nominees as well as the following honorees:
Alan Hassenfeld and Ellie Block for Humanitarian Works The Jim Henson Company for Excellence in Character Creation, Lisa Henson accepting George Lerner for In Memoriam, inventor of Mr. Potato Head and other wonders, Julius Ellman accepting Eddie Goldfarb for Lifetime Achievement for over 600 licensed products such as Kerplunk, Shark Attack and Yakkity Yak Chattering Teeth
The celebration continues the next day at The Chicago Toy and Game Fair, http://www.chitag.com , where retailers and media (including dozens of mommy bloggers) are welcomed for an early start at 9am before the public is admitted.
The trade and their families are welcomed as our guests (just exchange your business card for a ticket). You’ll have the most fun ever while checking out new products and enjoying classics. Check out the Giant Wobble Game from Nickelodeon Europe, The World’s Largest Etch-A-Sketch, Tournaments: Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, Top Trumps, Word on the Street, Characters and Stage Events.
Oh - Did we mention the Actors and Actresses like John Ratzenberger, Daryl Hannah and Hilary Shepard who will be there showing their support for the industry and the accomplishments of the many toy and game inventors represented – the real "stars" of our industry!
Hope to see you there!
Mary Couzin, Executive Director
Chicago Toy and Game Group
http://www.chitag.com/
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by inventor-x » Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:38 pm
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inventor-x - Brown Belt
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- Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:44 pm
Hi Mark
I think Inventors & forum members would be Interested in knowing how to enter/submit there patented products to be considered for an Award.
What is the benefit of the Award & is there money Involved
When does it start & when is the cut off date.
How & where etc....
By the way sense you are the president of the UIA - you or any members of the UIA - when posting on this forum & you are giving Examples or Details - DO NOT give Examples & Details finishing with ETC....
You are held to a high standard because you are a leader of an Organization.
I think Inventors & forum members would be Interested in knowing how to enter/submit there patented products to be considered for an Award.
What is the benefit of the Award & is there money Involved
When does it start & when is the cut off date.
How & where etc....
By the way sense you are the president of the UIA - you or any members of the UIA - when posting on this forum & you are giving Examples or Details - DO NOT give Examples & Details finishing with ETC....
You are held to a high standard because you are a leader of an Organization.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Roger Brown » Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:21 pm
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Roger Brown - Black Belt
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- Location: USA
Inventor-X, you may want to re-read the post above? It says the voting Closes November 17th and then it lists the Nominees.
Come visit my sites at http://www.RogerBrown.net
or http://www.looking2license.com
I have gotten 9 products licensed spending less than $100 on each, you can too.
or http://www.looking2license.com
I have gotten 9 products licensed spending less than $100 on each, you can too.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Gizmo » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:28 pm
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- Location: Florida
FYI..
.McDonald’s Corporation is the biggest supplier of toys in the world (Happy meals).
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4311&start=40
.McDonald’s Corporation is the biggest supplier of toys in the world (Happy meals).
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4311&start=40
Last edited by Gizmo on Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:59 am, edited 3 times in total.
(this user has been banned)
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:09 am
- Mark Reyland
- Green Belt
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
Not all "Loops" go round in circles
I love inventions, and as many people know I spend a lot of time looking at them. But I also spend a lot of time watching inventors I think rise a little above the pack in how they approach the inventing process and how they create unique ways to market their invention.
Although I would be the first to tell you developing a product and taking it to market is a process far too complicated and costly for most inventors, there are a few who after obvious hard work, research, and trepidation pull off this difficult task.
One such inventor is a guy I've been watching for some time now - Jeff Dahl. Jeff is the inventor of LoopRope. http://www.looprope.com/index.html
I first noticed Jeff several months ago as he used the social networking of Facebook to spread the gospel of this fascinating little product. Sure there are hundreds of tie down products on the market, and I’m sure as long as Newton’s laws of motion are in force there will be many more. That’s not the point here. The point is Jeff himself – what he did was follow the path from ideation to commercialization in an orderly and educated way. That shows in the product itself and in the way he is taking it to market.
I recently had the opportunity to look at LoopRope and see for myself how Jeff developed it. First it fills a need, and that’s the most important part of innovation because that drives product demand. Second, it makes sense, it’s intuitive to the consumer that the loops allow for easy adjustment and the flexibility of restraint a conventional tie down does not provide. This intuitiveness is a very important part of product development because you have such a small amount of time to get the product benefits across to the consumer. Third, the quality of the product is obvious even through the packaging. We call that intrinsic value, and it’s key to the justification of your selling price. And finally, he didn’t go overboard on the packaging. I’m not sure it doesn’t need a little help with graphics, but the packaging is the correct level for the product.
Add to this the obvious hard work and dedication Jeff has put into his sales and distribution effort and you have a well thought out product, made from high quality materials, with a good presentation and a bright future!
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:12 am
- Mark Reyland
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- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
They do it every year…the Top 50 Inventions of the year as selected by Time Magazine.
From iPads, to Amtrak’s Beef-Powered Train, the field is both a broad and bizarre collection of innovation and gadgets designed in some way to make our life easier.
I’m not sure many of the inventions actually make it any easier for us consumers, but seeing them in a list called the top 50 certainly brings a chuckle as you read through and ponder the question – What the hell were they thinking?
Enjoy ….
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2029497,00.html
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Gizmo » Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:29 am
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(this user has been banned)
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by inventor-x » Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:43 am
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inventor-x - Brown Belt
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Hi Roger
It is a little late for anyone to enter/submit anything this year.
Next year submissions & what is the benefit of the Award
Inventor-X, you may want to re-read the post above? It says the voting Closes November 17th and then it lists the Nominees.
It is a little late for anyone to enter/submit anything this year.
Next year submissions & what is the benefit of the Award
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Mon Nov 22, 2010 7:14 am
- Mark Reyland
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- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
You are so EMOTIONAL!
Recently my good friend Roger Brown and I were talking about the emotion some inventors have for their products. It’s always been a big problem in the industry and these were Roger’s thoughts.
Until you can see inventions as "things" you will never feel confident when others have your “Baby” in their arms - and the “I’m married to my idea” syndrome doesn’t help either. Being emotionally attached to your idea causes you to second guess everything you do or decision you make to the point you hinder your progress more than help it.
I have seen companies drop an Inventor with a great product just because they can’t deal with the Inventor’s insecurities. The Inventor would not stop bugging them about the changes they made in the design to make the product more marketable. The inventor felt the changes were insulting to their original design.
In one case the company dropped the product 4 weeks before it was supposed to go into production.
The Inventor was stunned. They simply could not understand why the company pulled out. After showing me the letter the company sent, it was clear. The letter plainly stated that the reason they dropped the product was the inventors difficulty to adapt to the new design elements the company felt (in their experience) were critical to the commercial success of the product.
I tried several times to explain what happened and all they could grasp was that the company was stupid for dropping it. In the end they never did realize it was their behavior that caused the company to turn away – and because of that, it’s unlikely they ever changed their behavior.
Recently my good friend Roger Brown and I were talking about the emotion some inventors have for their products. It’s always been a big problem in the industry and these were Roger’s thoughts.
Until you can see inventions as "things" you will never feel confident when others have your “Baby” in their arms - and the “I’m married to my idea” syndrome doesn’t help either. Being emotionally attached to your idea causes you to second guess everything you do or decision you make to the point you hinder your progress more than help it.
I have seen companies drop an Inventor with a great product just because they can’t deal with the Inventor’s insecurities. The Inventor would not stop bugging them about the changes they made in the design to make the product more marketable. The inventor felt the changes were insulting to their original design.
In one case the company dropped the product 4 weeks before it was supposed to go into production.
The Inventor was stunned. They simply could not understand why the company pulled out. After showing me the letter the company sent, it was clear. The letter plainly stated that the reason they dropped the product was the inventors difficulty to adapt to the new design elements the company felt (in their experience) were critical to the commercial success of the product.
I tried several times to explain what happened and all they could grasp was that the company was stupid for dropping it. In the end they never did realize it was their behavior that caused the company to turn away – and because of that, it’s unlikely they ever changed their behavior.
Re: From The Inventor Blog
by Mark Reyland » Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:14 am
- Mark Reyland
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- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:31 am
And the Winner Is.....
It’s not often I get a chance to have dinner with an exceptional young inventor. Such was the case this weekend at the Toy and Game awards gala in Chicago. Kenny Durham, CEO of Innovator’s Warehouse, and I attended this dinner and just by chance were seated at the same table with a remarkable family from St Louis.
We didn’t know it at the time, but the Daniels family had built their inventing career around an innovative game designed to get people to talk to each other. It sounds simple I know, but it’s all about encouraging family communication in a world of video games and hectic schedules -.a step back in time if you will to a place where families shared each other’s lives around the kitchen table.
At the center of the Daniels family inventing effort that night was an adorable young toy inventor named Kate Daniels.
Kate had been inspired by the “Family Talk” game her mother invented and the positive impact it had on families. So inspired in fact, she thought to create a product for her peers. Kate invented “Camp Talk”. Diligently writing the questions and taking the graphic design options to school during her 4th grade recess to gather that all important consumer feedback. Eventually she molded her game into a fun way for her friends to talk about those subjects most on a young girl's mind.
But this night, among the glitter and the glamour of a celebrity studded awards dinner it was all about young Kate Daniels from St Louis. As we listened intently to the presenter explain the accomplishments of the talented “Young Toy/Game Inventor of the Year” nominees, we couldn’t help but hope our new found friend would win the night.
Suddenly there is was, as clear as fine crystal – “And the winner of the 2010 young toy/game inventor of the award is…..Kate Daniels for the game Camp Talk”
A fitting ending to a long journey for a young girl who may have unintentionally taught us all something about the real purpose of inventing.
Find out more about the Daniel's family game inventions at Around The Table Games http://www.aroundthetablegames.com/ and share a conversation with your family.
It’s not often I get a chance to have dinner with an exceptional young inventor. Such was the case this weekend at the Toy and Game awards gala in Chicago. Kenny Durham, CEO of Innovator’s Warehouse, and I attended this dinner and just by chance were seated at the same table with a remarkable family from St Louis.
We didn’t know it at the time, but the Daniels family had built their inventing career around an innovative game designed to get people to talk to each other. It sounds simple I know, but it’s all about encouraging family communication in a world of video games and hectic schedules -.a step back in time if you will to a place where families shared each other’s lives around the kitchen table.
At the center of the Daniels family inventing effort that night was an adorable young toy inventor named Kate Daniels.
Kate had been inspired by the “Family Talk” game her mother invented and the positive impact it had on families. So inspired in fact, she thought to create a product for her peers. Kate invented “Camp Talk”. Diligently writing the questions and taking the graphic design options to school during her 4th grade recess to gather that all important consumer feedback. Eventually she molded her game into a fun way for her friends to talk about those subjects most on a young girl's mind.
But this night, among the glitter and the glamour of a celebrity studded awards dinner it was all about young Kate Daniels from St Louis. As we listened intently to the presenter explain the accomplishments of the talented “Young Toy/Game Inventor of the Year” nominees, we couldn’t help but hope our new found friend would win the night.
Suddenly there is was, as clear as fine crystal – “And the winner of the 2010 young toy/game inventor of the award is…..Kate Daniels for the game Camp Talk”
A fitting ending to a long journey for a young girl who may have unintentionally taught us all something about the real purpose of inventing.
Find out more about the Daniel's family game inventions at Around The Table Games http://www.aroundthetablegames.com/ and share a conversation with your family.