Not too long ago, inventors and entrepreneurs had limited options available to them in regards to exhibiting their products at tradeshows.
They could either attend one of the smaller inventor-related tradeshows, or they could go to a large national product tradeshow and exhibit alongside large, established companies.
The first option offered very limited exposure for their product, and the second option was both expensive and difficult, requiring professional booth design, collateral materials, and a well-thought tradeshow strategy.
Today, the landscape for inventors is changing. Inventor only tradeshows and exhibiting in the main areas of large national product tradeshows is fading away fast and being replaced with the new “micro-show” trend in the tradeshow industry.
Many of the national tradeshows such as the International Home and Housewares Show (IHHS), National Hardware Show (NHS), Response Expo and the Specialty Retail Entrepreneur Expo (SPREE) have adopted the “micro-show” concept, offering huge benefits by allowing independent inventors to exhibit in a consolidated area designed specifically for inventors and entrepreneurs. These inventor areas concentrate inventors in one specific location of the overall tradeshow, making it easier for companies attending the show to find them. These areas become a “destination point” for companies, providing far more exposure to inventors. In addition, it is much cheaper to exhibit as an inventor in these areas than it would be to obtain a larger booth on the main tradeshow floor. The Inventors booths are a turnkey solution to inventors which includes furniture, signage, and marketing of the booth location. In addition, these shows have inventor area organizers (Brainchild Marketing at IHHS and Response Expo and the United Inventors Association at NHS and SPREE) on site to help the inventors with show details and act as a trusted source of information throughout the show.
As these large national tradeshows realize the added value that inventors bring to their overall show, they are looking for ways to entice more inventors to attend. To increase the overall value for inventors, many shows now offer inventor education seminars and face-to-face opportunities for inventors to “pitch” their products to key companies in attendance.
InventionHome is sponsoring inventors’ areas at the upcoming SPREE show, Response Expo and National Hardware Show (NHS). Response and the NHS both include educational sessions for inventor exhibitors with invaluable advice from industry experts and the chance for the exhibitors to pitch their products directly to companies who actively seek new inventions. In addition, these shows have found creative ways to give inventors more bang for their buck…
If you are considering exhibiting at one of these show you should consider having a patent application on file with the USPTO (either a provisional or non-provisional application) before exhibiting. In addition, in order to maximize opportunities at the show, you should also have a good, demonstrable prototype or finished product presentation for buyers to evaluate.
For more information on these shows see below…
Response Expo, May 3-5, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, CA – Click to Learn More
National Hardware Show, May 10-12, Las Vegas Convention Center, NV – Click to Learn More
Specialty Retail Entrepreneur Expo (SPREE), April 12-14, Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas – Click to Learn More
For help with your invention call 1-866-844-6512!
Do you guys think you could have something over here on the East Coast please? Thanks, Rene’
Inventions are the heart beat of America but the down side to being an inventor is the paranoia of having an idea stolen. I know that’s why a patent application is so important.
I am not just an American ! I’m an unemployed American with a Damn good idea and can’t afford a Paten search, much less a Paten attorney. ( A Clue about my idea )
1 Auto fuel economy
2 Auto fuel replacement
I have a couple inventions that would be fery good sellers, but I have NOT the money to pursue a patent. I would be satisfied to find someone interested in marketing it, once they understand it they could run with it. I just need to find that person and get them to understand my invention and just buy the idea from me and we could both be happy. Why should me with the brains to come up with an idea, also have to come up with the money? I think there are plenty of people in this country who have the ability to mass produce a product and I should not have to pay them or pay for the patent.
I’m interested in the “micro-show” at the National Hardware Show. We produce a product called the Sabrr Mark & Cut Tape Measure, which is a 5-in-1 tool. We have a functioning product that is patented. It’s also ganraunteed to cut the customers’ time in half on any project that requires measurements and cutting. Our multifunctional tool can be viewed at http://www.sabrr.com or for demonstration videos, you can view it on http://www.youtube.com.
I would appreciate any information you can provide as far as cost, fees, etc. to participate. Please advise, Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Tony Johnson
Tony,
If you are interested in exhibiting at the upcoming National Hardware Show’s Inventors Spotlight, please call or email Cheryl Fishbone who runs the show.
Cheryls contact info is:
email: CFishbone@reedexpo.com
phone: 203.840.5444
Also, if your product is fully developed and market ready, you can list it free at http://www.matchproduct.com.
Ted,
I think many inventors feel the same way that you do, however, the reality is it is very hard to sell just an idea.
At a minimum, you should consider doing some research on your own and then perhaps protecting the idea with a provisional patent application. From there, most companies are going to want to review something about your idea other than a description through email. You may want to consider developing a prototype or developing some good quality virtual designs of your idea. As you can see the more you move the idea along to better your odds of success, the more money you’ll need to invest, unless of course, you do everything on your own.
There are a lot of companies out there that will take your patented invention and develop, manufacture and market for you in exchange for a royalty payment but you need to get them interested in the first place, which normally takes more than just an idea on a napkin.
If you need any help, InventionHome can assist you for each step and we do not charge a large fee for our marketing efforts. Call 1-866-844-6512.
Good luck.
Larry,
If you have the time and desire, you can do a lot of this work on your own. First, I would recommend that you do your homework. Search the market for products that are similar to yours and check out Google patents do to a search on your idea. If you still feel like it’s a good idea worth pursuing, shoot us an email at rwilliams@inventionhome.com and we’ll email you a free guide to explain how to file your own provisional patent application. You’ll need to study and learn how to complete and file the application on your own, which isn’t overly difficult, but, will take time.
From there, you’ll need to figure out how to develop a prototype or designs on your own before you can contact companies. Once you have your prototype and presentation pulled together, start researching companies in your product category and compile a list of good companies. After you have your list, start calling these companies to find out the contact person internally for new products. Either email or call this person to discuss how their process works and to see if you can send them information about your “patent pending” idea. It’s up to you wheter you request a signed a nondisclosure agreement before you share the idea.
Once you begin a dialogue about your idea, hopefully you can drive them to a point of interest. From there, you will need to begin negotiating a royalty agreement and work with them to pull together a license agreement. I would recommend having your attorney review the agreement.
Note, this a just a quick, general process flow, but, should give you some direction on how to pursue your idea without spending any money.
Good luck.