The trio of contacts consisted of New Hampshire-based Ready 4 Kits, a manufacturer who has been specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of sports and safety kits for 10 years as per their official website; La Jolla, California-based All Star Apparel, who has been producing caps and other sports-related accessories since 2002; and Birdie Ball, Inc., a Wheat Ridge, Colorado-based outfit that is open to reviewing all manner of golf accessories as per the conversation conducted with one of the representatives at their exhibit both.

We certainly have a fair share of follow-up to do with the numerous companies met during the 2 days of this terrific event, and we look forward to being able to bring you positive updates regarding the development of our relationships with them. Check in with the Invent-Tech Network in the coming weeks for any updates regarding these companies!

The first company of note is Storus, a San Ramon, California-based outfit that specializes in the manufacture and marketing of a variety of storage products. In fact, during the conversation that ITT had with him at his exhibit booth, the President and CEO of the company showed our colleague at the show a jewelry box he licensed some time ago and currently pays royalties to the inventors on. The gentleman expressed a willingness to work with ITT Licensing™ in reviewing new product information on Invent-Tech inventor product concepts on an ongoing basis.

Rahway, New Jersey-based Inventures Products, LLC was the second entity that bears mentioning. The company’s Director of Business Development was our contact at the exhibit booth, and he provided further details on their existing product lines. The company currently markets personal medical accessories and emphasized that they are very willing to review new Invent-Tech inventor product concepts and to sign non-disclosure agreements as well.

The third company was a consumer electronics and computer accessories firm based out of Spokane Valley, Washington by name of MMI. We had the pleasure of meeting the company’s Sales Coordinator, who indicated that all invention material should go directly to her for review. According to their official website, the company has offices in the U.S., China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong and extensive distribution.

We are certainly looking forward to establishing Innovation Direct™ accounts for all 3 companies and building ongoing relationships with them that benefit Invent-Tech inventors. Check back in for a wrap-up of Day 2!

The first outfit is a Massachusetts-based company that specializes in bringing products to both the retail and advertising speciality industries. As the company president explained in his conversation with us, his company and a sister firm have been instrumental in supplying many ASI supplier members with new items for years behind the scenes but this year, they opted to have an exhibit booth at the show for the first time. As per their official website, the company has developed and marketed items in the household, food and drink, plush toy, and office supply categories in years past, and are constantly seeking new innovations. Because of their considerable receptiveness to new inventions in a large number of categories, we feel this company may prove to be an invaluable addition to our Innovation Direct™ program going forward.

The second entity is an Indiana-based company that has an impressive staff of individuals specializing in all types of engineering, and that has spearheaded the launch of several new products over the last few years.  At this show for example, the company is displaying a prototype of an innovative new golf item for the first time, and the production molds of the product are currently being finalized overseas. According to our conversation with one of the company principals at the booth, they are very interested in seeing as diverse a sampling of new product ideas as possible, as they have the ability to place items through a number of distribution channels.

We will certainly keep Invent-Tech Network readers abreast of all developments with these companies in the future. Join us Thursday as we bring you latest from the second and final day of ASI Show Chicago 2008!

Overall, it can certainly be stated that ITT Licensing™ has made a significant number of contacts over the last few hours that can potentially benefit a wide variety of product ideas on the Invent-Tech roster in the future. Join us this evening for a wrap-up of Day 1!

Companies met during the first few hours this morning include the longest-tenured catalog company in the U.S., which has been in business for 160 years. With product lines that include high-end home living products, toys, consumer electronics accessories, outdoor living items, and sports and leisure items, this outfit certainly presents a tremendous amount of potential opportunity for Invent-Tech inventor product ideas.

The contact made during today’s conversation is a senior account executive in the Corporate Sales division, but he was able to orient ITT as to how to contact the corporate office, where all new product development is handled. We are certainly intrigued by the possibilities this connection may bring about and provide updates if and when the relationship evolves, here on the Invent-Tech Network.

Join us later on Wednesday for more details on Day 1!

Invent-Tech inventors have been represented at ASI (Advertising Speciality Institute) events since 2004, and the Chicago edition of the show has always proven to be productive. ASI events are replete with manufacturers from the promotional products industry, which encompasses an extremely diverse range of categories. Therefore, there are usually a substantial number of potential opportunities available for the wide variety of Invent-Tech inventor product ideas represented by ITT Licensing™ .

Join us on Wednesday for two days of coverage!

To begin with, earlier in June, a Texas-based infomercial company that has had numerous television successes throughout the past decade agreed to join Innovation Direct™, and ITT Licensing™ representatives had committed to getting them a package of inventions in multiple categories to review as soon as possible.

Accordingly, the ITT Licensing™ representative managing their Innovation Direct™ account put together preliminary, non-confidential information on 20 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas, spanning the household, fitness, and lawn and garden categories. That information was sent via e-mail to our contact at the company, and the very next business day, the contact at the manufacturer had already responded and alerted us to the fact that they had an interest in acquiring more information about 3 of the items from the group. After signing the prerequisite non-disclosure agreement, access to all of the detailed design information available on each invention was sent, and we now await the company’s feedback on their review of that material.

A second case is that of a Massachusetts-based hardware products company that had become a part of the Innovation Direct™ program back in late February, and that was sent preliminary, non-confidential information on 12 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas recently. The manufacturer, which has been in business for 128 years and consequently is one of the most respected names in the hardware industry, has already reviewed one previous Innovation Direct™ package but did not have any further interest in those items. We are certainly hopeful that there will be a different result on this occasion and will bring you the details of any developments here on the Invent-Tech Network.

Finally, the Oklahoma-based company that we have reported on numerous times over the past year here on the Invent-Tech Network, and that is the exclusive U.S.-based licensee of a globally-renowned electronics brand, was recently sent a package of preliminary, non-confidential information on 10 Invent-Tech inventor product concepts. The manufacturer, which actively seeks products in the home security, computer accessories, consumer electronics, and home automation categories, had previously reviewed varied pieces of information on 56 Invent-Tech inventor ideas in the past 11 months through the Innovation Direct™ program.

Join us in the coming weeks for more updates!

However, the often reduced traffic is usually a blessing in disguise, as it provides ample opportunity for exhibitors to network with others on the show floor, and to visit more extensively with those that stop by their booth. Our trade show contingent reports that such was essentially the case on Thursday, as they conversed with quite a few individuals intrigued by ITT Licensing™’s range of services for inventors.

Additionally, a member of our trade show team did have opportunities to collect business cards from fellow exhibitors on behalf of Invent-Tech inventors, and those will be reviewed in detail upon his return to the office, with the purpose of determining whether there will be some viable candidates for the Innovation Direct™ program within the group.

Join us in the coming weeks on the Invent-Tech Network as we update you on any follow-ups with the companies met during Licensing International 2008!

Although they did not have time to elaborate on any contacts made on behalf of Invent-Tech inventors during the very latter part of the day, we are certain to receive more information tomorrow during Day 3. With the substantial attendance that the first 2 days of the show have boasted, it would not be surprising to learning that the final installment brings much of the same!

Join us Thursday for all the details!

The first is a company interested specifically in inventions related to cut and sew toys. The company representative that chatted with my colleagues emphasized that they do not seek plastic injection molded toy product concepts, but rather the “softer” version. The second manufacturer is one that is seeking all manner of automotive accessories for the aftermarket.

Both contacts were very receptive to joining ITT Licensing™’s Innovation Direct™ program, and the appropriate follow-up will occur shortly after the conclusion of Licensing International 2008. Incidentally, we are certainly pleased to be able to provide a tangible example of just how potentially valuable ITT Licensing™’s trade show participation can be for the Invent-Tech inventors that we represent. As evidenced by both of today’s posts, there are a very wide variety of industries represented at this show!

Join us later in the day for more regarding Day 2!