Archive for March, 2008
Good day, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our first post-International Home and Housewares Show entry here on the Invent-Tech Network Blog. Due to the voluminous and successful follow-ups with fellow 2008 International Home and Housewares Show exhibitors that ITT Licensing™ representatives have been conducting on behalf of Invent-Tech inventors, we have taken an extra week of hiatus from the Invent-Tech Network, and have a pleothora of updates to provide in this post as a result.
To begin with, we are pleased to report that ITT Licensing™ has been able to quickly develop a working relationship with a dynamic United Kingdom-based company that we had initially reported on in one of our March 18th entries (”ITT makes dynamic contact with global household products leader on behalf of Invent-Tech inventors during Day 3 of 2008 International Home and Housewares Show…“). We had elaborated extensively on the many impressive attributes of this manufacturer and marketer of a wide variety of household products in that posting, and had mentioned that we hoped to be able to begin sharing information on Invent-Tech inventor product ideas through the Innovation Direct™ program with them as soon as possible.
ITT Licensing™ initiated e-mail contact with the gentleman who had approached the exhibit booth before Day 3 of the International Home and Housewares Show had concluded, and matters have been going very positively since that point. Within a few days, ITT Licensing™ had put together a package of preliminary, non-confidential information on 8 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas and sent them to our contact. The gentleman responded within one business day to let us know that his company had an interest in obtaining more details on 4 out of the 8 items in the group, and had a colleague in their U.S. office send us a copy of their Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement for review. After finding the terms to be more than adequate for the protection of Invent-Tech inventor product ideas, detailed design information on the 4 designated inventions was sent, and we now await the company’s further impressions.
Additionally, ITT Licensing™ representatives also initiated a mass e-mail follow-up campaign with fellow exhibitors at the event last week, reaching out to a total of 45 companies up to this point. The correspondence emphasized to the companies that ITT Licensing™, as the exclusive licensing agent for Invent-Tech inventors, could supply a constant stream of innovation for their evaluation and product line expansion. As of this writing, 3 companies have responded with an interest in joining the Innovation Direct™ program, and 2 of them have already been sent their initial Innovation Direct™ packages of Invent-Tech inventor product ideas.
The first manufacturer is an Ohio-based outfit that currently specializes in cooking and baking accessories, but that has an interest in reviewing all manner of household products. Accordingly, an eclectic group consisting of 16 Invent-Tech inventor product concepts was sent to the company earlier today and their impressions are now pending.
The second company that has already received an Innovation Direct™ package is an infomercial juggernaut that has been in business since 1991, and that has had an extensive string of successes with a variety of products on television in the years since. Enhancing the appeal of this outfit is the fact that they not only typically generate multi-million dollar revenues on each product they feature on television, but that they extend the product’s life cycle quite impressively through their formidable retail distribution network as well, as explained on their official company website. With product lines that feature all manner of household items as well as other popular categories such as exercise and fitness, ITT Licensing™ quickly put together preliminary, non-confidential information on 15 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas that represent a cross-section of the company’s varied product offerings.
Rounding out the trio is a Pennsylvania-headquarted company whose current portfolio of products include aromatic home accessories and personal care products. However, there is also an interest from them in other categories, including lawn and garden tools and supplies. The company’s initial Innovation Direct™ package is currently being put together by ITT Licensing™ representatives and will be sent within the next few days.
As evidenced by today’s entry, the 2008 International Home and Housewares Show follow-up process on behalf of Invent-Tech inventor product ideas is well underway and expected to produce substantial results. Join us in 2 weeks here on the Invent-Tech Network Blog for all updates!
March 31st, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with a final wrap-up of Day 3 of the International Home and Housewares Show. The event’s final hours continued to be productive for ITT on behalf of Invent-Tech inventors, and the ITT trade show contingent was able to re-establish a connection with a Canadian-based company that we had originally met at the 2006 edition of the show.
At that time, ITT representatives had sent preliminary, non-confidential information on 15 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas to the contact made at the show, but had never received any feedback, in spite of numerous follow-up calls and e-mails. Undeterred, ITT representatives decided to approach the company’s booth during this year’s show in order to attempt to reignite the relatioinship between the companies.
Although our original contact was not at this year’s event, she is still with the company in the same position. The ITT representative that approached the booth was able to obtain her new direct telephone number and we will certainly be following up as soon as possible later this week.
Thank you for joining us for our coverage of ITT’s participation in the 2008 International Home and Housewares Show here on the Invent-Tech Network. Check back with us over the coming weeks as we detail our follow-ups with the leads met at this terrific event!
March 18th, 2008
Good afternoon, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our first update of Day 3 of the 2008 International Home and Housewares Show. We are pleased to report that one of the members of our trade show contingent had an extensive conversation earlier Tuesday at the ITT booth with a Global Director with a company that is considered a worldwide leader in household products, and that a follow-up e-mail has already been sent to the gentleman acknowledging his visit.
The company, which is headquartered in England and boasts operations in over 60 countries along with sales in over 180 according to its official website, manufactures and distributes products in 5 core categories: Health and Personal Care, Fabric Care, Surface Care, Dishwashing, and Home Care. According to their official website, 75% of the company’s sales come from brands that occupy the top 2 positions in their market and the company estimates that over 9 million of their products are sold daily on a worldwide basis. Moreover, 40% of the company’s sales come from products launched within the last 3 years, making them extremely receptive to innovation at all times.
Given all of these factors, as well as the company representative’s emphasis on wanting ITT to follow up with them as soon as possible, we feel that this lead may indeed prove to be a perennially rewarding one for Invent-Tech inventor product ideas represented by ITT. Naturally, we will provide any and all updates with regards to the unfolding of this working relationship, here on the Invent-Tech Network.
Join us later today for a wrap-up of Day 3!
March 18th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our final update for Day 2 of the International Home and Housewares Show. The event closed out in stronger fashion than yesterday’s opening day, as traffic was consistent until the show’s closing bell.
Of particular note at the ITT booth during the afternoon hours were two international contacts that were made that may prove to be valuable leads for product ideas from the Invent-Tech roster in the future. One gentleman is from a Turkey-based firm that is looking for a variety of new products and that was intrigued by the sound of ITT’s dynamic new product idea subscription service for manufacturers, Innovation Direct™. The second contact was the principal of a China-based private company that specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of various textiles and that also is receptive to further exploring a relationship with ITT in order to view information on Invent-Tech inventor product ideas.
We expect that the momentum established during today’s proceedings will carry over to the show’s final day tomorrow. We’ll have all the details on Day 3 here on the Invent-Tech Network. Check back with us!
March 17th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our first report regarding Day 2 of the 2008 International Home and Housewares Show. Our trade show contingent reports that traffic has been considerably heavier so far today as compared to yesterday’s closing hours, which has produced a couple of particularly important leads.
One company that stopped by the ITT booth is a globally renowned leader in cleaning and household products that has been in business for close to 100 years. One of the company’s technology and innovation scouts stopped by specifically because of the fact that ITT represents a pleothora of Invent-Tech inventor new product ideas in their categories, and requested that we follow up with them after the show is over to attempt to establish a working relationship. Needless to say, ITT is extremely enthused about this opportunity and we will be following up as soon as possible later this week.
The second contact made is a New York-based company that according to the contact that approached our booth distributes to some of the major household retailers in the U.S. As a result, they are constantly on the search for new product ideas and were interested in the possibility of building a relationship with ITT. We likewise will be following up with them as soon as possible after the event is over.
Join us later in the day for more news regarding Day 2 !
March 17th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking back in with our second and final post for Day 1 of the 2008 edition of the International Home and Housewares Show. Our trade show contingent informs me that the afternoon hours continued to feature brisk traffic at the exhibit booth, although there was a noticeable slowdown in the last couple of hours of today’s proceedings.
Nevertheless, ITT was able to make additional contacts during the latter half of the show’s first day that could potentially benefit Invent-Tech inventors in the future. The ITT representative that walked the exhibit floor during Day 1 informed me that he made contact with an Asian company that is interested in reviewing new product ideas from the Invent-Tech roster in multiple categories, and that he plans to make the rounds of the Gourmet Housewares Show today to garner additional leads.
Join us during Day 2 for the latest!
March 16th, 2008
Good afternoon, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our first International Home and Housewares Show update. ITT is pleased to report that the even has gotten off to a productive start, as our trade show contingent has already made what appears to be two solid contacts that could potentially benefit Invent-Tech inventors in the future.
The traffic has been steady at the ITT booth, and one of our representatives at the event has been on the exhibit floor since this morning networking with fellow exhibitors. At the booth, ITT has made contact with a company that manufactures for two globally-renowned entities on a private label basis and also produces their own line of items, and with a fellow exhibitor headquartered in California that produces their own line of innovative household products.
Both representatives were intrigued by the sound of ITT’s dynamic new product subscription service, Innovation Direct™, and requested that we follow up after the event as soon as possible.
Join us later today for another update!
March 16th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with a preview of ITT’s participation in the 2008 edition of the International Home and Housewares Show as it relates to Invent-Tech inventor product ideas. This year’s proceedings, which will take place March 16th-18th at the McCormick Place in Chicago, will mark ITT’s 5th anniversary of exhibiting at the event, and we can truly state that this show has been a perennial success on our trade show itinerary during that period.
The event features over 2,000 exhibitors in categories such as Clean and Contain and Dine and Design, and also features a co-located exhibit, the Gourmet Housewares Show, which focuses on all manner of cooking and kitchen accessories. With ITT representing a substantial number of Invent-Tech inventor household-related items at any given time, the International Home and Housewares Show has truly proven indispensable in terms of ITT’s ability to secure valuable leads in the industry.
In fact, it was during the 2005 edition of the show that ITT first met our West Coast-based industry partner, who has been instrumental in the securing of multiple product licensing agreements for ITT clients over the last 3 years.
With over 22,000 attendees expected, it is no surprise that ITT is extremely pleased to be a part of the International Home and Housewares Show this year, and is very much looking forward to making a new group of industry contacts on behalf of our clientele while reinforcing previously established relationships.
ITT will have multiple intra-day updates here on the Invent-Tech Network throughout all 3 days of the International Home and Housewares Show beginning tomorrow. Join us for all the news!
March 15th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, ITT’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with a weekly update on Invent-Tech news. It was an eventful week at the nation’s preeminent inventor assistance firm as feedback on several Innovation Direct™ packages sent last week was received, and a virtual reality presentation put together for a fitness accessory from the Invent-Tech roster that is the subject of an exclusive developmental agreement drew rave reviews.
To begin with, ITT and Invent-Tech received feedback from the 3 companies that were sent Innovation Direct™ packages last week, and that we had reported on in our March 3rd entry (”Update: Invent-Tech experiences intensive Innovation Direct™ week…“). In the cases of the Oklahoma and Michigan-based companies mentioned, they both opted to pass on going any further with the concepts they had been sent but also emphasized they would like to take a look at a new batch of items as soon as possible. The Kentucky-based manufacturer mentioned in that entry meanwhile, explained that the would have their company meeting this coming Wednesday, March 12th, to discuss the group of concepts they’d been sent.
Meanwhile, the New York-based Innovation Direct™ company that had recently signed an exclusive developmental agreement for a fitness accessory from the Invent-Tech roster and that had requested an interactive virtual reality presentation on it provided their feedback late last week on the disc they received from Invent-Tech’s Visual Design Team. We are pleased to report that the virtual reality presentation drew rave reviews from our main contact at the company and he will now present it to his company’s Invention Committee at their next meeting in mid-April. Once we do receive a final decision from them we will certainly bring you the details, here on the Invent-Tech Network.
Join us next Monday for another weekly wrap-up of exciting Invent-Tech news!
March 10th, 2008
Hello, Juan C. Blanco, Invent-Tech’s Director of Product Licensing, checking in with our weekly update. The week of February 25th- February 29th focused heavily on our licensing affiliate ITT’s Innovation Direct™ program, as several packages of Invent-Tech inventor ideas were prepared and sent to companies that are part of the service.
To begin with, we received word back from the Kentucky-based company that has just recently joined the program, and about which we last reported on February 20th (”Update: Newest Innovation Direct™ company showing further interest in 4 Invent-Tech inventor product ideas from initial package…“). As we’d mentioned in that posting, the company had opted to sign a non-disclosure agreement on 4 inventions from their initial Innovation Direct™ package, and were set to review the detailed websites for each item. After doing so, they did inform us that none of the inventions would fit their product lines and manufacturing capabilities at this point, but also emphasized that they wanted to see a new group of concepts as soon as possible. Accordingly, a batch of preliminary, non-confidential information on 12 more lawn and garden items from the Invent-Tech database was sent to our contact late last week, and we now eagerly await his feedback.
A second company that received information on new product ideas from Invent-Tech last week was the Michigan-based firm that we had most recently reported on in a November 9th entry (”Update: Michigan-based Innovation Direct™ company declines further interest in Invent-Tech inventor bathroom accessory…“). Preliminary, non-confidential information on 12 inventions in the household and bathroom categories were sent by ITT to our contact at this company, and we expect to receive his impressions on which are of more interest soon.
The Oklahoma-based company that is the exclusive U.S.-based licensee of one of the world’s leading electronic brands, and that we had most recently reported on in a December 14th entry (”Update: Oklahoma-based Innovation Direct™ company expresses advanced level of interest in Invent-Tech inventor electrical accessory…“), was the third manufacturer to have Invent-Tech inventor innovations conveniently delivered to them last week. The company, which is still deliberating the merits of a home electrical accessory from their last Innovation Direct™ package, received preliminary, non-confidential details on 7 computer accessories. As with the two companies mentioned earlier in this entry, we expect to receive some feedback during this first week of March.
Join us next Monday as we give you the lowdown on what will surely be a terrific week!
March 3rd, 2008