5 Tips for Turning Parenting Dilemmas into Lucrative Inventions
In the midst of raising your kids, you’ve likely stumbled across a parenting dilemma that made you think, there really needs to be a better way to manage this. Maybe it was just a passing thought, or maybe you came up with a great idea to solve the dilemma. Either way, the concept of moving forward with your innovation probably makes you a little nauseous when you consider all that’s involved. You likely have a million thoughts running through your head. “I can’t do this,” “I have no time to invent something,” “No one would even buy my invention” and “I have no idea how to move forward with my idea.” After all, bringing a product to market is a huge endeavor. Rest assured that hundreds of other parent inventors have felt the same way, yet they pushed forward to bring to market a solution that makes parenting easier and are now successfully running or have sold a lucrative business. If you’re like I was and have no idea where to start, here are some valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my process of developing the Potty Wiz.
1. Get inspired
One of my favorite things to do as an inventor is to peruse lists of products created by moms and dads. I spend days just browsing all of the ingenious inventions. Doing this has inspired my own inventiveness by opening up my mind to think of all the possibilities. It also dispels self-doubt and solidifies my conviction that my idea can work.
2. Reflect on your own parenting issues
The best product ideas are derived from personal experience. This is especially true when inventing products for juveniles. Most of the time, there is a parenting dilemma with no known solution--so the parent creates one. To get your creative juices flowing, think back through your parenting journey. What problem did you face that could be solved with a simple solution that doesn’t currently exist? Is it a common problem that would be experienced by other parents? For example, I created the Potty Wiz as a solution to my own problems potty training my son. There were no products on the market that made potty training easier on both of us, so I designed the solution. Be sure to check the market to ensure your idea doesn’t already exist before wasting any more time. You can do this by searching on Google, but you should also search Google Patents and go through all relevant patents for further confirmation that your idea is unique.
3. Invest in a provisional patent
After coming up with that really great idea, validating through consumer research that there’s a real need, and ensuring the product doesn’t already exist or infringe on an existing patent, you should invest in a utility patent or a design patent. A utility patent protects the utility of your idea while a design patent protects the ornamental aspects of your idea. For more information on the different patent types, check out the list of patent types by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). If you plan to pursue a utility patent, it might be in your best interest to first submit a provisional patent application. This provisional application is less cumbersome and less expensive and protects your idea for a full year. After a year’s time, and once you determine how you want to move forward with your invention, you can choose to file for a full utility patent or trash the idea. Design patents do not offer the provisional aspect, however, so make sure before you file for a design patent that your design is exactly how you want it produced. Otherwise, it will be useless. Many people will tell you not to waste money on a patent, but I disagree. If you don’t file, you risk someone else coming up with the same idea and capitalizing on it right away, and you could lose out. I’ve seen it many times.
4. Take advantage of freelance websites.
One of the toughest parts of developing a product is finding a good product designer and a good manufacturing facility. I’ve talked to many inventors who sought out a designer or a manufacturing facility by cold-calling all over the world or hiring a liaison to find them an expert in another country, often resulting in stress and confusion, not to mention astronomical expense. My golden nugget for developing a product on a budget has been freelance websites. I found my product designer on Freelancer.com, and he was also able to recommend a great manufacturing facility that he had worked with many times in the past. These freelance sites allow you to post your job and receive proposals from high-rated contractors and company representatives all over the world.
5. Consider hiring abroad
Many American inventors want to engage a product designer and manufacturing facility within the United States. With price discrepancies up to $100k between domestic and outsourced production, the solo inventor or startup often has no choice. The budget simply may not accommodate staying within the United States. In addition to freelance websites, you can seek assistance from other small businesses in your industry to see what companies they work through. Or search for reputable companies via LinkedIn. Inventing and bringing a product to market is going to be one of the most arduous processes of your life, but can also be the most rewarding and fulfilling of journeys. Good luck! We can’t wait to see your product on the shelves! If you need more help, grab a copy of Get Retail Ready. It'll help you cover all your bases from concept to completion and help increase your chances of getting your items on store shelves.