shop4patents Blog

Hi Stephen,

I really enjoy your blog. You offer so much info. My business partner and I are currently waiting for the results of the 10-12 inventors who will be chosen for Everyday Edisons. We made it to the finals in San Jose. We are currently working on our second invention and are having a prototype made of our organizing product.
I would like to know if you offer private advice consultations in the Los Angeles area and how much per hour do you charge. We would love to meet with you one on one and get your input on what we are doing.

Thank you,

Lillian Lavin
San Pedro, Ca.

I am the Director of Sales for the Everyday Edisons / Everywhere, LLC. I need to get in touch with Ms. Lavin regarding her product submission, but she is not available at any of the contact information gathered at the casting call. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I can be reached at my office in Charlotte, NC at 704.369.7336 or via email at mark.crain@everydayedisons.com

Well, this topic is very near and dear to me because I own a product development / design company. Here is my take: If you absolutely do not have the money than you can consider building the prototype yourself or enlisting the help of a single engineer or designer.

BUT and this is the big but, development/design firms will do what they do best: Design and Develop! That means taking everything into account such as human factors analysis (i.e. does this product feel right in an average person’s palm), refining designs (colors, surface material), marketability (how do we get this product to SELL well in the market. Does it have a stunning design, yet function as intended?), to cost optimization for manufacturing (how can we design this product to decrease manufacturing costs and boost quality?). All these factors play a big role in the success of your product and ultimately your brand. These firms can help you develop something out of a simple sketch on a napkin, all the way to full 3D models, rapid prototypes, and ultimately helping you source a reliable manufacture either domestic or overseas.

Also, for those short on money, many design/development firms including our own can work out a mutually beneficial arrangement such as designing your product for free but taking 2% - 3% royalty for every sale. That way you don’t take a hit up front and only pay a small royalty if your product sells, so it is in the best interest of both the inventor / company and the design / development firm to make the most attractive, marketable, and successful product for you and your company.

Don’t be afraid to contact product design / development firms. If your idea is good, I’m sure you can work something out with the firm that does not always require upfront payment for design and development services.

Good Luck!

Sanyo Tzeng
Synthesis Labs, Inc.
http://www.synthesislabs.com - Product Development, Engineering, Brand Cohesion