Jim Debetta from DeCavi marketing consultants will be answering questions that any inventors may have. Be sure to take advantage and start asking those questions.

I have invented a street toy along the order of a skateboard. It is quite unique. I'm having difficulty marketing it. The big toy companies have made themselves inaccessable. How can I present my invention to the large toy companies? Larry Maurer

Hi Larry - Thanks for the email! Well, most large companies insulate themselves from the endless stream of calls and emails they get for product ideas. Simply put, they just get too many inquiries!! In order to present your ideas, you need to have a few things in order such as a detailed business plan, great finished product samples with pricing structure, and some market research as to how this toy can help their business. This is just the start. Do you have any patents on the product? If not, be very careful who you show the toy to or it could wind up being copied by the very people you present it to. You also have to be persistent and patient and never give up if you feel you have a great item. If you feel like you have a great product or feel it can be a great candidate for a toy company, it is possible we can help you. Good luck!! Jim

I have a toy concept mail me at Evawilliams at sbcglobal.net my name is Kermit Williams.

will do!!

I.m trying to sell my Design Patent. What is the best way to sell my patent?

My invention is a professional product that eliminates cancer from the body without any harmful side-effects. The principle it uses has been banned by the AMA because it eliminates the sales of chemo drugs. How can I find marketers and investors to get it introduced to other countries?

I have invented a ladder accessory which is licensed and patent pending, how do I get it on the market and approximately how much does it cost to advertise in the US and overseas?LBerry

I have invented and patented a new large plant container-#6942442- and have a company(www.ideaproductdesign.com) interested in promoting to manufactures. I cautious about this marketing technique and want to know if this will be effective.

Hi Gwen - Selling a patent or a trademark can be a very involved process. One way can be to approach the industry and the leading manufacturers to see what kind of interest exist for your patent. It is difficult to comment further without knowing what the invention is but you may have a few different options....

Hi Jeff - Thanks for the mail. Getting a product introduced to investors first requires a very thorough business plan. Experienced investors will usually not even consider investing in any product or service without this plan which will include significant market research and financial data about projected sales, expenses, etc. Do you own any intelllectual property (patents, etc) for this product? Also, marketers are found all over but they would usually get involved once the product has been developed and ready for sale. Thanks...Jim

Dear Ladder - The cost to sell and market a product varies greatly. Companies like ours can charge thousands a month to handle your sales and marketing efforts as we have all the proper retail relationships with buyers at the major retailers and we also have sound and proven steps to promote and get your product noticed through press releases to major consumer magazines, trade publications, etc. You say you have it licensed. If so then the company who has received licensing rights from you should be doing all of the sales and marketing. Please let me know more about the licensing situation and I can try to help you further. Thanks...Jim

Hi Treespec - Be very cautious indeed about hiring firms that offer to promote your product to manufacturers. While there are good companies out there, weeding through the good and the bad is quite challenging. There are simple steps to take in the beginning if you wish to locate some potential manufacturers on your own. You can start by researching potential factory partners on the internet but once again you never know who they are unless they can provide some documentation or references from some companies like yours that they worked with in the past. Factories that have ISO ratings often can be reputable but again one must be cautious. The best and safe way to do so is to hire a firm that already has strong relationships with overseas factories that are trusted manufacturers. These firms usually represent brand name companies that we all know and others simply can be verified by references from the factories.I can provide some further advice if you like as there is too much to write in this forum.....JIm

How do I know how much someone will pay for my invention?

That is tough to answer...it all depends on what it is and how desirable it is to consumers. Most inventions are not bought like you would hope they would be. Most inventions that succeed get developed and sold into retail and commercial venues. Let me know more about what you are working on. Jim