Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice th

In figuring profit for your invention, it is NOT just what you will make - or even what you and your investor will make. You have to consider the entire food chain - developer/prototype, to manufacturer, to wholesaler, to retailer, then to you and your investor. It is a long chain and each party takes a cut. Cost estimates have to be determined for each link:

• Determine the start-up costs to get a prototype and to prepare for and manufacture the invention
• Find comparable items in the marketplace and estimate their same costs
• Compare the comparable item’s retail price to what your estimated retail price might be (a rule of thumb for figuring retail cost is to multiply FIVE TIMES COST OF MANUFACTURE. The opposite of this - or 20% of retail price can be used to estimate the manufacturing cost of a competitive product from it’s retail price). Your costs should not be above the competitive items unless you can show the customer more benefits.
• Check for costs in each link of the food chain. Each link costs money: raw materials - equipment - services - manufacturing space - warehouse space - office space - shelf space - packaging - advertising/marketing - - transportation - customer service - utilities - legal & accounting fees - taxes - etc. - etc. - etc.
• It is best to at least take a prototype and test or survey the market. Find out the interest level of the buying public and how your product is (or is not) an improvement on what is presently available. It is best to do this before invent help is secured and before you have spent a lot of time and money

One invention help for free here. In setting a price for a new invention - along with checking the competition - is keeping the magic number $19.99 in mind. If you can bring the manufacturing costs in line with $4.00 or less, you will be golden with the infomercial crowd.

If you watch infomercials - you will see that almost every sale is in the $19.99 range. They may keep piling on extra products to pump up the sales - but the end price stays at $19.99. You can assume that all the products that are eventually offered at that price cost a total of $4.00, more or less.

The infomercial folks have researched this area - believe me, they do research - and have determined this amount adds to sales. Something to keep in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind. The manufacturer, and the wholesaler, and the retailer, and sometimes even the investor, don’t give a hoot about your baby, your wonderful invention. They sell boxes. If what’s in the box sells - they’re happy. If the box doesn’t sell - they get another box. Period.

The value of your box is the profit it brings in. New features and benefits and life-saving products are nothing but motivators to make more people buy boxes. Do not lose hope or have your ego crushed if no one pays any attention to your masterful mind that thought up this wonderful invention.

Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice the

One invention help for free here. In setting a price for a new invention - along with checking the competition - is keeping the magic number $19.99 in mind. If you can bring the manufacturing costs in line with $4.00 or less, you will be golden with the infomercial crowd.

If you watch infomercials - you will see that almost every sale is in the $19.99 range. They may keep piling on extra products to pump up the sales - but the end price stays at $19.99. You can assume that all the products that are eventually offered at that price cost a total of $4.00, more or less.

The infomercial folks have researched this area - believe me, they do research - and have determined this amount adds to sales. Something to keep in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind. The manufacturer, and the wholesaler, and the retailer, and sometimes even the investor, don’t give a hoot about your baby, your wonderful invention. They sell boxes. If what’s in the box sells - they’re happy. If the box doesn’t sell - they get another box. Period.

The value of your box is the profit it brings in. New features and benefits and life-saving products are nothing but motivators to make more people buy boxes. Do not lose hope or have your ego crushed if no one pays any attention to your masterful mind that thought up this wonderful invention.

Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice th

One invention help for free here. In setting a price for a new invention - along with checking the competition - is keeping the magic number $19.99 in mind. If you can bring the manufacturing costs in line with $4.00 or less, you will be golden with the infomercial crowd.

If you watch infomercials - you will see that almost every sale is in the $19.99 range. They may keep piling on extra products to pump up the sales - but the end price stays at $19.99. You can assume that all the products that are eventually offered at that price cost a total of $4.00, more or less.

The infomercial folks have researched this area - believe me, they do research - and have determined this amount adds to sales. Something to keep in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind. The manufacturer, and the wholesaler, and the retailer, and sometimes even the investor, don’t give a hoot about your baby, your wonderful invention. They sell boxes. If what’s in the box sells - they’re happy. If the box doesn’t sell - they get another box. Period.

The value of your box is the profit it brings in. New features and benefits and life-saving products are nothing but motivators to make more people buy boxes. Do not lose hope or have your ego crushed if no one pays any attention to your masterful mind that thought up this wonderful invention.

Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice th

The infomercial folks have researched this area - believe me, they do research - and have determined this amount adds to sales. Something to keep in mind.

Another thing to keep in mind. The manufacturer, and the wholesaler, and the retailer, and sometimes even the investor, don’t give a hoot about your baby, your wonderful invention. They sell boxes. If what’s in the box sells - they’re happy. If the box doesn’t sell - they get another box. Period.

The value of your box is the profit it brings in. New features and benefits and life-saving products are nothing but motivators to make more people buy boxes. Do not lose hope or have your ego crushed if no one pays any attention to your masterful mind that thought up this wonderful invention.

Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice th

Your job at this point is to show that “everyone” will like, and more specifically, BUY YOUR PRODUCT. Crass - but true. Keep this in mind - and point to the ROI. Along with this keep in mind that space is limited - advertising space - shelf space - catalog space - and your product has to use that space better than any other product to make the sharks in the food chain happy. More boxes sold = happy. Less boxes sold = bye-bye.

Another thing to remember - the customer has choices. The customer can choose to buy your gadget - he can choose to go with the “other product” - or, she can choose to buy nothing. Your product has to have a combination of benefits and price that will entice the customer to buy your product. You are in charge of highlighting the benefits of your new invention. Marketing gurus can take over that end of the process IF you give them something to work with.

Also remember - the key is benefits - not features - benefits. Your invention may have lots of features - but you have to show how those features will make a customer’s life easier, better, happier, sexier, and all at an affordable price. Lots of work to do to get invention help. Who said inventing was easy?