On Saturday (November 1st) I had a chance to attend the Inventors Society of South Florida monthly event. I was surfing online for events for inventors to post to Inventing Women and I came across their meeting announcement.

Steve Greenberg, Author of Gadget Nation was the guest speaker.  His presentation was interesting, fun and entertaining. And he had some great tips for inventors based upon all the inventors’ ideas he showcased in Gadget Nation. He talked about how he has traveled the country looking for innovative products. That’s why he has been dubbed “The Innovation Insider.”  Steve is also a television producer and “star” and has been seen on ABC’s World News This Morning and World News Now, Fox & Friends, and others. You can read more about Steve Greenberg at http://www.gadgetnation.net/steve-bio.htm.

Steve took us behind the scenes of many gadgets he wrote about in his book, he talked about how he came to find out about the inventions, how much they cost to produce and if the inventor is actually making any money from his innovative new product. Some of the inventions he showed us included “ Flight Suit Bird Diapers” for bird lovers who want to let their feathered friends fly around the house. They are disposable and come with an outer “diaper” and inner unit which is tossed when used.  The company is making money.

Other products he mentioned were:

The Kosher Lamp (making money)

Turkey Transporter – used to carry heavy turkeys from the pan to the carving platter (not making money yet)

Smittens –mittens specially designed so that two people can hold hands inside of one mitten.

Naughty Spot Time Out Matt created by a Florida Woman for mommy’s on the go who need to give their children a “time out” (breaking even) and she has created a line of products as a result.

My personal favorite were the Bright Feet Light Up slippers with headlights. I plan to purchase a pair for my husband for Christmas (shhh, don’t tell him).

Steve talked about how inventors come up with ideas.  They see a problem and come up with a solution. Much like all of us do. Except that inventors actually do something about the idea.  Inventors come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and walks of life. 

He spoke briefly about home shopping channels and some of the criteria involved in getting on the show. Here’s what he shared:

The product has to be TV friendly – show well on TV

Cute products do well

Good demographics are a must

Products under $40 seem to do the best

Inventor must have a minimum number of units on hand in order to even be considered for the show.

When Steve was finished, he took time to chat one-on-one with several of the guests in the room.  When it was my turn, I asked if he would allow me to interview him for an upcoming teleseminar.  He said YES!  So stay tuned as Steve is on my radar for a future event.

You can learn more about Steve’s book ~ Gadget Nation, inventions and more at GadgetNation.net.  Watch the Gadget Nation Video at http://www.gadgetnation.net/gadget-nation-the-video.htm.  And for more interesting tidbits, check out Steve’s blog at http://gadgetnation.net/steve-blog/  

In case you were wondering, I purchased three copies of Steve’s book! I highly recommend this book for inventors and would-be inventors. You can read about each person’s struggles, successes and whether or not their idea has made any money yet.

I also joined the Inventors Society of South Florida. They are great people with incredible vision and I want to soak that up and learn all I can. Stay tuned, because there’s more to come.

Joan Lefkowitz, an original marketer of TopsyTail tm, is president of ACCESSORY BRAINSTORMS, Inc, a licensing agency, sales representation and consultancy for Fashion/Beauty Accessory and Lifestyle Inventions. From its showroom in New York’s ‘accessories district,  it licenses inventors’ products to major corporations and markets to Mail Order Catalogues, TV Shopping programs and retail. 

Some very successful products we have launched have been TOPSY TAIL (which sold over $100m at retail), HAIRDINI, HOLLYWOOD FASHION TAPES, and MISS OOPS and, most recently, BOSOM BUTTON, LUMBARWEAR, WHIRL-A-STYLE, WINKEE, R.E.M. SPRING (hair removal tool) and TAG TAMERS…Specializing in representing unique products and inventions since 1984, she is always interested in seeing new products in these categories. ACCESSORIES Magazine awarded her for the “Most Inventive Products” and also cited her as one of the 100 most important accessories industry “Movers and Shakers”. You can visit: www.accessorybrainstorms.com for more information.

In this session you will learn the hallmarks of a good invention, what should be included in your inventors marketing plan, the key elements that go into packaging a product for market,  how to develop a name for your product, marketing strategies to get your product into the hands of your ideal customer, how to approach retailers to carry your product, licensing options and other marketing tips for inventors who are ready to take their product to market.

To attend, send an email to info (at) inventingwomen.com with ”RSVP Market Inventions” in the subject line.

The Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit and Celebration is THE eConference for Small Business Owners and Individuals who want to grow their business or idea into a financial empire. The even features 14 million-dollar achievers who have each built their own businesses from the ground up. Among Million-Dollar Experts, Kim Lavine, Inventor and Author of Mommy Millionaire, Tom Antion, President of Great Internet Marketing and Loral Langemeier, The Millionaire Maker

Miramar, FL September 7, 2008 — The Women’s eCommerce Association announces the lineup of guest experts celebrating our 5 year anniversary and International Women’s eCommerce Days September 18-20, 2008.

The Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit and Celebration is THE eConference for Inventors, Small Business Owners and Individuals who want to turn their business or idea into a financial empire. The event features 14 million-dollar achievers who have each built their own businesses from the ground up.

The grow a million dollar experts include:

• Tom Antion, President of Great Internet Marketing
• Loral Langemeier, The Millionaire Maker
• Andrea Nierenberg, President The Nierenberg Group
• Nicola Cairncross, President - The Money Gym
• Kim Lavine, Inventor and Author of Mommy Millionaire
• Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR
• Heather Juma of Wealth, Success and Women
• Elizabeth Gordon, Author of The Chic Entrepreneur
• Joyce Bone, Founder of Millionaire Moms
• Melanie Benson Strick, Entrepreneur Success Coach
• Chris Ramey President, Affluent Insights
• Diane Keohohou, CEO - Direct Selling Women’s Alliance
• Marilyn Jenett of Feel Free to Prosper
• Maria Marsala of Elevating Your Business
• Sheri McConnell, CEO of Sheri McConnell Companies, Inc

Highlights from the virtual women’s media conference include the following:

• From Small Town Kid to Internet Multi-Millionaire
• Building Leading & Protecting Your Business
• Million Dollar Networking: The Sure Way to Find, Grow and Keep Your Business
• How to Build an Empire from Your Kitchen Table
• The Mindset, Making & Marketing Of The Million Dollar Expert
• How to Become a Millionaire Diva: Helping Women Create Riches in all Aspects of Their Lives
• How to Grow a Million Dollar Business, The Chic Entrepreneur Way
• How Millionaire Moms Achieved Financial Independence ~ and You Can Too!
• How to Build a 6- and 7 Figure Business Using the Power of Virtual Teams
• How to Market to the Affluent
• How to Grow a Million Dollar Direct Sales Organization
• How I Attract Million Dollar Clients Using Prosperity Principles - and You Can Too!
• How to Grow a Million Dollar Business With a Mastermind Team
• Why Creating a Membership Based-Business Is So Smart - The Millionaire’s Business Model

Each one-hour session will be rich in information and expertise attendees can take away to achieve financial freedom and grow a million dollar business. Registered guests will have their choice of attending via the online conference room or they can call into a teleconference bridge line to participate. Registrants who are unable to attend any or all of the event, will have access to the live recordings online after the event and can also purchase a complete set of audio CD’s.

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About The Women’s eCommerce Association

The Women’s eCommerce Association (The WECAI Networkâ„¢), Founded by Heidi Richards Mooney, has more than 1400 members repressing 58 countries is the virtual organization that helps women to business on and off the web. The Women’s eCommerce Association has hosted and sponsored four past summits, The Woman’s Wealth Summit, Women’s Internet Marketing Summit, Women’s Media Summit and Women’s Writing & Publishing Summit. To learn more about The WECAI Networkâ„¢ go to http://www.WECAI.org. For more information and to register for Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit; visit http://www.WhereWomenProsper.com.

To save $20 on registration, go to http://wherewomenprosper.wordpress.com/register/

Media Please Contact: Heidi Richards Mooney, 954-625-6606, Heidi@wecai.org

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On Wednesday, September 10th at 11 AM (EST)

Inventor of the Cleavage Caddyâ„¢ Tells how she got her idea onto the chests of women in America.

 

 

 

 
You can learn more about the Cleavage Caddyâ„¢ at http://www.mazantricreations.com/mazantri-cleavage-caddy.html

 

If you are interested in attending this FREE teleconference, send a message to heidi@inventingwomen.com with “Cleavage Caddy RSVP” in the subject line and you will be sent instructions to participate.

 

Have an invention?  Need to get your invention off the ground?  Join Heidi as she interviews Kim Lavine, Inventor and Author of Mommy Millionaire and 14 experts on building wealth September 18-20 for the Grow a Million Dollar Business Summit. Learn more and register WHERE WOMEN PROSPER.

 

  Join us on Wednesday, June 18^th at 11 AM EASTERN TIME for an Interview with Sarah Miller Caldicott , Co-Author of Innovate Like Edison

 

“If we all did things we are capable of doing we would literally astound ourselves.”  That quote by Thomas Edison begins a wonderful journey on his amazing accomplishments as an inventor and more importantly sets the stage for a book filled with a blueprint to help each of us through the process of innovation, Innovate Like Edison: The Success System of America’s Greatest Inventor.  Innovate like Edison was co-authored by Sarah Miller Caldicott, A great grandniece of Thomas Edison and his second wife Mina Miller Edison and Michael Gelb the world’s leading authority on the application of genius thinking and the author of nearly a dozen books, most notably “How to Think Like Leonardo DaVinci.” 

 

 

ABOUT Sarah Miller Caldicott:

 

Sarah has been surrounded by creativity and innovation throughout her life.  When she was seven years old, Sarah learned of her unique relationship to her great great aunt Mina Miller, and Mina’s world-famous husband, Thomas Edison.  Curious about why the Edison phonograph and cylindrical records in her home worked so differently from the small plastic record player that spun 45’s and wax LP’s, she wondered, “How did they get this way?”

 

Intrigued Sarah went on to learn about the accomplishments of Mina Miller Edison’s father – Sarah’s great, great grandfather, Lewis Miller (1829-1899) – an agricultural equipment inventor whose Buckeye Mower & Reaper dramatically improved the productivity of American farmers in the 1850’s and beyond, later inspiring development of the modern Combine Harvester.  A recipient of 92 patents, Lewis Miller was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006, and co-founded the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York in 1874 – a place Sarah and her family still visit every year.

 

Sarah received her MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business, and began her 20-year career as a Marketing executive with brand-driven firms including Pepsico and Unilever. For 12 years, Sarah spearheaded domestic and international rollouts of mass brands including Cycle, Suave, Salon Selectives, and Degree.

Desiring to pursue more entrepreneurial projects, in 1998, Sarah established StarWave Associates, a strategic marketing and branding consultancy assisting CEO’s and business owners in transforming the growth of their brands. StarWave clients have included DHL Global Mail, Cox Enterprises, Andrx Pharmaceuticals, Shay Financial Services, and Lucent, as well as numerous entrepreneurial firms. 

 

Sarah speaks to audiences across the country, and leads executive seminars on how to embed Edison’s Five Competencies of Innovation in their organizations.  These competencies propelled Edison to generate a record-breaking 1,093 US patents and 1,293 international patents over 62 successive years.

 

You can visit Sarah online at PowerPatterns.com.

 

In this session, Sarah is going to share her Five tips for jump starting your invention prowess and getting the creative juices flowing, give an overview of some of the five competencies as well as other innovative practices.

 

To join us send a message to heidi (at) inventingwomen.com with “RSVP Innovate Like Edison” in subject line. Instructions will be sent in a reply.

 

Tomima Edmark is the the inventor of the wildly successful TopsyTail, a hair accessory for women that she marketed by herself to revenues of $150 million. She is also the founder of HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com.

During her interview Tomima shared her journey of taking her invention to market, how she promoted Topsy Tail, got them in major retail outlets, got funding and all the challenges and victories that went along with creating a mutli-million dollar empire.

You can listen to Tomima’s interview here: .

The next interview was with Denyse DuBrucq, inventor, educator and scientist. 

Denyse shared her story about all the things she has invented including the resistance to her ideas even though they could change the world, how she found the perfect patent attorney to work with, the resources she has found helpful in her journey and also the story of her newest invention and how she plans to save millions of lives with it.

You can listen to Denyse’s story here: http://inventingwomen.com/audio/DenyseDubrucq.mp3 .

Friday May 2, 2008 – 9:30 AM Eastern Time (8:30 Central, 7:30 Mountain, 6:30 Pacific)

Tomima Edmark is the inventor of the wildly successful TopsyTail, a hair accessory for women that she marketed by herself to revenues of $150 million. This extraordinary product earned her instant fame among the nation’s small-business set and put Edmark on an entrepreneurial path that continues today. She has since developed a series of additional consumer products, written several successful books and created a variety of e-commerce Web sites. Along the way, she became known for her entrepreneurship and was featured on television shows and in business publications like Good Morning America, Oprah, Forbes Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

In 1999, Tomima realized there was a gap in the options women had to buy lingerie; our choices were department store, lingerie boutique or mail order. Why shouldn’t we have the same ease buying bras that we had for, say, tee shirts or music? An entrepreneur with a series of unconventional successes, Tomima turned to the internet and HerRoom was born. For Tomima, HerRoom isn’t just about shopping for sexy lingerie. She wants women to find the styles and sizes that fit them best—for all body types and tastes.

With a BFA in Fashion Design and an MBA, she uses her left brain and right brain to understand both the design and business of the women’s lingerie market. Tomina is going to share how she got the idea for TopsyTail, her journey to taking her invention to market and the steps she took to that led to its ultimate success.

To RSVP for this event, send a message to Heidi (at) inventing women.com with “RSVP Tomima Edmark” in the subject line.  Instructions will be sent to you in return email.

   Never Let ‘em Get You Down! The Challenges and Bureaucratic B.S. of Taking An Invention to Market with Denyse DuBrucq, EdD.

Join us on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 (10:00 AM Eastern Time) (9:00 AM Central, 8:00 AM Mountain, 7:00 AM Pacific)

Denyse DuBrucq, EdD. is an educator and inventor.  She serves as Managing General Partner of two partnerships holding her inventions, one dealing with the electronics inventions and the other those dealing with fires and crises.  She discovered how to use Liguid Nitrogen to stop fires.  Prospects for her invention are world wide to reduce the carbon released to the atmosphere during fires and to preserve water resources.  She anticipates demonstrations in China to control their severe coal mine fires and in California for the Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention to end wildland fires quickly and efficiently. 

In 2003 with the Iraq War underway, the Iraqis threatened to explode their oil wells 20 feet below the surface.  To control these events without losing rights to the technology as happened in her work to control the Kuwait well fires in 1991, DuBrucq started writing the first Liquid Nitrogen patent focusing first on the Iraqi task, and, as the ideas kept streaming, the a wide group of fire and crises control capabilities. 

August, 2003, she offered the US Army Corps of Engineers means to quickly end the oil pipeline fires in Iraq, where these fires took 10 days to end, enabling them to be controlled in one day.  The compensation she requested never happened because it had to be paid by the company that lost profits because of the new required speed of fire control.  In this session you will learn about Denyse’s journey of disappointment, promises not kept, political two-stepping and other challenges she has faced to get her products to market. 

Unwavering in her quest to succeed, Denyse has put together a team that she feels will help her get the much needed funding, attention and outcome she knows can and will change the world.

Interested in attending?  Send an email to heidi (at) inventing women with RSVP Denyse DuBrucq in the subject line and you will receive call-in and webinar instructions.

Men and women can say “Count me in!” to help eradicate this preventable cancer 

Cervical cancer education will get a shot in the arm this month from an unusual source – The Undie Awards.  Every year underwear preferences come out of the closet as men and women vote online for their favorite styles and manufacturers.  This year HerRoom.com, organizers of the Undie Awards, will donate twenty-five cents to the National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign for each voter who clicks Count Me In!

 “If more education can save lives and wipe out cervical cancer, we’re prepared to step up and support that ideal,” says Tomima Edmark, Founder and President of HerRoom.com.  “Just go to The Undie Awards, cast your votes and click the Count Me In! button. We’ll donate twenty-five cents for every voter who does that. Last year we received 12,500 votes and we hope to get many more this year.  If 100 000 people vote this year we’ll donate twenty-five thousand dollars to the fund.” 

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, about 11,070 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 3,870 women will die of the disease. The National Cervical Cancer Public Education Campaign is committed to eliminating cervical cancer completely and now that a cervical cancer vaccine is available, 70% of cervical cancers can be prevented.  In addition, the availability of improved Pap test screening plus a test for the virus that causes almost all cervical cancer—the Human papilloma virus, or HPV—means that no women need die from this preventable cancer. 

Voting in The Undie Awards provides men and women with information about America’s favorite underwear styles. Awards go not only to the overall category winners, but with the body type data that each voter enters men and women can also see the most popular styles for different body types. 

Note: Inventing Women will be intervieiwing Tomima Edmark, Inventor and Founder of HerRoom.com and HisRoom.com on May 2, 2008. Stay Tuned!