Daria Walsh, Inventor Infinity Clips

“IT STARTED WITH A SIMPLE IDEA…FIND A WAY TO SHORTEN MY FAVORITE NECKLACES SO THEY COULD BE WORN WITH ANY OUTFIT/

I was amazed to find that there were no existing products in the marketplace for my problem so I set out to find a solution on my own.

The result…Infinity Clips: The first necklace shortener made to work with thin chain necklaces.” Daria Walsh

Tell us about your invention/product? What problem does it solve?

Infinity Clips is the first ever necklace shortener made for thin chains. With Infinity Clips, you can adjust the length of your favorite necklaces to match your outfit and style. They can also be used to adjust the length of individual chains for a perfectly layered look. This saves the time and expense of permanent shortening by a jeweler or the need to buy multiple length chains for your favorite necklaces.

What was the inspiration for your invention/product?

The inspiration for Infinity Clips came about because I needed a way to shorten my favorite necklaces and was surprised to find there were no solutions on the market for thin chains. I knew I must not be the only person who needed a solution like this so I set out to come up with my own and Infinity Clips was born.

What is the number one goal you have with regards to your invention/product?

I am excited that I just achieved my biggest goal so far when I was granted my utility patent in March! From here, I’d like to continue to grow and expand my reach online so I can get Infinity Clips into the hands of customers who have been looking for a solution like this and eventually wholesale to retail locations.

Who is your product for (target market)?

The current target market for Infinity Clips is women ages 25-55. I intend to expand into a mens line eventually also.

How long did your invention/product take to get to this point (from the time you conceived of the idea to now)?

I had the initial idea about 5 years ago but didn’t get serious about pursuing a patent and bringing it to market until 3 years ago. I have been growing the brand slowly ever since while continuously improving on the design.

When you had your idea, what was the first thing you did?

The first thing I did was come up with a working prototype by piecing together parts I found at craft and hardware stores. From there, when I decided to seriously pursue bringing the invention to market, I filed a provisional patent which gave me a year to test market my idea and improve upon the prototype before filing a non provisional utility patent.

What has been the greatest challenge getting your idea from your head to something tangible?

There were many challenges and so much to learn because I basically DIY-ed my way from idea to market with very little money to start. The most challenging so far has been finding reliable manufacturers overseas while protecting my IP. Ultimately, I got an agent to help me with the process and learned a lot of strategies to protect myself and my product along the way.

How did or are you funding the development of your invention/product?

I started out with only a couple hundred dollars for a provisional patent and materials. I created some product and test marketed it on Etsy to start which went really well so I just kept rolling over profits until I was able to pay for my utility patent and my first round of manufacturing. From there, and to grow quicker, I supplemented this with promotional interest free credit cards to keep up with demand and paid them off as the products sold.

How do you currently market your invention/product?

Currently my product is selling on Etsy, Amazon and my own website. The majority of my business so far has come from organic search by perfecting keywords and SEO. I’ve begun to focus my marketing efforts now on social media including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest. I don’t really do paid advertising yet outside of what I’m required to do through Etsy’s offsite ads program. This will likely change in the future but for now I’m trying to take advantage of as much free advertising as I can.

Tell us about your background

I’ve always been an entrepreneur and inventor at heart. I remember coming up with my first invention when I was 8 years old but never followed through with any of them until recently. Over the years, I would see some of the ideas I’ve had make other people a lot of money because they invested the time and money to make it a reality. I finally decided it was time to go for it and follow through with some of my ideas. Infinity Clips is the first one I’ve brought to market.

Who are your favorite female creators and why?

One of my favorite creators is Sara Blakely who is the inventor of Spanx. I remember the first time I heard her story and thinking it was all possible. I actually followed what she did in some ways by writing my own patent and had a lawyer help with the claims. I also admire Lori Greiner from Shark Tank. There is no real guidebook for people to follow when it comes to inventing because it’s not really a ‘one size fits all’ process but listening to people like them who have succeeded and reading about other inventors’ stories definitely helps.

What’s been the most surprising part of your creative journey so far?

Probably that it was harder than it looks and took longer than I thought it would but it’s all achievable.

What is a typical day like for you?

Right now I’m a one woman show so my day involves responding to customer emails, packing and shipping orders and trying to get some marketing in at night while speaking with manufacturers. My ultimate goal is to outsource myself from the day to day of running the business so I can focus on marketing and develop other inventions I have in mind to bring to market.

Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?

There have been many people who have helped me along the way that I’ve met in inventors groups and forums who I would consider mentors. They took the time to answer questions and share their experiences which I’m so grateful for and I hope to be able to pay it forward in helping others along the way also.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Don’t give up! As inventors we are naturally resourceful so if you ever come up against a problem know you can solve it with a little creativity and determination.

What’s the best way for the readers/audience of Inventing Women to connect with you (feel free to include the links to your social networks and websites)?

www.InfinityClips.com

Instagram @infinity.clips

Facebook @infinityclips

TikTok @infinityclips1111

Pinterest @infinityclip