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Would you actually follow through with this type of chain letter?
Yes
33%
[ 1 ]
No
0%
[ 0 ]
5 Friend would too
66%
[ 2 ]
Total Votes : 3
Author
Message
Work2XL Green Belt
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 192 Location: Denver
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: What can we do to help each other
I have two random thoughts that I tie together at the bottom. (I'm sure most of people reading this have brains wired the same way) Then took to the extreme.
Thought 1)
I was listening to the radio this morning. A guy called in with a patent question. I sent an instant message saying pick up the book "Patent it yourself" and also gave this website as a good resource. Both were mentioned on the air. Free plug on national radio.
Fast forward to lunchtime.
Thought 2)
I'm hungry I wish my grocery store still carried Sweet Sue Chicken and Dumplings. I'm going to have to call them and request it again for the next couple of weeks again.
Merge of 1 and 2.
What if we wrote, emailed and called NFLShop.com and requested the TakeaSeat from our good friend 5Rocks. How many would it take to make a difference?
Next Level.
What if we had a chain letter? You add your product information, your 2 target outlet (Stores) contact info min two forms (Phone, address, email, ect), Once we get it filled out with our products and the store we want to get into, we email the letter out to our members. Each member takes a few minutes and sends a few emails to makes a couple calls, to help out other members get their product in the market.
Extreme.
Each of us sends it out to 5 friends who will actually help us out and do the same thing.
Side benefit.
1) We get a pretty decent list of store contacts for different products, and buyer contacts for them.
2) I Spot is referred to 5 new people from each of us who actually do this.
3) We as inventors get a huge interested market asking for our product from out target stores. For free.
Randy,
My store sells Sweet Sue Chicken and Dumplings in the can. I can send you some. You will have to add shipping of course.
Something I miss is a BBQ potato chip which was the best I ever had. Have not had those in about 20 years. Use to get them in Missouri and don't see them there anymore. They were made by a company called Snaktime, had a hillbilly with a corncob pipe on the package.
The chain letter sounds like a good concept. What most people need is the money to manufacture so they can get it in the stores.
Now, back to the food, since you made me hungry !!!
Really interesting concept. I think there may be the seed of something very interesting and possibly powerful here.
I'd be interested in exploring this further.
Just from a site centric point of view, it would be interesting for every inventor here to personally invite 5 folks to take a look at our site and inventors to join us.
In terms of requesting a product, I'd want to make sure that we actually had a real interest in the product before asking for it.
But this is similar to in concept to the idea I had of picking an invention every month from out site, everyone donating a dollar to the concept to get it going (and asking perhaps for five of your friends to do so), and if your invention ever gets to market and is successful, your blood oath that you would donate money every year to the Spot Inventor Fund to help fund the next round of worthy inventors.
I like your idea Michelle. My problem is I don't have 5 friends. Even if you count my 6 kids.
Seriously, I'd be up for a dollar donation. $12 a year I'm pretty sure my accountant can budget around it. Just let me know who to write the check to.
As far as interest goes, in many cases, we could get sales if our product could make it on the shelf. I currently don't have a product that will sit on a shelf, but most here I would think it could help. How many products are here that are ready for at least small scale sales. (200 unit minimum)
Mojo,
I love Sweet Sue. The store here didn't carry it until I requested it about 10 times, then after several years, they dropped it again. I'd hate to have to go to another store for all my groceries just because they won't carry $5.00 worth of soup. I remember those chips from the midwest. Another product I can't find anymore is a type of root beer that was sasaphrass? or some other weird flavor.
I like your idea Michelle. My problem is I don't have 5 friends. Even if you count my 6 kids.
Seriously, I'd be up for a dollar donation. $12 a year I'm pretty sure my accountant can budget around it. Just let me know who to write the check to.
As far as interest goes, in many cases, we could get sales if our product could make it on the shelf. I currently don't have a product that will sit on a shelf, but most here I would think it could help. How many products are here that are ready for at least small scale sales. (200 unit minimum)
Randy
I will look into the logistics of this and ask for more indications of interest.
If there is enough, maybe we can do something here.
Scrup,
Yeah, I work in Dallas. I'm not a Cowboy fan, but I'm surrounded by thousands of them all the time. At work I heard conversations going on all day (Tuesday) about the game. I did watch the last of the game and was very impressed by the rookie kicker under those intense circumstances. WOW!, is about all I can say about that game.
Randy's idea is very impressive also. I am all for supporting something like this also. We have banded together (in a sense) as members of I-Spot and I see better things in the future.
In a matter of time, I believe we will get successful think tank accomplishments completed also.
Joined: 27 Dec 2006 Posts: 128 Location: milwaukee
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:47 am Post subject:
Work2xl, scrup, michelle, mojo and everyone else,
Excellent thoughts(not just because you mention my product). Seriously, my wife and I have talked about similar concepts and actually did have a friend of ours that is in promotions, call a retailer for advice on how to purchase our product. Cabelas, Dick's, Menards and others will not commit to buying our units until they receive a finished model in the full color box with instructions, warantee sheet, packaging, etc. You do have a great point though. If a direct consumer asks about a product, that speaks volumes(kind of like the grocery store manager stocking something you like). I personally was able to experience this with one of our own forum member's product. I saw Roger's electronic horseshoe game in our local Hobby store in Wisconsin earlier this summer. The clerk noticed me looking at the box and said, "We just got those in". I said something to the affect of, "This is a really cool product. You probably will sell a lot of them." Granted, I didn't purchase one although I plan on doing so. I'll wait till I can get the store manager involved in the sale and then buy one. It sparks conversation. Much of this with marketing is perception. If people show interest then the buyers and store managers know they have to at least try a sample market on a particular product. I think many, many great products never hit the shelves because they are not given the chance. Roger, by the way, I really do think it is a great product.
I would for sure contribute $ to this effort. It is another way for us to help each other out.
Thanks,
Pat
p.s. Update........My first shipment will be delivered in November. We are receiving 500 units in black with 300 sets of various colors. We are submitting our packaging artwork, instructions, upc's, warning stickers and everything else tomorrow. We have waited a long time for this moment and it is hard to believe that is is actually nearing. Thanks for all of the great advice over the last several months.
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