|
Inventions &
Us
BY CARRIE M. HARPER
So, where do you go to find
the next great American inventor? A good place to start is
Pittsburgh, Pa. That's right, Pittsburgh.
The Invention & New Product
Exposition (INPEX) held its 22nd annual invention trade show
on June 7-10. INPEX is America's largest invention trade show
and exposition showcasing numerous inventions and new products
available to license, manufacture or market. As I entered
the trade show floor, you could practically feel the excitement
and enthusiasm that surrounds the show, as more than 350 inventors
from 20 countries around the world gathered under one roof
in hopes of getting their product on store shelves or featured
on a live shopping show.
The show featured innovations
ranging from an upside-down Christmas tree, to new power tool
and fitness ideas, to a love-detection collar for pets.
INPEX is also where amateur
inventors get chosen and invited to participate in ERA’s
annual Invention Showcase. The association launched the show
in 1999 to provide inventors with a safe forum to understand
the invention process and see firsthand how to turn their
dreams into a marketable reality and to bring new products
and ideas to ERA member companies.
For the fifth consecutive
year, ERA hosted a product review panel to qualify products
for its 2006 Invention Showcase to be held September 10-12
in Las Vegas. The panel was comprised of six ERA members representing
all segments of the multichannel marketing and direct response
industry, from catalog to DRTV to Internet to call centers.
Industry experts included: Collette Liantonio, president,
Concepts TV Productions Inc.; Karen Hyman, president, Live
Link TV; Bridget Corish, director of business development,
Livemercial Inc.; Tami Cubel, vice president of client development,
InPulse Response Group; Wendi Cooper, CEO, C Spot Run Productions,
LLC; and Curtis Clarke, vice president of Catalog Solutions
Inc. Each panelist brought a unique perspective to the panel
and represented years of direct response knowledge and experience.
Over 50 inventors with products
geared toward the direct-to-consumer industry presented their
ideas and innovations in the hopes of pre-qualifying for this
year's Showcase. Products ranging from things that make you
go to those that made you ask yourself "now why didn't
I think of that?" Were auditioned; the panel invited
more than 30 inventors to exhibit in Vegas.
As our industry becomes increasingly
more sophisticated and focused on the big brand Fortune 500
companies, it's thrilling to see the high-level of entrepreneurship
entering the direct response world says Concepts TV Productions;
Collette Liantonio. Its exciting to see the American Dream
in action and to have the opportunity to recognize the next
great breakthrough that is destined to make our lives better.
This year's inventors are
no doubt hoping to duplicate the success of one of last year's
Invention Showcase winner, Carrie Jeske. Her invention, Sports
Shade, a portable awning that can be attached to a fixed object
to provide shade and cover during summertime recreational
activities, was recently featured live on QVC and is available
for sale on its website.
As the long day ended, marking
another successful partnership with INPEX, ERA and Invention
Showcase Task Force chair, Wendy Cooper, commented, "Every
year it is such a joy to be able to give back to the people
who make our industry thrive—the inventors. It's so
refreshing to see how ERA’s Invention Showcase has grown,
how ERA members have stayed committed, and how our efforts
with the support of everyone at INPEX provide exactly what
we set out to do: provide a safe forum where education meets
opportunity. And it's thrilling to see the high-level of entrepreneurship
entering the direct response world.
Collette Liantonio,
Concepts TV Productions Inc.
Information about ERA & Invention Showcase, including a list
of past winners, is available at www.americaninventiveness.org.
|
