Recalls, Recalls…as far as the eye can see.

Sorry to be “off the blog” for so long…turns out a second baby can be a real time drain! (but in a good way!)

I’ve been thinking about all of these product recalls, lately though.  Naturally — everything is made in China and (big surprise) its all turning out to be crap.  Well, not all of it…but a lot of it.  And a lot of it is stuff that babies and kids use (like Thomas trains, bibs, toys…)

This is interesting for me as I’ve been working to develop a product and struggled with manufacturing overseas.  It was daunting at first (as in, how the hell do you find someone to make your product in China?) and so uncertain (as in, would I get quality merchandise or just a bunch of crap?)

Well, if people like Mattel and the Thomas folks are running into all sorts of problems then what does that mean for the rest of us?  The little guy?  The person who is just trying to get their product manufactured and (maybe) turn a decent profit.

I’ve said all along that I was most interested in putting something out there that was a QUALITY PRODUCT.  So maybe I don’t know all of the formulas and margins and all of that for making a (decent) profit, but I’d much rather have something that I was proud to sell and that (frankly) was manufactured in the USA.  Maybe someday down the line I’ll have to look at overseas manufacturing but right now I like supporting local businesses and I know they are sneaking any lead paint into the mats.

And so it goes.  It will be interesting to see how this shakes out.  My guess is there are many more recalls to come, so stay tuned.

Today’s Baby O’Blog quote:  “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”  Henry Ford.

Mothers of Invention Challenge

Today Mom Inventors and Good Morning America revealed the three finalists for their 3rd annual Mothers of Invention Challenge.

If you’re interested, you have until midnight TONIGHT (5/12) to vote.  The winner will be revealed tomorrow (Mother’s Day.)  Here’s the link:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=3160236

At least this year I didn’t see anything that had previously been invented (which was not the case last year.  Oops!  Was that a product that’s already been on the market for years?)  I was surprised they chose two “kitchen” items, though.  Not to unduly influence anyone, but I thought the chopping board was the best of the three. 

Feel free to post a comment and let me know what you thought!

I also need to follow up on that Staples contest and see who won.  OH!  And the Whirlpool contest is off and running again; I’ll try to post something about that as well for those who are interested.

Good luck to the three contestants on this year’s Mothers of Invention Challenge!

Hey, a Newsletter!

About three weeks before the birth of our second child (if I’m lucky I have that long!) I had the brilliant idea to start an online newsletter.  Since folks are always asking me how things are going, I thought it would be a good way to keep folks informed.

Oh, and also to write a monthly column about my “take” on the whole product development thing. 

So anyway, if you’re interested in signing up you can visit the website and type in your email address:

 www.babyowencompany.com

Old newsletters are going to be archived there as well, so I guess it really depends on if you want to check back periodically or have the hottest news delivered to your inbox “as it happens!”

Either way, I’m happy to have a loyal readership!

So anyway I’m finding that this online newsletter thing is that its a little bit of work, but not too bad.  It might be LESS work for someone who comes from more of a computer background (the most technology I ever came into contact with in high school was an IBM typewriter), but generally I think I’m figuring it out (sort of like the product to market odyssey.)  Thanks for reading!

Today’s Baby O’Blog Quote:  “The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.”  George Bernard Shaw

Persistence Ain’t Easy

Well, I have a few updates on the invention/product development front.

Before I start, though, let me just say that I am so FRUSTRATED when I see products coming out that were launched AFTER I started all of my work on the sink mat.  Mostly I’m frustrated at myself…but frustrated all the same.

I think I might have mentioned that I lost (literally) 6 months with my initial designer/molder (what a nightmare.)  So that set me back.  I guess these delays aren’t entirely my fault, and I’m not sure what I could have done differently…but this has all been a great learning process for me.. ..so I guess I can’t complain.  (Well, I CAN complain, but I’m not sure it will do me much good.)
Anyway, fast forward (like, a year) and I FINALLY now have folks that seem to know what they are doing and are helping me, but it took forever to get here….and I’m still not “there” yet.

But I guess “here” is a good place to be, considering I was “nowhere” just a short time ago.

Anyway — a few updates: there was some movement on the patent application this week.  Apparently the patent examiner raised a few “objections” and questions which my patent attorney thinks can be overcome.  So we’ll file a response and see what happens.

And it took “just” 14 months for them to look at the application.  We filed AFTER this new “expedited” process (12 months) but still pretty quick when you figure some folks were waiting 3, 4 years on their applications.

Also — did I mention I’m thrilled with this new molder?  We had some sample runs, and are troubleshooting like crazy.  I love people who think/work like I do…let’s just GET IT DONE.

More soon!
Today’s Baby O’Blog Word:  PERSISTENCE!

It was the Best of Times…

Well, I’ve been in one of these slumps with the product development stuff (sorry to be so out of touch on the blog!)  Its hard when you’re working with people who don’t seem to share your urgency for trouble-shooting and getting things done.

I’ve decided that if I ever make it big with the sink mats that I’m going to devote a certain number of hours each week to helping other people get their product/s to market.  I had hoped to build a coalition of folks (contacts, etc.) that I could call on for help and advice, but so far — that hasn’t happened!

I can see now why so many “great ideas” just don’t make it to market.  Communication, product delays, missteps and various other unforseen problems knock a lot of people out early.  I just hope I’m not one of them!

Stay tuned!  And thanks for reading!

Lorraine

Today’s Baby O’Blog Quote: 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all doing direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.  Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.  English novelist (1812 – 1870)

Keeping it All Rollin’…

Working at home while also trying to launch a new product to market has been quite a challenge this past year.  Not only to have I have log the hours I need for my clients, I also have to find the time to call my mold maker, color guy, consultants, designers and all the other folks who help keep The Baby Owen Company moving forward.  (Although most days that’s really just me, I guess.)

I’ve found 4:30 is an optimal email/get work done time.  Yesterday, though, I worked from 3am-5:30am.  I’m beginning to miss (if only just a little) the regular work day.

But I think I’m happy doing what I’m doing.  Certainly I’m working more hours than ever, but at least they are my hours to keep (or not.)

As we approach 2007 I’ll tackle more topics of product development, as well as my daily struggles of working at home with TWO little ones to care for.  (YIKES.  Better set that alarm for 2:00 am….)

Happy Holidays, and a Restful New Year to All,

Lorraine

A (very long) Series of Unfortunate Events

…no, not Lemony Snicket – my (2 year) odyssey into the world of product development!

I can see why most “great ideas” never make it to market…its a heck of a lot of work. And when you are dealing with people who aren’t as commited to the project as you are, things can (and do!) move at an excrutiatingly slow pace.

Last year I lost 6 months (literally) on a molder who decided they weren’t doing custom injection molds anymore. Then it was a problem with the color…and now new issues with the mold that I’m trying to resolve….

…and on and on it goes.

I think I’m past the point of no return (although last week I considered cashing in my retirement fund, paying off the loans, and calling it quits.) But I decided to see this through, and if I sell just one sink mat I’ll have gone farther (or is it further?) than most.

If anyone out there is developing a product and wants my insight/help (such that it is) drop me a line. You don’t have to worry about your idea getting “stolen” (I think a lot of people worry about that) but in my experience its more about figuring out if you even HAVE an idea that would be worth “stealing” eventually.

And besides, I have my hands full. If I survive the baby sink mat I have at least two other products I want to get off the ground. More than enough to keep me busy with another long series of unfortunate events. At least this time I’ll be prepared.

…
Today’s Baby O’Blog Quote: “We are very concerned.” Violet Baudelaire, a memorable quote from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

The Cost of Product Development

I wish somebody had told me this BEFORE I started working on bringing my product idea to market, but apparently you are supposed to cost out your great idea before you even make a move.

I’ll have to go back and read the books I have on the subject, because I surely don’t remember reading anything about THIS.  But I’m told that many a good idea has been tossed in the dumpster because the numbers just wouldn’t add up.  Go figure.

(Literally: GO FIGURE.)

I guess you take your product idea and find out how much it will take to make it….everything from a mold (if it will be an injection molded part) to material to production runs to packaging.  If you can do it for an amount that will allow you to sell it for retail at 3 or 4 times the production cost, you have a winner.

If not, go back to the drawing board. (And of course figuring out the retail price point, or what the general consumer would actually PAY for your product is a whole ‘nother ball of wax.  But you could try to guess at a reasonable retail number and go from there….)

Of course, I went forward before “costing it out,” but I learned a lot along the way and am now working toward getting my production costs somewhere closer to where I need them to be.

For the next product, though, I’m going to do a lot more work ahead of time!  (Assuming I survive THIS product launch, that is!)

Today’s Baby O’Blog Quote: “While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially it is an impossibility.”  Lee DeForest, Radio pioneer. 

More on Mom Inventions

No question — lots of moms out there (and dads too, I hear) are coming up with lots of cool things for babies and kids.  I wonder, though, if a lot of these “new” products (including my own!) aren’t just re-inventions — or rather, a “new” take on an “old” product.

Some people may not even be aware that they are, in fact, ”re-inventing.”  As an example, about a year ago my mother and I were watching the “finals” of a nationally advertised mom invention contest.  As each of the finalists displayed her invention my mother turned to me and said, “I had one of those when you were kids; Tupperware made it.”

Yup,…..the world of “inventions” can be a tricky one. 

In fact, I could fill a blog and a half about going from idea to invention (or re-invention), to patent (or not), and then to market (or not!)  I’m learning that the hardest part isn’t the actual idea or even the production part (which is hard enough!) but rather the sales/marketing side of things.  Products don’t sell themselves (wouldn’t it be great if they did!?) so there is a lot to be learned on that front for all of us burgeoning (re?)inventors…

Today’s Baby O’Blog Thought: Be prepared to WORK HARD to bring a product to market.  It ‘aint easy!

Products to Market, Chickens to School

Owen has a Thomas the Tank Engine video (several actually); one of the stories is titled, “Chickens to School.”  I sort of like that one (I’ve only seen it about 1,000 times so I’m not ready to poke my eye out over it quite yet.)  The general premise is that Thomas is overly tired one day and screws up his station stops.  Instead of taking the children to school (you guessed it) he takes the chickens. 

My odyssey through the world of product development is sort of like Thomas and his chickens…..we started out in the general (right) direction, but somewhere along the line we got sidetracked.

I started with what (I thought) was a simple idea and said, “hey – I can do that!”  But hold on a minute missy — not so fast!  First you actually have to get people to HELP you.  You think you can do it yourself, but you can’t!  You need people who are actually equipped to make things and produce things and supply things and design things. 

Where is my guiding force, my Sir Topham Hatt?

Like Thomas, I’m continuing to puff along (mostly by myself, but occasionally a smart-aleck engine will offer not-so-helpful tips from the train yard.)  If I’m lucky, someone will throw me a line and before the week is out I’m usually back on the right train track.  But, man, its exhausting. 

Its actually not as dire as I’m making it sound, I guess.  But getting a chicken to market just takes such a looooong time.  Maybe I should take my product to school instead.  I bet the kids could help me.

Today’s Baby O’Blog Thought: If you need helping getting your product to school, or your chicken to market, email me! I at least promise to email you back, whether or not I can help.  Us chickens have to stick together!