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My question is: Did they bother to get patents? It sounded to me like Suzy Batiz just jumped in with both feet once she had the formula, bottles, manufacturer... Give the gal credit. Well done!! And she said she profited from what she read on the forums. I agree. I really do think we help one another with info.
I remember Guy Kawaski writing somewhere that the only one who'll be impressed with your patent is your mom. If deep-pocketed, big companies copy your product, lots of luck hiring legal teams to fight them. I think only the bad PR they'd get for trouncing a little guy would give them pause. And maybe I'm naive....
It seems to me that going after mom & pop gift shops where customers go in & browse & chat with the owners was really a smart move. I can see where Poo-Pourri would need some explaining. I've been thinking I should pitch my gardening tool to hospital gift shops where folks also go in & browse & are looking for something bright & cheerful to give as a gift. And with gardening being the #1 leisure-time activity, according to some surveys, what better gift to make someone want to get well & get back to gardening. What do you all think?
I'm wondering how much Suzy spent working 20+ trade shows. She did say she started to make money with her first order. So perhaps the first orders covered what she'd spent on the first trade show? With it snowballing from there as the written orders covered up-coming shows?
Boy could we learn a lot from her. But now she probably won't have time for posting. Damn.
Suzy Batiz, your story is prompting me to get on the phone tomorrow to hospitals around the U.S. to pitch WEDGIE. Thanks for the inspiration!
Edited by: Cookie - Jun. 12 2008 at 7:57 PMCookie -- Inventor of WEDGIE, the container gardener's favorite planting tool -- The Best Gardening Tool www.wedgie.biz
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