Lambert & Lambert Blog

2012 PGA Merchandise Show Preview

2012-01-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

The annual PGA Merchandise Show will be held on January 25 - 28, 2012 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

The show has a long and entrepreneurial history, dating back to 1954, where industry professionals gathered in parking lots to showcase their new equipment. This year, there will be over 1000 vendors representing a myriad of divisions within the golf industry. Ranging from start-up companies, Axis 2 Angle™ Golf, to industry titans, such as Titleist, there is a compendium of exhibitors both new and familiar for attendees to experience.

The show kicks off with the 10^thannual Demo Day on Wednesday, January 25. Just like the name suggests, the Demo Day offers participants a chance to test new equipment from top Golf companies like Ping, Calloway, and Taylor Made. The Demo Day will take place at Orlando’s Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge. Attendees can do more than test out the new putters, drivers, irons, balls, shafts, and grips. Clubfitting, scoring clinics and instructional aides are also available for testing. However, the morning session is limited to PGA professionals and media only and the afternoon session is open for PGA professionals, media members and industry professionals.

Among the many highlights of the merchandise show is the unveiling of new products such as equipment, apparel, teaching aids, travel accessories, and club management. The show has already revealed three new featured products in this year’s show. The first is the 2012 BB Putter Series by Bettinardi Golf. Bettinardi Golf has been producing One-Piece milled putters since 1991 and has been used by the likes of Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, and Jesper Parnevik.

Standard Golf Company will feature their new line of customized flags. Each flag is embedded with maximum UV resistant material, which protects against the color fading of the flag. The consumer has two choices of fabrics, a white heavy-weave polyester textile, which feels like cotton and a nylon-like tight-weave polyester textile flag. To order, simply email your artwork to the email address provided on their website.

Lastly, The SkyCaddie® will also be featured at merchandise show. The SkyCaddie® is a series of wireless rangefinders helping golfers map distances and view layouts of different holes and the course as a whole. The SkyCaddie® not only maps yardages to the hole, but also to layup points, hazards, and various targets on the green for different shot selection purposes.

In addition to the many products and companies highlighted at the show, there are many learning and networking opportunities available for attendees. According to the FAQ page on the show’s website, there will be at least 70 educational seminars presented by notable figures from both the PGA and AGM (Association of Golf Merchandisers). Other attractions that worth checking out are the interactive exhibits, fashion gallery, special events such as concerts, various presentations, celebrity appearances, career fair, the new product center, and the chance for extensive professional networking.

For attendee registration and further detailed information about the show, visit the PGA Merchandise show website or you can follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Ben Hagen

Team Tesla

Common Pitfalls of the Invention Process

2012-01-11T13:06:00.000-08:00

Before we even jump into the list, Team Tesla needs to preface this post. We completely understand that inventing and creating a new product from scratch can be a time-consuming and exhausting endeavor. We also recognize how deeply personal producing a new invention is and how emotionally (and sometimes financially) invested you naturally become in the process. That being said, this list is meant as a gentle reminder and informative piece to help bring to light certain aspects of your invention you may not have thought of, or possibly certain issues you have trouble even admitting to yourself. Our aim is to help point out possible flaws for the betterment of everyone's creative pursuits. In addition to that. . .

Let's just get this out of the way right now. Some of these suggestions may seem obvious to us, they may seem obvious to you, but they aren't obvious to everyone. We receive an astounding array of invention ideas that come through the Tesla Team laboratory (la-bore-a-tory), and through the high volume a pattern of pitfalls and mistakes has emerged.

Seek a Broad Audience (or more honest criticism)

It's a common phrase that we hear a lot around here, or some variation of it. "All my friends think it's great." "My neighbors said they would buy it." And possibly the most cringe-worthy, "my mom said it was a great idea." Before you get unduly riled up and start a round of fisticuffs, we are not calling your sweet mother a liar. However, successfully marketing a new invention and negotiating a licensing deal is strictly business. Large amounts of money are invested and many people's careers can be affected by the failure or success of a new product. Your invention is going to be placed under serious scrutiny before anyone is willing to invest in it to any significant degree. Because of this, initial opinions and constructive criticism for your product need to be wide-ranging and as objective as possible. The more input you get the better. This doesn't necessitate said input's incorporation into your product, but a range of perspectives is always beneficial. People have a tendency to surround themselves with like-minded people, creating at times an insulated environment both intellectually and creatively. Soliciting advice and opinions from friends and family is a fine start, and truly their support is important to your efforts. But it cannot be the end, because no one is going to be more critical than the person dropping thousands of dollars to make your idea a reality.

Don't Make It Personal (Very specific problems)

This is good advice for any inventor who is seriously considering or pursuing a licensing deal, either through an intermediary or on their own. Investing so much time and effort into a product naturally develops a bond with that piece of intellectual property, so criticisms aimed at your product need to be separated from your own ego. This isn't what we are referring to here, however. As so many people have said in so many ways (I like to attribute it to Daffy Duck), necessity is the mother of invention. The problem arises in the universality of the necessity. Case in point: my refrigerator in my apartment is too close to my kitchen counter. There is barely enough space for me to fit between the two to get to my bathroom. True story. Solution: I invent an automatically self-greasing belt to allow me to slip past. True, this belt may have other applications that can be used, but the essential problem with the product is that it is in response to a personal problem that is either isolated to my own experience or environment, or applies to an insignificantly small population of renters. To be sure, there is something to be said for being an advocate for your own product and expanding the opportunities for its use. It's an essential part of successfully marketing yourself and your product, however, it is important to keep a perspective on the practical scope of your invention's usefulness and how applicable it really is to your target audience.

Don't Overthink It (complicated solutions for simple problems)

This and the previous piece of advice are somewhat related, in that they both have to do with becoming insulated inside your own creativity and thought processes. Honestly, this can also be one of the harder mistakes to avoid, simply because it often has to do with whether or not your solution to a problem is even necessary. It's entirely a judgment call, and not everyone will agree. Again, it's important to believe in your product, but it's also important to step back and honestly attempt to determine if your solution is far more complicated than any previous product, or if your product is superfluous next to traditional methods. I'm loathe to try and come up with an illustrative example lest I offend someone working on my made up product, but let's try anyway. Let's say I make a product that is a gripper which holds silverware while you wash it, and it also has a mirror so no one can startle you while you wash dishes. I have a provisional patent and a working prototype. The question now becomes, is anyone going to buy it? What portion of the consumer population needs a hand surrogate to hold silverware even though to use the gripper you need a fully functioning hand? Now that example is a little ridiculous (I am so sorry if you have one of these on your workbench), and going back through consumer products history shows quite a number of things which on their face just look pointless and stupid. And yet they were successful. It really is a subjective determination and everyone makes mistakes, but it remains an important aspect of product development to keep in mind. How necessary is it, or better yet, how necessary will the target consumer see it?

Fantasy Invention/Wish list

To some people this last entry may seem pretty obvious, to others ridiculous, but believe me, there are others that need to hear this. You need to actually have an invention to bring that invention to market. Let me elaborate. Not all inventions need a working, polished prototype. Design changes especially can and will happen during the course of product development. Issues will arise with efficiency, functionality, aesthetics, etc., but in the end something needs to be presented that you have developed to a degree that you know can be made and will work, and even how it will work. That last point especially is important. Which brings me back to the title of this entry. I use the terms "fantasy" and "wish list" for a very good reason. The kernel of a notion for something that would be revolutionary if it existed, is not in and of itself an invention. The most egregious offenders tend to be in the realm of advanced technology, and again, I'll attempt to use an exaggerated example. I have a fantastic idea, for a human teleportation machine, and it should be small enough to fit into your pocket so that you can carry it with you when you do want to walk around. The device will unfold into a little pad which will have preset destinations on it that are customizable, like a speed dial. It will also have a warning signal in case you are going to teleport to where someone else is already standing. There will also be an emergency setting that will detect fire or bad weather conditions that will then teleport you to a nearby hospital in case you need medical attention. Alright, I'm going to stop there. I've just listed a number of secondary features to a fantastical device, without once addressing the unimaginably complex issue of human teleportation. I suppose we can call this invention in the broadest sense of the term, but legally and financially speaking, I cannot claim credit for inventing the teleporter. If that were the case, there is a host of science fiction authors with the rights to almost every piece of technology we use today. Yes, it would be amazing if we had virtual reality simulation machines that projected video games to such a real extent that they were indistinguishable from real life, but how do you propose we do that? What would the software look like? How much processing power would that take? To sum it up, your invention needs to be more than a vague idea for something that you wish existed.

Inventing a successful commercial or technological product is a long, difficult and arduous journey, and we admire anyone willing to see it through. These entries are just a few of the challenges that inventors face, but we hope this discussion helps to point out how important it is to keep an open mind about your invention, to be willing to take a step back and look hard at your product, and above all to be realistic and push yourself to make a truly great invention.

Darin Faber

Team Tesla

2012 CES Preview

2012-01-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

The 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is kicking off next month at the Las Vegas Convention Center beginning January 10th through January 13th. The International CES is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), a trade association boasting over 2,000 member companies that works to promote industry growth in areas ranging from market research to technical training, industry promotion and business development.

Highlights

Microsoft draws down

Microsoft announced that this year's CES will be the last show that the company will contribute to in a significant capacity. Microsoft will be delivering a keynote address this year for the fourteenth and last time, also withdrawing their commitment to a large booth beyond 2012, although they will still maintain a small presence in future shows. Speculations have been flying regarding the reason, including Microsoft demanding a lock on future keynote addresses and withdrawing from the show in retaliation for being denied. However, Microsoft maintains that CES's schedule doesn't mesh well with Microsoft's product release schedule, which typically lands in the third quarter of the year. Microsoft's lackluster showing at this past year's CES consisted mostly of products either outside of mainstream electronics or products that were already on the market, supporting their reason for withdrawing from the show as a lack of return on the significant investment.

CES premieres app developer event

This year the 2012 CES will feature the first presentation of the Developer University, a venue dedicated to developers to showcase their apps, APIs, platforms and SDKs to colleagues and potential investors. The Developer University will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 12 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The event consists of consecutive 30 minute program presentations followed by a networking event for industry attendees. CES registration and an RSVP is required to attend this event.

Darin Faber

Team Tesla

ITC Ruling Against Motorola

2011-12-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

December 2011 - The International Trade Commission has issued an initial ruling in the patent dispute lodged against Motorola by Microsoft in October of 2010.

Microsoft has claimed that various Motorola products infringe on no less than nine patents currently held by Microsoft. In their initial ruling, the ITC has isolated one of the nine patents cited in Microsoft's complaint, determining that Motorola infringed on four separate claims of U.S. Patent no. 6,370,566, which consists of designs and systems that generate group scheduling and meeting requests on mobile devices.

Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and General Counsel David Howard issued a statement saying, "We are pleased with the ITC's initial determination finding Motorola violated four claims of a Microsoft patent. As Samsung, HTC, Acer and other companies have recognized, respecting others' intellectual property through licensing is the right path forward."

Recently the ITC issued an import ban on HTC products that it found to have infringed on patents currently held by Apple, and may choose to institute a similar ban on Motorola. Despite this, Motorola's General Counsel Scott Offer has stated, "We view it as a huge win" because Microsoft is "down to one patent."

Among the Motorola products potentially affected by this ruling are the Motorola Droid, Atrix and Xoom, and the total number as reported by Microsoft itself stands at eighteen altogether. The ITC is expected to issue a final ruling after more review by the end of April, 2012.

Darin Faber

Team Tesla

Buzzwords Inventors Should Stop Using

2011-12-14T13:28:00.000-08:00

Inventors, like many others in the IP and product development industries, use buzzwords or clichéd phrases when presenting their product to a company or consumers. As a result of using buzzwords, some have become stale from their overuse or are just used incorrectly. Listed below are five words and phrases that inventors want to avoid using when describing their invention:

Revolutionary – Inventors want to avoid using this word, in any form, at all costs. Few inventions can be considered revolutionary, especially in present time. The cotton gin, printing press, personal computer, assembly line. These inventions were revolutionary, because they transformed the each of their industries conducted their business. It is difficult to say whether a product or invention is truly revolutionary at its current time. It is with time that an invention’s impact can be shown and gain the desired ‘revolutionary’ moniker.

EZ – It is a catchy slogan to simplify ‘easy’ into ‘EZ’. However, when presenting your product to a company for a licensing agreement, it is more beneficial to emphasize the qualities of your product than relying on a catchy slogan.

Million or Billion Dollar Industry – While it may be accurate when inventors say that an industry generates millions or billions of dollars in revenue per year, it is a gross generalization. Inventors should refrain from claiming that an industry produces a specific number of dollars, without citing a market research study. If an inventor just throws out a number to gain interest in his or her invention, it comes off as hyperbole, rather than a sound investment in a growing market.

Everyone will want one – This is a gross overstatement and a palatable generalization that every single consumer in a market will buy a product. There are multiple products in each industry that can accomplish the same solution. The goal of the product developer should be to identify the weaknesses in the current market and create a product that efficiently outperforms its competition. That doesn’t mean that every consumer will buy that single product due to brand loyalty, homemade devices, packaging, name recognition, performance, etc.

Everyone who has seen it, loves it – Sample Size. Sample size. Sample size. When discussing who has used and reviewed a new product, inventors need to be careful on who uses and how many people. The smaller the sample size, the more room for error in the feedback received. One other thing to keep in mind is that if the only feedback an inventor receives is from their family and/or friends, their reviews may not be the best gauge as to the licensability of the product. Those reviews come with a favorable bias.

Inventors and product developers are understandably excited about their product. They often try to sell a product seeker on the invention using phrases and clichéd buzzwords that deter interest from their product, most of the time unknowingly. To receive the best response when showcasing an invention, the product developer needs only to describe the invention and show, specifically, how it is a better product than those on the market.

Ben Hagen

Team Tesla

Product Review: The Bender Ball

2011-12-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Today we are reviewing the Bender Ball™ and Bender Method ™ by Leslee Bender, distributed by Savvier, LLC. This abdominal exercise program retails for around $19.99, although I was able to find it online for around $13, and at its cheapest $6. This program was developed by Leslee Bender, a trainer certified by both the American College of Sports Medicine as well as the National Academy of Sports Medicine with 25 years of experience. Overall I found the program to be effective and the core principles to be sound, however, I was underwhelmed by a number of ways in which the product is presented. Let's dig in.

The Bender Ball™ and Bender Method™

Inside your newly acquired Bender system you will find a deflated Bender Ball™, an instructional pamphlet, a small package containing two plugs and two inflation straws, and three instructional DVD's. I also found a small plastic ribbon not connected to anything and with no discernible use, and I suspect that this might be the real secret to getting toned, sexy abs. I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime, back to the ball!

Now, if you have no idea what a balloon is or are completely in the dark as to this new-fangled concept of "inflation", you'll appreciate that both the first DVD and the instruction pamphlet tells you how to inflate your new Bender Ball™. I realize consumer products need to cover all their bases, but in addition to issues which we'll discuss later, it seems like unnecessary padding in an already short instructional DVD. Thankfully that's all the equipment you need, so let's get to the videos.

Instructional DVDs: Core Training, Selective Core Training, and Strong Healthy Back

As I've said, this first video instructs you on how to inflate your Bender Ball™, as well as introduce you to Leslee Bender and some of the basic principles behind her program. Probably the most important are the program's focus on extension and flexion. I originally doubted whether or not flexion was a word, and had my suspicions that it was lifted from a game of Dungeons&Dragons™, but it actually does refer to the act of reducing the angle of a joint. Fine, but we're keeping an eye on you Leslee.

Flexion: Authors Interpretation

Most of the first DVD consists of basic abdominal exercises with the added twist of utilizing the Bender Ball™, either positioned under your lower back or between your legs as a stabilizer and resistance for your inner thighs. The second DVD begins to focus on various abdominal areas individually, providing a wider range of movements to strengthen specific areas. The third DVD is presented as a lower back workout, and as a great way to help you with all your important daily activities, like carrying children and groceries. Really? That's it?

"Thanks Bender Ball™!"

It also borrows some movements and exercises from the previous video. While it is true that repetition is a necessary part of any good exercise program, it causes the perceived value of the entire package to take a hit. The three DVDs are 18 minutes, 16 minutes and 30 minutes respectively. However, the overlap between the second and third cuts your effective purchased content down to around 54 minutes instead of 64 minutes. Throw in the inspirational chatter, intros, jokes and the unnecessary section on inflation and you've probably cut off another 10-15 minutes. That's only 40 minutes of quality exercise instruction spread out over three DVD's for the price of $20. There are additional instructional videos, but they are sold separately. "But. . .but what about the fabulous Bender Ball™?", you say, "That's what makes this program so special." Well, yes and no.

The core of the product is certainly the execution of abdominal exercises in conjunction with the Bender Ball™. But let's face it, the Bender Ball is a rubber ball, you could buy one for a dollar at Walmart, and it doesn't have to be an eye-numbingly noxious shade of green.

Future fitness instructor

The real value that your money is paying for is the guided ab exercises by a trained fitness instructor. Leslee Bender's program incorporates a kind of isotonic exercise, meaning the ball acts as a supportive fulcrum which allows a constant amount of tension to remain in your abdominal muscles. Unlike sit-ups or crunches, which involve going from no resistance to full resistance in the span of a repetition(which can be difficult for beginners), the Bender system maintains consistent tension. It also encourages correct form and puts the focus of your exertions where they belong, mainly on your abs, rather than pulling on your neck or swinging your legs. As with other exercise balls, core tension is created just through the act of remaining balanced on the ball, but unlike larger exercise balls, the Bender Ball™ allows for a decent range of difficulty scaling depending on your fitness level. It also maintains the core tension benefit without the ungainly size of larger balls and the possible embarrassing fall from the larger balls as well. In addition, by providing a smaller fulcrum positioned at the lower back, you are able to increase the amount of extension further than you would with large exercise balls. In this respect, the inclusion of the Bender Ball™ and its demonstrated uses works well. The packaging states it works 408% better, which is non-sensical. Why 408%? Why not just 400%? Who is going to notice that extra 8%? How would any normal consumer be able to test this? You know what, let's just move on.

The fact that I would prefer to use the Bender Ball™ over a regular large exercise ball is what makes some of the video content so frustrating. Throughout the DVD's, I would say conservatively 50% of the time the Bender Ball™ is used, it's pretty unnecessary. This adds to that aforementioned fact that the bender ball is no modern engineering marvel, but rather an inflated piece of plastic available. . .well anywhere. All too often the Bender Ball is either resting next to the people in the video or just being held while they are exercising. As if the real program here is an elaborate subjugation agenda by a race of sentient balls. I wouldn't harp on this quite so much if the phrase "Bender Ball" wasn't so prominently advertised as the purpose of buying this product. It's a shame it isn't utilized more, as it does stand as an improvement over other equipment-based abdominal workouts. Let's review:

Pros:

1. Customizable difficulty levels

2. Simple hardware, just a ball you blow up with a straw and your mouth

3. The exercises, while applying consistent resistance to abdominal muscles such that you can definitely feel it working, are almost zero-impact and low intensity. They can be done by a wide range of fitness levels. This program definitely showcases Leslee's background in pilates, slower low impact movements for strength and exercise at a lower intensity.

4. Balancing on the ball and having it provide a fulcrum and support for your back reduces many of the injury causing errors that can occur during regular ab exercises. It becomes unnecessary to pull yourself up by your neck, curve your back, or use your legs/arms for swinging momentum like so many of us do when we start to get tired.

Cons:

1. The advertised Bender Ball™ is mostly unnecessary, as you could take your 2 year old niece's toy away and use that, but it comes with the DVD's, which is what you are actually paying for.

2. The total run time for all the DVD's adds about to approximately 64 minutes, with additional DVD's being sold separately. I'm not entirely sure why the DVD's are broken up into 3 separate discs, considering the longest one is no more than 30 minutes, and as we have said, actual exercise content is even less than that.

3. While being billed as a main component of the program, the Bender Ball™ spends too much time on the sidelines or in unnecessary positions.

All in all, the driving concept behind the Bender Method™ is solid, and has been developed by a professional trainer. The exercises are effective, and I believe the addition of the smaller ball is an improvement. It is just disappointing that the content seems so minimal and piece-meal across so many videos. The program could be beneficial to those on the lower end of fitness or who would like a less intense, lower impact ab program.

Darin Faber

Team Tesla

US Patent and Trademark Supplemental Appropriations Act

2010-08-13T12:00:00.002-07:00

President Barack Obama signed the United States Patent and Trademark Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 into law on August 10, 2010. This legislation was signed into law a mere 14 days after it was introduced to Congress. It was sponsored by Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV1).

The Act gives an additional $129 million to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to spend in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. The USPTO projects that it will collect nearly $200 million more than its FY 2010 appropriation of $1.887 billion.

This additional funding will allow the USPTO and its director, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office David Kappos, to continue to improve the efficiency of both the USPTO and the patenting process.

The president said on July 12, when he requested Congress to provide the USPTO with these funds “the money would support efforts to reduce backlogs in processing patent applications-by spurring innovation and reforming the US Patent and Trademark to make them more effective.”

According to the USPTO website, the total average time for patent pendency is 35 months and the total average time for trademark pendency is 13.5 months. This additional funding will greatly help the efforts of the USPTO in becoming more efficient while being thorough.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

US Patent and Trademark Supplemental Appropriations Act

2010-08-13T12:00:00.001-07:00

Lambert & Lambert Hits Major Trade Shows Representing Inventions

2010-01-28T09:41:00.000-08:00

St. Paul, Minn. January 28 – It’s trade show season in the licensing arena. There have been eight major shows throughout the past month of January alone, including the Int. Consumer Electronics Show and PGA Merchandising Show. Four big ones are being held in February, and six more in the three months following. A more complete list of these trade shows can be found at www.lambertinvent.com/tradeshows.php.

Trade show season is one of the busy and exciting times of year here at Lambert & Lambert, our teams sparing no effort in pitching products effectively and personally establishing meaningful connections that will eventually lead to a successful licensing deal. L&L teams had a strong presence at the January expos and will be attending the shows in coming months as well, focusing on promoting our clients’ new products and uncovering new licensing opportunities.

For those seeking a license deal, trade shows provide a great opportunity for networking, acquiring sales leads and getting current industry information. They are also excellent venues for finding well-positioned licensees. The essential purpose of the trade show is to provide an exhibition for companies to display their latest products and services, study those of their competitors, and to examine recent trends or opportunities. They are also a considerable marketing investment for companies, often requiring significant expenses including rent, design and construction of the displays, travel costs, representative accommodations, promotional literature and items to give attendees, and so on. Consequently, companies at major trade shows are usually key players in the industry, making these expos a prime hunting ground for finding potential licensees.

Some companies offer to promote new products with worthless unsolicited mailings. At L&L, a large part of our service is personally representing our clients' devices at expos and making professional presentations with the reps and executives of various companies in product-relevant markets. After all, in starting a business relationship, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting and a firm hand shake.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

Another Published Inventors Digest Article..."Never Call Yourself an 'Inventor'"

2009-12-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

St. Paul, Minn. December 23, 2009 – It’s that time of year again: Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, gift shopping, the spirit of joy and peace on earth, family gatherings and celebrations. The New Year is just around the corner, which also means New Year’s resolutions, and Inventor’s Digest will be featuring an article that inventors everywhere will want to be sure to incorporate into their entrepreneurial habits.

Making another appearance as an Inventor’s Digest contributor, L&L CEO Trevor Lambert will be featured in the 2010 January issue of the publication. This time he writes about a few aspects of how best to pitch a new product deal with a potential investor, in particular the danger of referring to yourself, the inventor, as just that – inventor.

Trevor explains that at most companies there exists a negative impression toward the term ‘inventor.’ Many in those circles seem to equate it with a ‘tinkerer’ or someone who has little or no knowledge of business operations, manufacturing, sales, or logistics. “In the eyes of potential licensees,” he writes, “rather than evoking images of Thomas Edison, ‘inventor’ is almost a derogatory term that insinuates a lack of professionalism. Unfair? Perhaps. Nevertheless, the stereotype exists.” He goes on to say, “Although a company’s reaction to the term won’t always be negative, it’s important to avoid pigeonholing yourself. Speak the same language as the people you will be pitching to. They do not use ‘inventor’ or ‘invention.’ Neither should you.” In business circles you are not an ‘inventor’ but an ‘engineer,’ ‘industrial designer,’ or ‘product developer’ and what you conceive is not an invention but a ‘product,’ ‘intellectual property,’ or ‘technology.’

According to Trevor, the best way to surmount this stereotype-barrier is to first recognize that it is a common misconception that one can form an idea, draw it on a napkin and simply find a company eager to offer a big royalty deal. “In the end,” he writes, “for your product to become a license success, the ‘inventor’ must become an ‘entrepreneur.’ Many people have ideas for products. However, to be successful with a licensing pitch, you have to view your product as a business.” An entrepreneur must place primary focus not only on sufficiently developing an efficacious invention but also professional and effective communication.

Trevor goes on to recommend market research and trade magazines as excellent ways to acquire a better understanding of an industry’s lingo and culture. Reading annual reports of publicly traded companies or online searches for articles where company executives are quoted are also helpful. The goal of these efforts is to become an expert in the fields which are relevant to your product and to communicate professionally with a potential licensee. “This way you will boost your credibility (and ultimately your likelihood of success) since you will be speaking like an industry insider…not just some ‘inventor.’"

Merry Christmas from everyone at Lambert & Lambert, Inc., and a Happy New Year to all...especially our inventors -- or rather, our product developers. ;)

Lambert & Lambert CEO, Trevor Lambert, Elected to the United Inventor’s Association Board of Directors

2009-12-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

December 02, 2009 -- As November draws to a close, we at Lambert & Lambert, Inc. certainly have much to be thankful for. The demand for innovative solutions remains strong and with the approach of the holidays, enthusiasm for new products and technologies becomes all the more intense. Despite challenging economic times there has been a good deal of positive change and advancement to be had among inventors and product developers.

Lambert & Lambert, Inc. is no exception. As mentioned earlier in the month, the SEMA and APPEX trade shows were prime opportunities for heightening awareness of the recently licensed Trailer Tilter and the Get-A-Grip products, both represented by L&L. Several auspicious new deals were negotiated and struck during the conferences as well. Coming almost immediately on the heels of those successes, the United Inventors Association recently announced that L&L CEO, Trevor Lambert, has been elected as a member of the UIA Board of Directors.

Founded in 1990, the UIA was formed as an organization dedicated to inventor education and support. Since then it has proven to be one of the forefront proponents for the interests of independent product developers. Working to provide relevant and current information, the UIA conducts annual certification reviews of its members’ policies and practices in order to better protect inventors from deceptive firms or businesses. Because of our earnest commitment to innovation and excellence, Lambert & Lambert Inc. has been a long-time Professional Member of the UIA, year after year exemplifying compliance with rigorous UIA professional and ethical standards.

This recognition comes as a welcome confirmation of the exceptional service Lambert & Lambert, Inc. offers to independent product developers. Inspired by a track record of licensing success, the L&L team eagerly continues its mission to commercialize new solutions and provide professional representation which pairs great products with well-positioned companies.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

Lambert & Lambert Attends SEMA and AAPEX - Newly Licensed Products Exhibited and New Products Pitched

2009-11-17T13:48:00.000-08:00

St. Paul, Minn. November 17, 2009 -- Last week Lambert & Lambert travelled to Las Vegas to represent current products and partake in the festivities of two of the premier automotive specialty products trade shows in the world, the SEMA and APPEX shows. Both trade shows were hosted in conjunction with AAIW, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.

SEMA, which stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association, held their annual trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center on November 3 – 6. The internationally renowned show attracted more than 100,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries to exhibit over 2,000 newly introduced parts, tools, and other products in the automotive, truck and SUV, and RV markets.

The AAPEX show, which is entitled the Automotive Aftermarket Product Expo, was also held in Las Vegas from November 3 – 5 at the Sands Expo Center. It featured over 132,000 automotive industry professionals from around the globe and was put on by Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers (AASA).

Two new products that were at the show were recently licensed by Lambert & Lambert within the past 4 months - they were the Trailer Tilter and the Get-A-Grip.

The patented Trailer Tilter was recently licensed to Convert-A-Ball and enables the user to insert the device into a standard 2” receiver hitch on a tow vehicle. After attaching the Trailer Tilter to the vehicle, the operator can attach a variety of Utility Trailers to the Trailer Tilter’s 2” ball. The operator can then raise the front of the Utility Trailer therefore lowering the rear to the operator’s desired level for loading equipment, cars, or other materials. The lowering of the rear of the Utility Trailer prevents the equipment from dragging on either the front or middle while loading. Once the equipment or material is loaded, the operator can lower the Trailer Tilter back down to its locking position and insert the locking pin for towing.

The Get-a-Grip Truck Bed Tool was also exhibited – recently licensed to Great Day by Lambert & Lambert. It is a multi-purpose truck tool which allows the user to efficiently load and unload a various items in different shapes and sizes from a truck bed. The Get-a-Grip contains a hook that lets the user grab on to heavy items with considerable ease. It also contains a retractable cable loop to loop around round objects. A user can also simply push boxes or other items into place when loading using the tool.

Numerous other automotive and tool products that Lambert & Lambert is currently representing were pitched at the show to companies that were strategically identified as suitable fits for the products. A deal was struck on a new pick-up truck product and the agreement is currently pending while many other license deals are at various levels of follow-up and negotiation since the show.

Lambert & Lambert’s active and professional approach at representing inventors and product developers (and the only major licensing agency that does it on a contingency) continues to make it the premier licensing agency for consumer products.

Inventor's Digest Publishes Article by Trevor Lambert, CEO

2009-10-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Saint Paul, Minn. October 9, 2009 -- Exciting news at Lambert & Lambert, Inc. Continuing on a path of recognized excellence in innovation, the licensing agency’s CEO, Trevor Lambert, makes a first-time appearance as a main contributor to this year’s October issue of Inventor’s Digest.

“The magazine for idea people” is the leading publication among the innovation community and aims to educate and inspire independent product developers in the tools and knowledge required for the success of new inventions in today’s market.

The article is entitled Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: Cautionary Tales for Inventors and it offers some guidance on what inventors ought to avoid when seeking a successful licensing deal for their intellectual property. Drawing on a decade of personal experience, Trevor presents a few stories that illustrate some common blunders that are often made when trying to market a new device, along with a bit of wisdom on how to correctly approach licensing endeavors.

After cautioning against the pitfalls of greed, arrogance and haste, Trevor hammers home the three P’s of licensing: “Remain positive, professional and patient and you can avoid the self-inflicted heartbreaks that can happen to inventors. This will ensure a relationship with the licensee is one of mutual respect and will pave the way for a successful deal.” His insights are certainly a worthwhile read for any aspiring inventor who hopes to emerge from the challenges of the licensing process with the envied crown of victory.

Summer has ended, winter is approaching, and fall finds Lambert & Lambert, Inc. more committed than ever to commercializing new products, representing our clients, and outperforming our competitors.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

Lambert & Lambert Announces Latest Invention Licensing Deal, the Easy-Carver(TM)

2009-01-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Invented by a florida-based inventor, the household kitchen product holds food safe and secure while cutting.

St. Paul, Minn. (PR NEWSWIRE) January 29, 2009 -- Lambert & Lambert, Inc., a licensing agency that represents inventors with unique and innovative new products, is proud to announce another successful licensing deal. The Easy-Carver(TM), a platter that holds food such as turkey, chicken and ham secure while cutting, was invented by Arthur Beloff, an independent inventor located in Florida, and licensed to KollerCraft, a Missouri-based plastic products manufacturer.

“For any inventor, this is what you hope for,” said Arthur Beloff. “I’ve been able to develop numerous inventions over the years; the main difficulty is getting them to the market. Lambert & Lambert did an excellent job licensing my invention, and now I look forward to working with KollerCraft.”

“We are thrilled to license Arthur’s patented product to KollerCraft,” said Trevor Lambert, the CEO of Lambert & Lambert. “It is always our goal to find innovative new products and license them to companies well positioned in the marketplace.”

Dennis Milford, the President of the Retail Products Division for KollerCraft said, "With decades of expertise in manufacturing products with distinct advantages for consumers, we are excited to add another innovative housewares product to our line-up at KollerCraft."

KollerCraft is currently developing the Easy-Carver(TM) and will be unveiling the product at the upcoming International Housewares Show in late March of 2009. This means that consumers will be able to purchase it later this year, but likely it will be more widely available in 2010.

For additional information on invention licensing or the Easy-Carver(TM) product, visit http://www.lambertinvent.com.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, Director of Customer Service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
http://www.lambertinvent.com

Lambert & Lambert Receives “A+” Rating from Better Business Bureau

2008-11-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

In the Better Business Bureau’s revised rating system, Lambert & Lambert earns the highest possible score.

St. Paul, Minnesota (PRWEB) November 23, 2008 -- Lambert & Lambert is proud to report that the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given Lambert & Lambert an “A+” rating. The A+ grade for Lambert & Lambert is the highest possible score to be given by the respected consumer advocacy group.

Trevor Lambert, the CEO of Lambert & Lambert said, “As a longtime member of the Better Business Bureau, Lambert & Lambert is dedicated to working with honesty and transparency with our customers. We are pleased that the Better Business Bureau has bestowed upon Lambert & Lambert their highest grade and we will continue to work hard for our customers to earn that score year-in-and-year-out.”

For years the grading scale, called the BBB Reliability Reports™, scored companies as either “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory.” The recent revision now scores companies in a more comprehensive letter grade that ranges from A+ to F.

The BBB’s website states that the “grades represent BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve any customer concerns.”

“The Better Business Bureau is a valuable tool for consumers to make purchase decisions,” said Trevor Lambert. “In the invention marketing and licensing industry, of which Lambert & Lambert is a major player, we hope that inventors and product developers will see this grade as further differentiation between our company and the competition.”

Lambert & Lambert works in commercializing new inventions and products. For more information visit their website at www.lambertinvent.com.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

Lambert & Lambert and Licensing Technology Network Sign Agency Agreement

2008-11-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

Inventors from South Africa now have local representation to get their invention commercialized in the US by Lambert & Lambert.

St. Paul, MN (PRWeb) November 20, 2008 -- Cape Town based Licensing Technology Network (LTN) has teamed up with US market leading invention marketing and licensing company, Lambert & Lambert, to showcase South African inventions in the lucrative US market.

The two companies signed an agency agreement whereby LTN will source promising inventions in South Africa on behalf of Lambert & Lambert. This stems from a successful license deal the two companies negotiated on behalf of a South African inventor earlier this year. The licensed product, an innovative new kitchen utensil, is expected to be available to consumers in late 2009. The inventor described this license deal as “Having a winning Lotto ticket that can only be cashed in 2010!”

Trevor Lambert, the CEO of Lambert & Lambert said, “We are very pleased to formally establish this relationship between Licensing Technology Network and Lambert & Lambert. I’ve been impressed with their ability to identify saleable products developed by inventors from South Africa.” Trevor went on to say, “As always, our one goal at Lambert & Lambert will be to place these inventions with industry leading companies so that our clients can realize significant royalty income.”

LTN will source and evaluate South African inventions, guide inventors on all commercial aspects and advise how the inventor can secure better protection for the invention. Lambert & Lambert will promote the selected inventions at applicable US trade shows to attract suitable consumer product licensees and handle negotiations. The inventor does not pay for this service and all parties benefit from the royalties on product sales throughout North America.

Innovative inventions or new products in numerous industries are currently sought by Lambert & Lambert and Licensing Technology Network. For more information visit their websites at www.lambertinvent.com or WWW.LTN.CO.ZA.

About LTN:
LTN is also the agents for Yet2.com in South Africa. Yet2.com is the world’s largest technology trading company with access to more than 500 international, including 250 Fortune 500 companies. For more information, contact Nicolas Lategan at NICOLAS@LTN.CO.ZA or visit us online at WWW.LTN.CO.ZA.

About Lambert & Lambert:
Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:
Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

Lambert & Lambert Licenses New EggShaper™ Invention

2008-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

The new household kitchen invention is a fun and easy way to make perfect eggs. Created by an independent inventor, the new invention is expected to be released by a California-based house wares company in the second quarter of 2009.

St. Paul, Minnesota (PR Newswire) November 19, 2008 -- Lambert & Lambert, Inc., a licensing agency that represents inventors with unique and innovative new products, has successfully licensed the EggShaper™ invention to Bexter7 LLC, a California-based house wares company. The new invention was developed by Paul Mkhonza, an inventor located in South Africa, who contracted with Lambert & Lambert to commercialize it in North America through licensing.

Trevor Lambert, the CEO of Lambert & Lambert said, “We are always looking for great new inventions to represent, no matter where they come from. The EggShaper™ was brought to us by our agent in South Africa (Licensing Technology Network) and immediately we fell in love with it.”

Getting products like the EggShaper™ to market is a common frustration experienced by inventors. However, by licensing their invention, meaning another company manufactures and sells the product, the inventor is paid on royalties and leverages the talent and connections of the company already in the business of selling products in that category.

“Manufacturing your own product is usually entirely unfeasible for the independent inventor due to the high costs and the learning curve required” Trevor said. “At Lambert & Lambert, our goal is to provide professional representation to pair a great invention with a company well positioned to commercialize and sell it in large volume.”

The licensee is currently developing the product and expects to release it in time for the International Housewares Show in late March of 2009. This means that consumers will be able to purchase it later that year, but likely it will be more widely available in 2010.

For additional information on how to license your invention, visit www.lambertinvent.com.

About Lambert & Lambert:

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based invention marketing and patent licensing firm that specializes in consumer products. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides services to inventors, product developers and small companies throughout the world and currently has products selling in numerous retailers.

Contact:

Tim Sherman, director of customer service
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.
Tel: 651-552-0080
www.lambertinvent.com

NEWS RELEASE - SEMA and AAPEX 2008

2008-11-04T12:19:00.001-08:00

The Lambert & Lambert team is headed to Las Vegas for the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) and AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) shows November 5-7, 2008. They are the biggest shows for the automotive market and Lambert & Lambert will be making pitches on several products in that category.

One product in particular, the Cutoff Tool, is currently in late stage negotiations with a multi-national conglomerate who wants the product for worldwide commercialization across several brands. Currently the product is under its third round of testing and is being sourced for definitive manufacturing costs.

There are several other products that Lambert & Lambert just recently signed as clients, and a great deal of product pitches will be made at both shows. Dan Fulford, Lambert & Lambert's Director of Sales mentioned, "Tradeshows are a critical tool in business development as we seek to establish an arrangement with a company well positioned to capitalize on our clients' products." He also added, "Even though we live in a highly technical world, nothing beats a face-to-face product pitch and a handshake."

Trevor Lambert, President for Lambert & Lambert echoed those comments saying, "In all things, business is a matter of personal relationships. Of course you need good products for there to be a successful license agreement achieved, but it has been our experience that personal contact is a vital component. Lambert & Lambert's philosophy is that by generating relationships with great companies looking for new products, we can achieve long term success for our clients."

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based licensing firm that focuses on consumer products in numerous industries. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides marketing, sales, and negotiation services to inventors throughout the world. Find out more at www.lambertinvent.com.

Lambert & Lambert - Election Day

2008-11-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

So the day that we have been counting down for 2 years is FINALLY upon us. I must admit, as a political junkie, I've been following this election closely and I'll be hosting another party to watch the results come in until the wee hours of the night.

I have only one comment on this day as it pertains to our core business - that of innovation. As an entrepreneur and a business owner, I am worried that the economy and innovation will be stifled should taxes be raised, which is almost a certainty with a threesome of Obama, Pilosi and Reed. Our country has always been the "land of opportunity" and if we continue to move toward larger government and higher taxes, innovators will have little incentive to work hard since uncle Sam will be taking more and more of the fruits of our labors. The spirit of innovation that has driven this country to be the best in the world is likely to be squelched, and we will become just like socialist Europe... on steady decline due to stagnant efforts in the area of innovation.

Just my thoughts,

Trevor Lambert, President
Lambert & Lambert, Inc.

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based licensing firm that focuses on consumer products in numerous industries. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides marketing, sales, and negotiation services to inventors throughout the world. Find out more at www.lambertinvent.com.

Lambert & Lambert - Patent Licensing

2008-11-04T10:52:00.001-08:00

Licensing could very well be the most lucrative way to make a living today. At its basics, licensing is the selling of intellectual property to a person or business that wishes to produce it for a profit. The intellectual property could be a patent, copyright, or an idea.

Actually, licensing got much of its start with Disney’s creation of Mickey Mouse some 80 years ago. As the character took off in popularity a businessman who wanted to put the character on 10,000 wooden pencil boxes paid for permission to do so. Thus, licensing was born. Since then, there has been all sorts of products with the Disney characters on them, from shirts to lunch boxes. In all of these items Disney receives a percent of the wholesale price of anything depicting its characters. They don’t need to manage all sorts of factories, worry about payroll to all of its employees, find distributors, nothing. After the manufacturer does all the work to make and sell the product, Disney receives a lion's share of sales. If this is not an argument for licensing, I don't know what is!

"But wouldn't I make more money if I manufactured it myself?"

The short answer is “yes”. But then reality hits. Handling the manufacturing either domestically or overseas requires a large investment of time and money. First you will need a rock-solid business plan, inventory financing and product liability insurance. You must work with engineers, industrial designers, sourcing agents and establish a sales and marketing team for distribution. Tooling can cost 10s of thousands of dollars and commonly exceeds $100,000 - and that is before you have manufactured or sold a single unit. Becoming a vendor to the large retail stores is extremely difficult especially if you only offer a single product, and if you do, you often don't get paid until 90 days later.

It is a tough road and very few ever become successful. But if you are willing to risk your home, car, and financial security and have the needed skills to manage a factory and make your product sell, I hope the best for you. It is an option and some people do succeed. Yet the main question for any investment ought to be, "How can I limit my risk as much as possible and maintain the greatest reward possible?" And I would suggest the best answer to this question is found in licensing.

"Will companies actually pay me for my invention?"

Not only will they pay you, but if your invention sells, they will pay you handsomely. There is a reason why these businessmen are where they are. They did not get to the top of a company through a lack of business sense. Rather, they understand that good business transactions reward those who make you money and increase the value of your stock.

So, if you make them a profit they are more than willing to compensate you. They have good reason to treat you well. Their sole business is to manufacture and distribute products that will sell, and since the market is changing so often, they are always in need of new ideas.

"Which company should I license my invention to?"

Picking the right company to license your invention is crucial in the first stages. Without knowing where to go you are destined to endlessly search in the wrong places. It is important to research the specific industry and markets to understand where your invention would sell and which company has a strong brand and the distribution channels to fully exploit your invention.

Be sure to avoid companies that manufacture a product on a job basis. They have no distribution channels and are quite expensive. To get your product on the shelves you still have to do all of the work of packaging, marketing, and distribution. There is a great financial risk in the beginning when working with these manufacturers since they require upfront money to produce your product on a per unit basis.

"What aspects of the licensing agreement should I be aware of?"

As we have always said, we seek to establish fair and lucrative deals for the inventors that we represent. But to do this there must be certain elements present in the licensing agreement. The following is a short list of some of these elements that you should be aware of.

1. Advance in royalty fees: For exclusive license agreements, it is very common that the licensee would pay an advance toward the first year's royalty.

2. Yearly minimum royalty or performance requirements: This is either a yearly minimum payment or a yearly unit volume that the licensee must hit to retain exclusivity. The amount usually gets larger every year to allow for the licensee to ramp-up and distribute your product. Also, it provides the inventor with assurance that the licensee will seek to develop your invention and not just let it sit dormant.

3. Insurance covering the inventor: This is an agreement that the licensee will, at their cost, buy an insurance policy covering the inventor for $1,000,000 in damages and send the inventor a certificate which shows that they are on the policy. Such a clause in the agreement provides protection for the inventor in the event that the invention causes harm or injury to those who use it.

4. Right to an audit: If the numbers do not seem accurate, we can arrange for an audit to be done by an accounting firm in order to determine if the royalty checks received were fairly distributed.

There is a great deal more information regarding the strategies and particular aspects of the licensing agreement that differs with each new innovation. Hopefully the above information has given you a good start.

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based licensing firm that focuses on consumer products in numerous industries. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides marketing, sales, and negotiation services to inventors throughout the world. Find out more at www.lambertinvent.com.

Lambert & Lambert Invent - New Blog

2008-11-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

To benefit inventors and independent product developers all over the world, I've decided to post a blog on our ongoing efforts of invention marketing and patent licensing performed by Lambert & Lambert, Inc. (www.lambertinvent.com). Stay tuned as we detail the joys and heartbreaks of commercializing our clients' inventions and feel free to contact our company if you have an invention that you need help with.

Lambert & Lambert is a contingency-fee based licensing firm that focuses on consumer products in numerous industries. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Lambert & Lambert provides marketing, sales, and negotiation services to inventors throughout the world. Find out more at www.lambertinvent.com.