Be first, be fast... (RT from RE:tied in Knots)

Inventing. Mugs 'R us.

http://retiedinknots.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/be-first-be-fast-stay-ahead-of.html

'First, kill all the lawyers'

http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/lets-kill-all-lawyers

Kidding:) OK, now I have your attention...

At the kind invitation of a small business support network locally, and having been encouraged by Dr. Vince Cable leads following an event here in Herefordshire recently, I have shared these thoughts as requested here. I hope the investment in time will be of value and pay off.

Vast amounts are being invested in all sorts of support; we simply need to ensure this is not just on process to please the awarders, or money to please awardees initially, but in deriving long term end results that please all, and deliver end benefit to the country.

"We would like to hear your views on these plans"
Mine are, of course, based only on personal, if not always great experience. However, we learn from mistakes, and if those I have experienced can help others then great. More selfishly, if a problem shared can see it reduced by collective experience and brainpower... even better.

First a general comment. Appreciating designations and parameters are of course as necessary as they are inevitable, under SME there is of course, a world of difference between a 249 staffed 'M' vs. a lone 'S'. But that latter of course can just as easily be where the ideas that need protecting emanate.

I'm not complaining, but it is a simple fact I merely ask be borne in mind by some who, perhaps enjoying experience more from larger enterprises, can forget that the person doing the looking and chasing and filing and researching may be the same one trying to create and sell and fill out the tax returns and week's end invoicing.

And while any professional input on IP may equally be a phonecall away, it may not, as can be, in-house and free, but with a hefty hourly charge attached.

This needs bearing in mind when asking for input on documents that can run to many pages. The small SME owner does not earn a salary or generate (immediate) income reading these, much as they can be helpful and warrant the investment. I was not aware, for instance, that we had in Baroness Wilcox a Minister for IP. One I may well be getting in touch with about special relationships with trading partners.

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/business-sme.pdf

This will provide them with the knowledge they need to identify the opportunities and risks that IP presents for their business and to seek further advice at the right point

I have, in my time, been lucky enough to enjoy many opportunities to learn more on the topic, and indeed benefit from the odd award (Fillip via our RDA a few years ago). On the whole these have been OK, but have tended to avoid, perhaps for fear of scaring folk off, the utter nightmare of the the long term costs simply on renewals, much less what happens in the case of a fight.

Also, with some recent, bitter experience, the apparently well known pitfalls of government level hurdles in some markets have not been highlighted.

* We are also considering further options to create new networks across the country to reach out to SMEs: first, working with the Local Enterprise Partnerships to offer tailored local advice to businesses in different regions and second stimulating the creation of business and IP advice networks across the UK.

This was mentioned by Dr. Cable and would be a good step forward.

* A new mentoring portal to provide a single, easy to use route to find experienced business mentors

As is this.

* too often they miss opportunities to maximise the potential return on their investment in innovation by failing to protect their ideas or intellectual property in ways which would help defend against competitors or generate revenue through licensing

Or... they do all by the book, and get screwed over by very dodgy national practices.

* identifying three broad areas of difficulty for SMEs:

1. The complexity of advice offerings;

2. A lack of strategic business advice;

3. The cost of IP management.

Yes, yes, and yes.

* In 2006, the Gowers Review estimated that, faced with an infringement claim, the cost of challenging a patent could be £750,000 even for a relatively straightforward case.

A one man band with a great idea... how is that kind of money even worth getting into?

This goes to the heart of ideals vs. realities, and routes folk get seduced down.
Chapter 1 Raising awareness and understanding of IP

Apologies, but much here is way too simplistic at practical levels. Is the intent vague box tickings on 'awareness' or helping resolve tangibles?

The Masterclass may go towards solving this, but who gets it and at what cost is unclear.

Helping business manage and exploit its IP
Dr. Cable mentioned the latter, and this is necessary and welcome. A core point was that few who are good at creating IP-worthy ideas may have the necessary skillsets alone to then develop and market them. A team is needed, and at least at government/NGO level, help in matchmaking complementing partners.

Strategic IP Audits

This looks more promising. I note the funding, but concerns again are inspired by what gets you launched and then left. £3000 is the cost of appealing (so far, I know) a silly objection from the Patent Office in just one market.

Improving access to IP advice

For many SMEs, and especially start ups when minimising costs is a priority, yes...

IP is often not seen as a critical factor, despite evidence that shows that those companies that effectively use their IP have a better chance of survival and growth

...and, not in my experience.

We are keen to hear from SMEs, their representative organisations and advisors operating in the IP space whether they feel that a directory of this sort would be helpful.

...couldn't hurt, but again is but the tip of what can become an iceberg.

I am pretty confident I have by my efforts and helpful pointing from others (Coventry & Aston Unis) found the right and best in their fields, but as a one man band the costs, especially when advice can often carry 'on your own head caveats', can be prohibitive.

My needs are twofold:

One involving advice higher up the strategic ladder of IPO, and matchmaking with much more usefully complementing talents in exploitation.

Integrating IP advice within public sector business support programmes
The following therefore look attractive:

* Access to high quality facilities by partnering with leading business incubators, science parks and Technology Innovation Centres;

• Advice on how to identify and protect intellectual property and copyright and develop strategies to commercially exploit IP and innovation;

• Specialist help to commercialise innovation and to build a culture of innovation within the business...... Cost? Consultancy? Commission? Duration?

• Fast track access to trusted sources of specialist advice and support such as the Technology Strategy Board and UKTI;

• Access to business and knowledge networks. ... can be a huge time drain if not channeled, with dangers of 'little knowledge' on top.

Things like this, and others http://www.bl.uk/bipc/dbandpubs/intpropres/index.html can be of value in complement (if sometimes, confusingly overlapping, if not competition), but the caution must be that folk are launched into a highly complex and hugely expensive money pit that often confronts one, too late, with some unenviable options having been seduced into investing in areas that are perhaps not the highest priority or indeed wisest.

Catapult Centres
The IPO will work together with the Technology Strategy Board to develop an SME engagement pack.

Of interest, if 'assisted' in engagement.

Local Enterprise Partnerships
These were mentioned by Dr. Cable and bases have been touched already.
Again, reading the summary, I caution against 'fund and forget' box tickers, or any 'awareness' that seduces with basic knowledge into areas where much more, and worse, can lurk.

Independent IP advisory service

capped price consultancy support to do so, potentially with a payment subsidy from the IPO.

I have several more ideas in the pipeline. The cost and experiences in IP management to date has placed a curb on my enthusiasm. Such an offering may at least help, especially if introduced into a more supportive network, and with luck, motivated (by mutual reward) 'team'. The key is knowing where you stand and with some reliability, from start to a few years down the line.

I am in a black hole without end in sight, that has blown all budgeting estimates into touch as unexpected costs and delays have appeared from nowhere.

Long term skills development
Entrepreneurs and innovators of the future
I'll repeat it again here: an entrepreneur is just an innovator whose idea has made a profit. And any fool can have a good idea. The trick is selling it. I am, currently, just a bloke who tinkers in his shed. No more; no less. That one idea has a global market value of billions and true green contributions is, currently, neither here nor there. Or that there are others on the prototype jig.

My current view is that the costs and effort and delay I have ploughed into conducting (what may have been a flawed) IP strategy could have been better invested in getting to market first, biggest, best and with most noise. And risk the copycat notion of being first to be second being left in my wake.

However, that is not always practical, for reasons of cost, scale, expertise, logistics, etc. Back to building the team. And to share the idea to create one, you need IP reassurance. Win-win... or lose-lose?

Future work on dispute resolution
No one wants to think of problems. But they do happen. Best to acknowledge, and allow for them.

For future efforts, I like the idea of an opinion service, which I was not until now aware of, as it seems a useful interim before hitting the costs of professional IP lawyers.

But, with bitter current experiences ringing in my ears, I note a couple of omissions:

1) Disputes at official, national level - what about help when countries start playing fast and loose? I have a 3rd appeal on a frivolous and vexatious objection where, it seems, only masses of money will break the jam... at which point no costs can be recouped. This also raises...

2) Disputes with professionals hired to advise or help. Who can assist if dropped in a mess, or left to resolve one by a paid (or even funded) consultant, especially if having been seduced down a path from which there is now no easy exit or retrace?

Now like I say, this is all based on personal experience.

But views were asked for, and I have tried to offer them, perhaps with value from the perspective of the very small SME innovator who has hit hurdles. Some of these comments may be borne of ignorance or naivete. That... is the point. Folk who create out of thin air often are not blessed with more down to earth legal or business minds more suited to today's structured markets and administrative disciplines.

********************************

Note:

In the course of the above, I added the links and sections below, with a view to addressing these also in this response.

But looking at documents of almost 200 pages, I think that this is best left to a separate, future review and share on my part.

Sighs of relief noted. If there is value to be gained (not sure my area of expertise in economics), I'll give it a shot.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/innovation/innovating-for-growth

Our Universities, Research Councils and businesses are national assets that form the foundation of the UK’s future competitiveness. However, if we are to realise our vision for the UK’s future we need to strengthen our innovative capability and encourage further investment in innovation.

The Government has already made clear its commitment to the UK knowledge base by maintaining the annual £4.6 billion budget for science and research programmes with £150 million each year supporting university-business interaction. Going further we intend to maximise the impact of our research base on economic growth and have committed an additional £495 million to Science Capital Investment projects since January 2011.

The Government is improving incentives for companies to innovate especially SMEs. In addition to our successful changes to the SME R&D Tax Credit we will invest an additional £75 million to support small business innovation including additional funding for Smart, grants that support SME research and development. We will implement a new innovation voucher programme enabling small businesses to engage with universities and the wider knowledge base. We will invest more in the Small Business Research Initiative helping more small businesses to win government contracts for their innovative products and services.

The Government is putting innovation and research at the heart of its growth agenda through greater investment and increased collaboration ensuring that the UK has a promising future. This is our Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth (PDF, 1.1 Mb) .

Economics Paper
Underpinning the BIS Innovation Strategy is an economic analysis that sets out the conceptual and empirical thinking behind the Strategy. It rests on three bodies of work and evidence: recent results from innovation economics, recent policy-related studies, and new innovation data. Both theory and evidence show that innovation is the central source of economic growth. But innovation is changing its scope and forms: across borders, across institutions, and in terms of its methods and processes. It is necessary to look at innovation as a system, in which different actors (universities, infrastructures, companies, and the public sector) collaborate directly and indirectly. Four primary policy challenges are identified: the need to facilitate knowledge flows, the need to maintain a high-grade knowledge infrastructure, the need to support business investment in conditions of uncertainty, and the need to build an innovating public sector. View the Economics paper: innovation and research strategy for growth (PDF, 2.4 Mb) .

Working with Devolved Administrations
Components of both innovation and research policy are devolved, but we will work closely with partner organisations in the Devolved Administrations to raise awareness, build capacity and ensure coherence. We will:

help build the innovative capacity of businesses throughout the UK;
increase take-up of the innovation advice and support services being funded and delivered through the various bodies and agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and
ensure coherence between the initiatives and investments being carried out in each of the Devolved Administrations with UK programmes and priorities, so as to maximise their reach and impact.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/innovation/docs/i/11-1387-innovation-and-research-strategy-for-growth.pdf
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/innovation/docs/e/11-1386-economics-innovation-and-research-strategy-for-growth.pdf

And the winner in this category is... from another category!

The life of the lone inventor can be, well, lonely.

But there are rewarding times. A nice piece of PR coverage, or a juicy award can perk one up and re-energise the efforts to get your baby 'out there'. And an award can lead to PR, or both, with a fair wind and the right person down the line to take note, it can mean things get escalated to a more productive level.

Maybe, even, revenue. Because of course, as the family wearily asks when I burst in with some great news, if the answer to 'can we eat it?' is no, the rewards are seldom immediate or tangible, other than down the line. Possibly.

So, with some highs and lows through bitter experience, I have tended of late to be a bit more circumspect, even with time, and especially where money is involved.

But if you are in a lull, with not much happening, it can be darn tempting to risk a roll of the dice to get things moving again. Even if you don't win you may place, and even if you don't place you may get under the gaze of a judge who sees merit (and has a mate), or simply lurk in the brochure where that perfect fit person may be idly glancing through.

So it was that I was flattered by a contact by a major packaging industry trade media editor getting back to me in response to the latest PR on the RE:tie (very positive consumer market research results), but also with a suggestion that I enter their transatlantic awards.

I was, I do confess, flattered, and even after discovering this invitation was, of course, to spend money entering, still tempted.

What clinched it was the categories.

Because there, amongst all the high-profile, mega-player stuff, was a diamond of opportunity gleaming in the prospecting pan.

------
http://www.beverageawards.com/pdf/criteria.pdf

Packaging
Best packaging for functional drinks
Best closure for functional drinks
Best functional drink label

------

However, when the press release and subsequent PR arrived post event, excitement turned to disappointment, and then confusion, and then something more.

Remembering there was really only one category of relevance, which I confirmed...

Me - This seems to be the only category of relevance: Best closure for functional drinks

...and had double confirmed:

Organisers - I would agree that this would be the best category for you to compete in.

Imagine how one feels that to find there not only is there no winner or finalists... the category doesn't seem to exist at all either!!!!!

On querying the missing entry, and mine in particular, I have had this reply:

'I have contacted Bill Bruce who was the chair of the judging panel to explain this, although he is currently in Washington DC at the moment he wanted to get back to you as soon as he could and has provided this statement for you:

'We received a very low number of entries in the closure category and in discussion with the judging panel it was decided to evaluate each entry against its particular criteria and then review the packaging entries to include closures.

As chair of the panel I can assure that full attention was given to each and every entry and that all outcomes were fairly decided. It is always unfortunate to have to revert to the position of 'the panel's decision is final' but in this case I consider this to be the correct decision for the competition.

The Junkk closure was featured for a long time during the awards presentation last night at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC and received a great deal of interest. It will further feature in the Awards Showcase magazine which will be included with the next issue of Beverage Innovation magazine. We will be very interested to follow this product when it is fully commercialised.''

Now, this really didn't quite answer my questions, or seem adequate in the circumstances, so I followed up:

'I very much appreciate you pursuing this so promptly.

I also appreciate Mr. Bruce taking the time to reply.

Whilst noting the positive aspects of the long feature and consequent interest during the evening, plus subsequent inclusion in the magazine(s), and interest in the product once commercialised... it's all nice but... not really the same as winning or being placed in an award for one's product in the specific category created and advertised, that was ideal to highlight it.

I just wondered if you and Claire [Editor] had any thoughts to share before I comment further.

Noting we are two cultures separated by a common language, it's possible that I have interpreted Mr. Bruce's statement in an Anglocentric manner that could have failed to appreciate the full scope of what he may have been trying to convey.'

Sadly, the exchange now seems to have stalled. Basically I am left with the notion that I entered in good faith, paid, and then less good faith kicked in thereafter. And it's all, like, tough, as 'judges' decision is final'?

Now, what to do? Especially as I seem out of pocket, out of luck, and out of my mind trusting any industry awards having had the exact same thing happen before!!!!

Why I did not kick up on that one more at the time I do not know. This time, I just might.

It's alive, I tell you... ALIVE!

Just opened the post and... ta-da!... fresh from the Junkk studio the latest RE:tie prototype from those lovely folk at JIIC. No, it's not quite a work of art ready to grace your love's finger, but they do lots of other nifty stuff too!

I have a good feeling about this one. Thanks to British Library Inventor in Residence & mentor Mark Sheahan of Squeezeopen it addresses some moulding issues at manufacture, and I think there is definite potential for getting support from the greater accessibility support market.

Seeing it 'in the flesh' and using it with my big paws, I now realise it could be even smaller and still work, hence saving plastic. And the slot could be narrower for a tighter sideways fit on the tie as it pulls through, but then again we could use some 'give' and more hole means less plastic.

Certainly some shavings for savings yet. But now it is time to look at a short run in the actual material. Anyone know of a moulder who does not demand first born but might accept pints of blood?

CATEGORY - RE:tie support info

Sorry, just using a bit of back-up space to start filing useful info to help the RE:tie efforts.

However, as most pertains to consumer attitudes to environment in their purchasing, especially with packaging, some may find it interesting too.

Daily Express -

Times - Hard-up shoppers abandon organic and fair trade goods

COMPANIES -

Times - New lease of life for the Co-op

RE:tie - Uses

A few business folk have dismissed the RE:tie as they can't think why anyone would use them.

How do I love thee, RE:tie, let me (and I rather suspect, nay hope, others' imaginations may add to the list) count the ways ....

Bag tie - (if you are being charged per bag, you'll want to fill it to the top. So you'll need a tie)
Bean canes -
Cable Tidy - no pix yet
Connector -
Sign-posting -
Supermarket baskets -
Wheel hubs -

ADDENDUM -

By happy coincidence, I already have come across the next batch, from nifty reuse site repurposeful (featured in links..RHS)

The RE:tie - a reminder

Some may be familiar with our RE:tie concept that we are trying to market.

It has been, is, and doubtless will be a roller-coaster ride, especially as we try and assault business whose main defence against the credit crunch is to hunker down and retreat behind comfort zones rather than aggressively reach out, seek and/or embrace new ideas and USPs to ride the wave, defend and even capture new markets.

Which can be frustrating.

All I can do is direct such folk at such as this: Shoppers: Green packaging is a purchase tiebreaker

I think this rather says it all.... no more, but no less than what we claim... and offer: a tie-breaker (that word is familiar)

I merely also note, in the piece and the bar chart, that the RE:tie ALSO adds to functionality in the ease of opening and reusability areas too.... to repeat... ON TOP. I could maintain that adds to perceived quality as well.

I also happen to believe that RE:tie can talk a language shoppers can and will understand, and much more than many current 'green' initiatives pumped out by the FMCG industry, laden with jargon.

'...packaging first needs to provide value by satisfying their comfort and convenience needs. Succeed there, and shoppers just might support your efforts at green packaging—and, the studies suggest, perhaps be willing to pay a little more for it.'

Packing 'em in

I just got back last night from a two-day trip to an intellectual property conference in Glasgow.

And it was one to which I had been invited to as a speaker. The roller-coaster ride that is RE:tie was and still is deemed to be an interesting study. And this time it was in the awesome, but imposing setting of the University's stunning Bute Hall.

Mostly pretty high-end legal stuff which was waaaay over my head, but some useful material which I'll share here for budding researchers and/or inventors. One of my points was that those who 'create' are often not that well served by the highly necessary complementary business aspects to get to sustainable models, and that is often down to not knowing about a lot that is in fact out there for free.

For instance, a speaker from the IPO shared these latest, and highly useful IP tools on their site:

Lambert Agreements - http://www.innovation.gov.uk/lambertagreements/

Gowers Review - http://www.ipo.gov.uk/licensingbooklet.pdf

Patent Licensing - http://www.ipo.gov.uk/licensingbooklet.pdf

IP Healthcheck - http://www.ipo.gov.uk/iphealthcheck - worth doing!

Meanwhile another speaker, from the British Library, shared this:

Business & IP Centre - http://www.bl.uk/bipc/

Plus the fact that they really do have an awful lot of information available that one might not realise is there to be had. For instance, I have been staring at a price of £1200 for a report on the packaging market for bottle caps, and wishing I could have a look. Seems that, via the Library, I may be able to just that! For nothing.

And then, in the course of some spirited discussion between podium and floor, I ended up with some key offers of direct help which I am hoping will prove highly valuable.

One little bit of Kismet was that the very day I spoke the news media were alive with top stories about packaging, and manufacturers and retailers were not coming out well and/or struggling to find and share solutions, and certainly few that would be deemed positive in a consumer sense.

As I was there I missed them, but have had a quick trawl to try and capture a few. They did not hurt my advocacy for Junkk.com or the cause of RE:tie, a redesign that turns grams of plastic from litter or landfill... to reuse.

Telegraph - 'Excessive' supermarket packaging is leading to higher council tax bills
Examples included Britvic saving 1,670 tons of plastic a year by redesigning Robinsons squash bottles
Telegraph - M&S bottom of packaging recycling list - Time for Plan, er... reuse?
Telegraph - There is a Plan B - with a link to a comment I made a while ago! One of ... two so far, even with the revisit.
Telegraph - Packaging 'sinks Marks & Spencer green bid' - Not a headline I fancy they will appreciate. To be fair, and the MSM seem hardly capable of this when a good headline beckons, the last para does suggest 'M&S disputed the research, which looked at 29 of their 5,500 products, and said 91 per cent of their food packaging could be recycled.' Might have been worth a follow-up to check? Or... moving on.
Telegraph - M&S worst supermarket in green report - Archive stuff, but when you end up bottom I guess that is what gets focused upon. Especially if you make some big claims that seem poorly borne out in fact.

Times - Supermarkets fail to shine in packaging study to find the greenest of them all - Interesting that they single out Waitrose instead. It is worth noting the first comment that councils, or rather the national policies, are by no means helping.

Indy - Pay packaging recycling costs, stores told - Just so's we're clear: when they pay... we pay.

Guardian - Supermarkets' excessive packaging exposed by survey - I'm surprised there was not more comment.

Packaging News - Supermarket 'excess packaging' report dismissed as "nonsense"
Packaging News - Retailers fight back as media storm erupts over 'excess packaging'
Packaging News - Soap Box: packaging's public image
Packaging News - The LGA's 'War on Waste': a response

An industry response that is, as might be expected.. 'robust'. But before we go all Mandy Rice Davis WeTWoST (Well, They Would Say That), read some of the responses. Not sure any MSM types did, especially on broadcast. Lots of emotive, and illogical, vox pops supported by often rather conveniently forgetful 'experts' with axes to grind and targets to meet. It IS all vastly more complex and serving the public ill to pretend otherwise.

'..a constructive debate about packaging in the media.'

Bless. When there are agendas to push, ratings to drive and targets to meet, I have long since given up on anything well researched and/or objective from the MSM, complicit at the hands of those who are happy to use their less than challenging reporting abilities to push press releases out as stories.

And I am a green campaigner!

My frustration lies in that all too often the cause of actual overall reductions (waste, emissions, etc... that I categorise under enviROI) is poorly served. Also there can be a highly negative, and damaging backlash if these 'messengers' have their messages shown to be poorly thought through or, worse, often more in the cause of their own self-interest.

Fool the public once, shame on you...

The ever worthwhile Almost Mrs. Average has a balanced, consumer-centric take... Recycling Blame

The public... is not daft.

Well, they asked

Tomorrow I head off to ECOpack at the NEC to try to get more support for the RE:tie.

This was timely.

Should packs promote social causes?

So long as the enviROI is positive, it's hard to fault any design for working towards a greater good.

Certainly we at Junkk.com try and advocate reuse at every turn, and facilitate it even if not intended.

But our greatest hope is for second uses that can be built-in, especially if they can be re-evolutionary to existing designs and hence impose little or no capital or material impositions, such as the RE:tie tamper evident security closure for example.

In addition to CSR, PR and marketing opportunities in their own right, such components can surely also provide many of the functions described and discussed above!?

PR COVERAGE - Nice little Fillip

The other day I was a speaker at an all-day event on the pros and cons of Intellectual Property protection.

It was promoted by Fillip, the organisation that has been very helpful and supportive with the RE:tie invention I am marketing.

Seems my adventures with RE:tie are deemed an entertaining example of the roller-coaster ride it can all represent. At least it got some nifty PR in the Birmingham Post, and major regional daily.

I also had a lot of good feedback from many present, which was encouraging, as we were talking hard-nosed types from the VC and associated worlds.

I feel like sharing an exchange I had with one kind soul who offered some good advice on dealing with money men, with my answers in reply putting it in the context of one from the more creative side of the equation.

One major drum I banged at the event was that too much resource was going into funding the making of things and not enough into complementing these efforts with sales. Inventors tend not to be great at Business Plans or pitching to boards packed with bean counters.

Note that (in big bold letters), they will not do everything for you and I’m afraid to say it takes a considerable and consistent time and energy commitment from the current management team to enable them to do their job.

Don't get me wrong. I will meet more than halfway. The more I do, the more I save... and make. Thing is, there is no management team... I'm it. Chief cook and bottle washer. I can do time and energy. What I can't become is something I am not. Too many suits so far seem to have a problem getting their heads round that. I need a team of complementing talents. Some consultant telling me what I need that I have already told 'em I know I need... er... no.
It will take longer and be more painful than you ever imagine at the start, but there is no magic bullet to either funding or a stronger management team.

It will take longer and be more painful than you ever imagine at the start, but there is no magic bullet to either funding or a stronger management team.

Length and pain noted. Been there, am still... got the T shirt. Robert the Bruce is my inspiration.

I understand where you are, I was in the same position, there was one of me, but if you don’t support them, it’s impossible for them to produce the resources you’ll need to take it to the next stage.

Finding, and clicking with the right guys is the mission. Intros like this one will help that happen.

No VC is going to even consider you without a solid plan.

Noted. But most I'd not be targeting. Their skill sets are inappropriate and while I need hard-nosed money men reigning me in, wannabe Dragon's Denners who have no vision of making the world better whilst making money are not either. Without folk who pluck ideas from the ether, guys like this are nothing. A joke about a one word business plan is funny to other suits, but cheap. What about the story of how they saw a product's potential and worked with the creator to make the plan perfect, if necessary using network contacts to complete the jigsaw. 'Computer says no' followed by 'try again, do better and come back when it's how I expect it' is not a mindset I'd want on my team, even if I could find a way of helping them deliver money I need to pay back with interest. I don't need money as such; I need talent and access... which does take money. It makes sense to have that role performed by a player on my team with a vested interest in long term success, not a vulture hovering above seeking a quick return.

You need the following pieces clearly worked out in your mind to pass on even before you approach anyone else–

The potential for the business, numbers (size of market not micro detail)
Sorted.

The routes to market
Sorted.

The licensing potential
Sorted.

Detailed current and IP road map
Sorted.

SWOT analysis – risks & threats, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses
Sorted.

Where you fit in and your future role
Sorted.

What skills you’re going to need to rent in the future
Sorted.

Exactly what do you want to do with the funds and how will it achieve the growth that will reward anyone coming in
Sorted.

Investors from what I hear rarely feel comfortable with one product companies

Noted. Not really a problem, because it's a design with license potential. See rapstrap. Plus I do have more second use ideas in mind. I need a hero to play off first. Then there is a whole raft of other inventions to come. I am at least smart enough to keep 'em tucked away until I can afford to protect them, and give all necessary resources to exploiting them. Being the guy behind the 'RE:tie' is a brand foundation I am building here.

And I think you need an idea of what will generate growth moving forward.

Those numbers exist, but already this is moving into areas I am not qualified to handle effectively. If a bridge is needed to interface with a VC, so be it. That's who I need to find to fight my corner. There is no point pitting me against a suit who expects me to fit into their mindset totally as it will end in tears.

I am here to make money by doing good. Not just for me, but all who hitch up. That means seeing the potential of what I am seeking to achieve and convincing me that they can make it happen as much as I need to convince them it's worth the effort. A way with P&L's and a swanky office and a client list means diddly. I seek added value, personality matching and end-benefit focus.

If you get the opportunity to pitch to any investors they want to see someone; extremely clear, passionate, focussed, with very defined aims. Don’t forget at our level, 90% of what they’re investing in is your ability to deliver, bring in the rest of the team and manage and motivate.

I am at the bringing in the rest of team stage. It seems my pitch has re-inspired a few to wish to help, with luck not for up front money but to share in the rewards.

My instinct is that you need at least one deal already in place to use as a platform.

Agree. Too many in this country are set on being first to be second. I get one and the dominoes will fall. It will give me great pleasure to charge those who could have had a much better deal a lot longer ago... anything I feel like.

Caan Do

Just watching James Caan, Dragon's Den entrepreneur, on the BBC News.

I do note that he has a book to sell, but he comes across as a rather charming bloke.

However, I do note major reference to a product he backed, called the 'Rapstrap', by another nice, lucky chap, Andrew Harsley. It is a cable tie variant. Using existing polyprop grade plastic and part-selling on eco-savings.

I think I need look into this. It's not like there is not a precedent.

We've been labelled!

You know how folk usually don't like being labelled?

Well, we have, and we could not be more thrilled!

Now I know I bang on about the actual use of a lot of 'green labelling' initiatives, especially to already overloaded and/confused consumers wandering down the aisles (is finding 75g of carbon in crisp pack enough to abandon the store and drive to the next town?), but how about a nifty bit of re:use ideas re:direction... on every pack? As with the recycling URL, Junkk.com is looking forward to enjoying pride of place (well, lurking) on the product ranges from Poundland.

And, until today, we knew not one thing about it, until this very nice email email arrived from a very nice chap: Neil Ballard, their Packaging & Design Manager -

"After meeting you (and being thoroughly inspired) at the Packaging Show at the NEC earlier this year, you will be pleased to know that we have now added your website address to over 600 lines of product that will be coming in to our business over the next few months (primarily Halloween and Christmas) and we will continue to do so to as many lines as possible. See attached example of how you have been integrated on to our own label packs. I hope this helps your cause and that your business/website grows exponentially!"

I actually thought it was a wind up at first, but having spoken to the man himself it looks like we have yet another, and highly significant addition to the cause... and, soon, we hope, database!

Early days, but we're looking forward to hooking up with them on all sorts of fun & games to help the consumer, the planet... and... by way of inspiring a few other businesses, our two companies' own bottom lines too!

Live... and sucking!

Recently I did a Dragon's Denny kind of effort. A Bristol-based media-business company posted a contest invite to pitch, and I decided to go for it with RE:tie.

Well, I ended up on the shortlist! But now you can see how I also managed not to win!

One thing you should bear in mind is the brief, and this one was a bit loose. I had presumed that it was about the idea of course, but mainly about the money. And I know VCs don't get out of bed for less than £1/2M. Hence we had to concoct a scheme whereby I could ask for that much money, justify how it would be spent... and how they, and we, would not only recoup our investment, but then really start coining it. As it turned out, what we came up with, while not the only option, made a lot of sense.

Shame they didn't want to hear about the money, then. I had us on £10k per day for the rest of our lives after just a year. Remember, this was billed as looking for unique new ideas that would be of interest to major investors. But they didn't ask how that would happen.

Not much I can say. They were coming from a very different mindset in about every way. I can't believe that being 'smart', meaning wearing a suit*, is still an issue in getting behind an idea, but there you go. They also, amazingly, almost all seemed amongst the few so far who plain didn't 'get' RE:tie. Funny how so many in business, and especially when one gets to the business of green, operate on the basis of 'Well, I wouldn't'. I'm sure they don't shop in Tescos either, but most folk do. At least they were pleasant, if a bit negative, though I would have wished for more constructive feedback. I got what they wouldn't do, but not much on what they would.

Still, we now have some edited footage and it will get an airing. So possibly worth doing still. Not sure what I would have done differently. But still a valuable opportunity.

Off now to scope the other contestants in companion to see where I went wrong:(

Addendum - There's a blog too. Now all I need to do is find my password!

*Suited and booted?

Interesting.

I could have come in a suit. I do have one. I made the decision not to (a 'Bench' over shirt is still 'smart casual' in my book, especially on a hot day). Poor call, evidently.

It was on a variety of grounds.

First up this was not a typical DD/VC/BA pitch.

As I recall the main aim was to seek a great idea. From all my years in the ad world, great ideas tended to come from folk who didn't see suits as the main point of a productive day. And in the theatre that is presentation, I suspect most of my clients would have been a tad thrown to find a wall of corporate grey drones trying to convince them how to engage with normal folk... teens, kids, Mums, silver surfers... with their messages.

Of course you are also selling a business idea, so it is optimal to have a guy on the team who the money men can identify with. No such option. My bad.

But it is still a worry that the veneer still seemed/s these days to matter more than the substance. I guess such as The Apprentice and most of the UK's government and corporate activities of late have shown how tops the results of this mindset are for the country's fortunes.

I came fully armed with numbers for my financial pitch, if they were required. But as the judges were not going there, this was irrelevant as, surely therefore, was the need to look the part for this aspect?

We all make judgements, on various bases, so I guess dress can serve a function in this.

For my part, I am selling what I know and who I am trying to reach with what I create, and how I understand and identify with them.

Hence the critique from one judge 'Why would I want to do this?' was not a concern: I doubt a free piece of plastic that can save pennies (and planet) would make much difference to a suited and booted finance whizz. But I can understand why packaging for champagne bottles would. More his 'zone' I guess. Oh, did I mention that we had estimated payback of investment within a year, and then £10k per day from then on?

But it is a two-way street. I also need to work with these guys, and have confidence that they 'get' my concept, see its potential and where I am coming from. Makes working together fun... and profitable.

So long as they can prove to me we're on the same page, have a clear vision and strategy to achieve our objectives, I could care less if they were sitting in shorts and a flip flop.

Actually perhaps dress also more appropriate for a late-teen oriented design innovation festival, held in a converted ex-disco in a dirty room with stained windows, if you think about it.

So yes, If I am presenting to a VC in a corporate office or a retail board there will be a suit... if no tie. But I will have a guy in full Armani with me who will be. Here... it wasn't necessary or relevant to the task at hand or the brief I had.

Don't know if you agree on the last bit, but glad you might on the rest.

Story telling

Good news to be had here: Wrappers' delight

However, I am not so sure this is the best description of a publicly-funded quango: (Wrap), a private company that helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more.

And, while true, whether this description of how our money gets spent tells the whole story: 'Lots of major brand owners are becoming converts to this,' Skelton says. He cites Heinz, which has created new lightweight can lids'

IDEA - cut-price RE:tie

Here.

An "A-B-C-D Approach to Making Better Products" - a report

The Greening of Design, from A to D

I wonder if I should have used such as this when developing the RE:tie?

Seriously.

48 pages. Wow.

I used to present logos by holding 'em up and saying 'Here it is'. Then I got wise and added the document with all the blurb on the why, who, where... etc. The latter seemed to get a better hit rate, and oddly no one ever asked if the consumer would ever be issued with this information as the delivery van zipped by.

It seems a shame that in this day and age that, without a lot of process, product is now seldom going to be the driver, no matter how pertinent.

Wouldn't it be nice to get back, at least a little, to the old aircraft designers' adage that 'if it looks right; it'll fly right'.

I'm easily excited

And I feel like ending the day on a high.

Here's the latest RE:tie prototype, courtesy of the nice folk at the Jewellery Innovation Centre at BCU who are helping us with of product development.

This is not an evolution, but merely another alternative design, which we found was necessary to help our marketing following some feedback at the Caps & Closures Show, where a few nice production-type gurus suggested the flatter block orientation would work better in many hoppers and fast-moving lines. It's also less 'radical', so consumers will 'get' it as it's pretty much what they are used to... only with a hole. Hey, like I say... it didn't hurt the Polo mint.

OK, not so great as a chat up line, but we still like it lots! And as the first model is now getting noticed, and appreciated, as it does the rounds of some brands and retailers, here's hoping these new lovelies will keep the ball rolling in the right way!

Just fill out these forms, Mr. Edison...

Exhibition of Inventions: Where crackpot meets genius

It seems so long ago...

I wonder which I was (still am?) last year when I won a Gold Medal (with Jury Congrats)* at the same event.

Even when your 'ideas' are quite down to earth, practical and may even stand a chance of making money as well as 'things better', you do tend to face a steep slope.

But James Dyson is right, the system doesn't make it easy once you start on the journey up, as Jeremy Clarkson also agrees on another page of this edition. Even before you really start, at events such as this.

Because I also recall funding every aspect of my trip by virtue of being English. Meanwhile over the way the lovely, helpful (to me, too.. ta, boyos) chaps on the Welsh Development Agency stand were basking in all the benefits of well-coordinated (and funded) efforts to support and sell both innovation and the consequently valuable IP.

* Check the green RE:tie to see with what.

Times - Time to save the world again, lads

I got my Engineering degree a few years after Brunel, and on the strict understanding that I didn't use it to make anything. I figured this didn't apply to inventing some stuff, which was lucky, as it is how I came to win a Gold Medal at The Geneva Inventions Show mentioned in the complementary InGear Gizmo article to this. It was nice, but hasn't made life too much easier.

I wish I was young enough** to be eligible to catch James Dyson's eye, as the the system doesn't make it easy at any age once you start on the journey to market.

Because I also recall funding every aspect of my trip by virtue of being English. Meanwhile over the way the lovely, helpful (to me, too.. ta, boyos) chaps on the Welsh Development Agency stand were basking in all the benefits of well-coordinated (and funded) efforts to support and sell both innovation and the consequently valuable IP.

I wonder if the Yanks may fancy it? Don't know how they stack up in the originality stakes, but they sure know how to make an idea not only work, but also some money.

**Maybe I could lie about my age? Nah... that wouldn't be legal. And anyway as readers of this blog will gather from my adventures to date, it's only certain folk who can have ideas or need help with 'em, apparently.

2nd Use in Action!

Just had in the latest consumer-inspiring creative from those jolly recycling chaps.

Fortunately, it has arrived just as I am preparing my speech for the forthcoming ECOPACK conference on the topic of, well, amongst other things: 'Giving your plastic bottles the chance of becoming something else.

Only... perhaps with a bit more Junkk.com end-benefit and a little RE:tie twist to top it off.

Nice to see the big bucks comm budgets cranking out those award-winners.

A game of two halves

I nick, and probably mis-requote the original, but it kind of sums up my day.

Mostly, I was in Birmingham, and using some mental athletics I soon hope to turn to the common good with a program addition to Junkk.com and/or tripsplitters, managed to combine two meetings.

The latter, from which I have just returned, was my first tentative step into the hairy world of Venture Capitalists and Business Angels. As I say... a step. It was not with anyone with whom I might end up working or is going to introduce me to all the right FMCG folk or wads of wonga, but rather a broker. Very nice chap, who gave me a fair and considered hearing. Thing is, I really had no idea how it went. I may never hear again (which I doubt, but it won't be the first time), or I may find myself on another roller-coaster. Quite disconcerting. There was so much I wanted to share and to ask, but it was just the pertinent facts, little reaction or feedback... and then wait for the call.

In contrast, my first appointment was a very different affair. I was meeting the Technical Manager and crew of the Jewellery Innovation Centre, part of Birmingham City University.

The purpose was to see what they could do for me to help with selling RE:tie, by way of prototyping.

I was there for a few hours, and had a ball. We toured every nook and cranny of the facility, and they have toys and skills you would not believe, to make just about anything out of just about anything. And they are keen to help if you qualify and the idea seems fun.

There were big boxes that housed lasers that burned away. And little boxes with inkjet layered powders that built up. The one that really blew me away was a hi-tech version of an ancient Chinese ivory carving craft whereby a lattice ball is created within another lattice ball. Only this fellow was a ball within a ball... times 6! They had things in metal, things in aluminium and things in plastic. From 40cm cubed down to the size of a pinhead, with angels dancing upon it... and a logo stencilled on their tushies.

What was quite funny, and I guess interesting, was when they showed me a tray of stunning creations (try a sailing ship with full rigging... the size of a fingernail), and the one I zeroed in on was a gorgeous structure composed of rows of rods, which I thought would make a stunning piece of stationery ware. Turns out it was a waste mould and was to be thrown out! I think they understood where my reuse mind was at once this happened.

Of course we went off topic and roamed all manner of other things they could do for the inventive mind, and I was keen to repay the commitment with anything I could offer in return.
Links all round and features at the show stand to start!

Because it's all looking good. They don't see any problem making not just a prototype but a fairly large number of demo pieces of the RE:tie for the March show. A few design challenges to sort out, but from the patent drawings through CAD-CAM to an on bottle-top mock-up or score.... to not just claim what RE:tie can do, but show it doing it to those who will hopefully be an audience with an imagination and chequebook to match.

Here's hoping.

It's just interesting that when it comes to these aspects I was in my element, but when it came to the related, necessary and highly complementary issues of taking business I go from being a Orca doing flips above the ocean to a beached whale gasping on the shore. So now, more than ever, I need that all too missing piece to my commercial structure. With luck, if this finance guy sees merit I may be en route, but I honestly have no reading.

But here's hoping.