Believe in your product, invest your time, money and effort into it and never give up, is advice George Foreman shared during his presentation at the recent InventHelp’s INPEX Trade Show held at the Monroeville Convention Center.
Referring to how the late heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali said and believed he was pretty, Foreman, a two-time heavyweight boxing champion said that inventors and entrepreneurs have to say and believe as strongly about their product. “You have to continuously show your product until someone believes enough in your vision and dream to invest in it.”
In addition to his boxing career, Foreman is well known as the pitchman for the line of George Foreman Grills and Meineke Car Care Centers. A partner of InventHelp, Foreman also has a line of environmentally safe cleaning products, a line of personal care products, a prescription shoe for diabetics to prevent amputations and is involved with UFood Grille, a restaurant franchise based out of Burlington, Mass.
In its 31st year INPEX, the Invention and New Product Exposition is considered by its conveners one of America’s largest invention trade shows which features inventions, new products and innovations. Based on past years, organizers expressed that over 1,000 inventions from over 20 countries are a part of the event. “Since our first show in 1984 INPEX has evolved to be more than just a traditional trade show,” said Nicole Lininger, INPEX director. “It has developed into a meeting place, a space to find support, share experiences and gather information between inventors.”
The INPEX Inventors Resource Center, she pointed out was available providing inventors the opportunity to meet one-on-one with experts in the fields of marketing, manufacturing, direct response television and intellectual property.
Large noted companies that conducted private product searches seeking new products, according to INPEX conveners included QVC, Brookstone, Cuisinart, Partsmaster, Allstar Products Group, Schroeder and Tremayne, Inc., Danco, RPG, Great Star Tools and Pitchman, Marc Gill.
From Butler, Pa., Willie F. Hobbs the inventor of Twist-n-Brush an all-in-one toothbrush/toothpaste that is specifically designed to benefit disabled and elderly people participated in the show with the goal to find a manufacturer. Patent pending, he said the brush, which is co-invented by a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Henry W. Ferguson, passes TSA requirements.
With the hopes to be like George Crum; the creator of the potato chip, Sarah E. Goode; inventor of the folding cabinet bed and Elijah McCoy inventor of the steam engine lubricator, all famous Black inventors, over 20 Black inventors participated in the three-day show with aspirations to gain notoriety, to establish relationships with potential distributors, manufacturers and venture capitalists or to establish a license or sales agreement.
Aside from hearing and the opportunity to meet Foreman, pitching their products and participating in a series of seminars, presentations and panel discussions conducted by officials from George Foreman Inventor’s University inventor’s, inventions and new products were qualified to compete in the INPEX International Invention Awards Program. Convention planners said entries were judged by an international jury with winners determined on the basis of usefulness, creativity and overall appeal. Winners received metals, trophies and cash prizes up to $7500.
Larry B. Carswell from Savannah, Ga. and the inventor of Mudder, a paddle winch won the 2016 International Grand Prix Award of a $7,500 cash prize and was declared Inventor and Invention of the Year at the INPEX awards ceremony. He also won first place gold medals for Innovative Excellence in the categories of Design (Technical), Engineering, Specialized Technology, and Recreation.
Excited and up to the challenge of getting his product on the market, Carswell said this was his first time attending and participating in the INPEX Show. He describes Mudder as a very unique and one-of-a-kind winch designed to make cable winches obsolete by eliminating the need for a cable. “Mudder’s self-contained winching system can free a stuck ATV or UTV without any assistance,” he said. Pointing out that it’s easy to install on any ATV without any changes to the current wiring systems being used today, he said the ATV rider simply pushes a button.
Carswell also explained that Mudder’s winch is battery operated so the ATV does not have to be running or operational at the time Mudder is used.
“Mudder can be operated by either a hand-held control or a remote control, which means one can walk ahead of the ATV and it will follow them, or they can sit on the ATV and let Mudder pull their ATV with them on it.”
Pleased with the opportunity of meeting George Foreman, Carswell said he also accomplished his goal of gaining interest from several big companies including licensing deals. After working on his product for three years he says investing and traveling to the area to participate in the INPEX show was well worth it.
Inventor E. Fitzmore Hughes of On Course Innovations based in New York was one of over 45 Gold Medal winners for new product categories including science, construction, environmental, design (technical), engineering, specialized technology, and recreation. His product the Rapid Slicer Dicer won the Award of Merit.
Hughes describes On Course Innovations as a company that takes a solution approach in designing its products. “My designs are bold and fresh,” he said. “The innovations aim to simplify life.” The Rapid Slicer Dicer he describes as a kitchen tool that slices and dices vegetables quickly and easily without touching; is easy to use, and the blades clip on and off for easy cleaning.
Several Black women inventions taking part in the show included Bottlesocks and Bags by Vanessa Hodges from Chesapeake, Va. The fabric insulated cover helps keep a water bottle colder longer. The Super Towel Draper by Mary Melvin from Hollywood, Fla. The item is described as a dual level draper providing full protection to clothing during shampooing and chemical treatments. Convertible Furniture, designed by Kenya Mortimer-Mckenzie from Nassau, Bahamas is considered a four-in-one bench, chaise, twin size and full size bed. Mortimer-Mckenzie’s invention won the Gold Medal Award during the INPEX Invention Show 2013.
Hobbs, also an artist and author said he enjoyed his experience at the INPEX Show. A U.S. Army veteran that considers his self a humanitarian says his goal is to help anybody struggling to lead a normal, happy life. The INPEX Show is aiding him in accomplishing his mission.
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