7 Secrets for Inventors from Mom Invented’s Tamara Monosoff

How many times have you said, “Someone ought to invent that…” or “That’s a great idea for a product”?

Maybe you’ve thought about inventing something yourself.

That’s what author/speaker/inventor Tamara Monosoff did several years ago when she discovered there was no product to prevent little kids from unrolling the toilet paper, so she invented the TP Saver™.  Now she presides over Mom Invented®, an enterprise that serves as a comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs and inventors.

Here, she shares what her top 7 tips are if you decide to take the plunge and invent that product you can’t get out of your head.

Don’t spend a penny until you do your research

She says you must invest the time and do your homework on the product you are thinking about before you spend any money. It will save you a ton of money and time down the road.

Be realistic about your expectations

Don’t rely on your new product to be a “get-rich-quick” endeavor but a true business in and of itself. Don’t think of it as a product; think of it as its own business entity.

Be wary of invention promotion companies

Monosoff writes that in her 8 years in this business, she has never heard of anyone having a positive experience with an invention promotion company. Many people have told her they spent thousands never to hear from the company again after their check went through.

Exhaustively search for your product elsewhere

Make absolutely sure your idea does not exist anywhere else. Her tips for a thorough search include:

• Check everywhere you can think of on the internet. Use different keywords for your search and consider a thesaurus for other ways to say what you are searching on.
• Check boutique stores in your neighborhood or metro area to see if something similar is available there.
• Check the appropriate section of the mid-sized chain stores in your area.
• Check the big-box stories near you such as Target, Walmart and Sears.
• Do a quick search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov) website before you pay your lawyer a lot of money to do this for you.

A patent is not required to get started

Monosoff says don’t wait for your patent. Get started now. Many times, your idea does not need a patent and you can certainly proceed even if you do.

Make a prototype

Even if it’s a rough design or made from household items, you can still test the functionality. If you need help beyond what you can do, hire a handyman/carpenter, an Industrial Design college student or an accomplished machinist. If you need an engineer’s help, Monosoff says to prepare with sketches and even a rudimentary design so you can communicate your needs effectively and not spend a lot of money on redesigns.

Don’t Wait

Do it today, she says. There are almost no new ideas anymore but there is a difference between thinking of something and actually inventing it. Get on it!

Please visit Monosoff’s website (www.mominventors.com) for all kinds of resource ideas and help and also check out all of her books  for incredible information too.