AbsolutelyNew Blog

Green with Envy from the International Pool Spa Patio Expo

  

The International Pool Spa Patio Expo just wrapped up in Las Vegas. Here are a few highlights from our very own Evelyn Salguero, who was there showing people some of our newest work… and looking for the best new items too:

Whereas last year’s Expo was rather pessimistic, with emphasis on vacationing at home and adding key features in order to maintain a home’s value in a declining real estate market, this year’s Expo was decidedly more positive. Could it be recovery is here, or near?

Energy saving aftermarket and maintenance products were all the rage. Many exhibitors brought solutions they said would reduce pool-related energy expenses and/or maintenance costs.

Also energy related, it was amusing to hear several exhibitors emphasize how adding a spa (aka: a hot tub) is the smart alternative to installing a larger swimming pool or adding an outdoor kitchen with all the trimmings.

What were the top trends?  Anything green, eco-friendly, or solar… far more so this year than last year. My favorite picks:

• Emotron Inc.’s Eco-Flow drive seems to dramatically reduce energy costs on pump consumption. So for people looking to improve rather than overhaul their pools, this looks like one great product to reduce costs over time.
  
• The BBQ Cleaner. If you are looking to make some extra cash, this is a “sizzling business opportunity” for you: it’s a system that safely removes grease, fat and carbon deposits that can build up over time on barbecues and grills. The idea is you drive this thing to people’s houses—it comes on wheels and attaches to the back of your car—and start cleaning up, literally and figuratively, at least during the warmer months (and football season in Green Bay, WI).
  
• Hidden Water Pool. This is SO cool—as the photos at the top of this post show, the floor of this pool raises and lowers at the push of a button, so you can adjust it to be at patio height, a kiddie pool, or a more standard 6-ft pool. It also uses less water and chemicals than traditional pools, making it environmentally friendly in addition to being just plain awesome.
  

A couple final notes: Retail buyers were definitely out in full force, and video poker proved far more fruitful than the blackjack tables several weeks ago (Click here to see Evelyn's notes from the early November SEMA auto show).

Notes from the SEMA Show

More than 100,000 auto industry leaders were in Las Vegas this week for the annual SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) tradeshow—it’s THE show for new automotive parts, components, tools, and accessories. One of those at this not-open-to-the-public show: our licensing guru Evelyn Salguero, who went to find, and show, inventive items. Here’s her dispatch direct from SEMA:

SEMA makes other tradeshows look like yard sales—whereas many tradeshows are made up of one small booth after another displaying small items on tabletops and shelves, SEMA’s the place to appreciate products put to use in and/or on classic cars (from hot rods to low riders to vintage Ferraris) and the latest rides (like trucks decked out with large flat screens and the sweetest chrome-coated cargo holds). Like you’d expect in Las Vegas, everything’s big, bold and bodacious.

Attendance this year was down compared to last year—some said it was off by as much as 30%—but it was also larger than had been expected. No matter what, I saw a wide array of buyers, manufacturers, shop owners, and others.

For aftermarket products, it looked like the crowds were most interested in three product categories: paint protection, GPS systems and alarm systems. Among them all, I was most impressed by:

• Gold Touch Inc.’s Cosmichrome® paint—it combines quality top coat and base coat in one so there’s no need to apply an expensive, additional top coat. This stuff makes any driver look like a plaaay-yah.
• Elite Auto Tune is a leading U.S. distributor of products for exotic and luxury cars. And they didn’t disappoint at SEMA—in fact, they came to town with some of the most innovative auto accessories of all. The Vario Plus Polar and Vario Plus Sky automotive “smart glass” offer privacy and security by fogging the glass with a touch of a remote control button. The demonstrator told me, ”You can change for the clubs with no one lookin’ in.” And when in Vegas….
• Someone’s got to be practical in Vegas, and the people from LLumar were leading the charge. The company's booth had people crowding around to check out its paint protecting film—film that essentially creates an invisible shield to protect against abrasions, nicks, scratches from insects, small road debris, and winter sand and salt.

Eco-friendly products are also still on the rise. It was cool to see Ford combine green with its muscle car past in showing off a beautiful 1934 Hot Rod with first rear-wheel-drive 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6. You can click here to check it out. It's also pictured with this post.

Overall a great show. The only negative was me losing at the black jack table… but there’s always next year!

Notes from the SuperZoo and World Market tradeshows

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. Case in point: our licensing pro Serena Soo recently returned from the SuperZoo pet industry and World Market furniture tradeshows in casino-ville… and she’s ready to dish on what see saw and what sparked buzz. Here are her highlights:

SuperZoo

- The two big trends at the Show: luxury products and advanced nutrition. We saw this last year, but it was all the more pronounced at this year's SuperZoo, with everything from designer pet bedding (because paw prints are sooooo 2008) to line after line of organic treats.

- We’re sad to say that the accessory pet movement continues. Nowhere was this more blatantly obvious than at the Bed Head / Tigi booth with its Pet Head fur dyes.

- Other inventive pet products that caught Serena’s eye:

• Fuzz-Butt’s Hugx pet feeding bowls (pictured above), which are uniquely angled so that pets’ tags won’t bump their bowls while eating and drinking--our dogs tell us this is really annoying. 
  
• On the fashion front, Swarovski crystal hair clips, leashes, collars “looked more like jewelry than pet products,” Serena says. And hotbows’ pet hair clips were so chic they practically had Serena panting (ok, not really, but we couldn’t resist saying it anyway). 
  
• Toys are always big for pets. Leader KONG this year introduced the very cool Zinger ring and launch stick. We think dogs will love how the ring rolls and hops, not unlike a rabbit, for hours of chasing and retrieving fun.
  
• BTW, good news for people with pet products: this show was packed with buyers looking for the latest & greatest for Fido, Fifi, Tweety, Nemo….
  

World Market

- This year’s Show, spread across 3 connected buildings and 5 million square feet of showroom space, was all about luxury (just like pets) and environmentally friendly materials.

- Sadly, distress in the housing market has cascaded down to the furniture industry—Serena saw this first-hand in several empty showrooms, and still others facing lots of buyers who were looking but unwilling to place orders.

- Despite the industry's difficulties, there were some clear standouts in the crowd:

• On the eco-friendly front, we saw showroom after showroom of bamboo and natural wood. But what really got us excited: Urbanwood’s wide range of cool new products using reclaimed wood 
  
• Lighting was big. Serena suspects people are putting off big-ticket furniture purchases but using new lamps and light fixtures to provide short-term room updates. An example of one exhibitor who clearly "got" this: Uttermost with its collections of reasonably priced goods.
  
• Kids furnishings too were generating much attention. Levels of Discovery furniture, for example, put forth a collection of cute, fun items that caught many a buyer’s attention.

Notes from the PGA Expo

Last week our licensing pro Evelyn Salguero strolled down Las Vegas’ famous Strip from the MAGIC fashion tradeshow (click here for the recap) to the PGA Fall Expo. This latter tradeshow isn’t nearly as big as the PGA’s main annual tradeshow each January in Orlando… but it still brings in golfing crowds for two primary reasons:

1. It often gives a sneak preview of the inventive products to come in January.

2. This is often the last opportunity for inventors and exhibitors to lock in retailers’ late holiday orders.

This year’s PGA Fall Expo also focused on using new selling approaches and new products to get through difficult times.

So with all this in mind, Evelyn hit the Show... and more than a few golf balls... in search of cool, new products and trends. Here’s what she observed:

• The Expo was packed with exhibitors promoting a range of products and services. Areas with the most innovation: golf clubs, golf-related games and training software.

• Ingenious products garnered the most attention among PGA members. Top attention-getters: the PivotPro training aid, which straps onto the foot to help train muscles for balanced swinging without bad swaying, and the Cross Sight stance assistant, which supports proper alignment and accuracy—this one was voted best new product at the Expo. And cashing in on the cute factor was Daphne’s Headcovers, the maker of hand puppet-like head covers that could turn any 6-year-old on to golf (Evelyn was downright giddy about the Pink Poodle cover).

• We think it’s a bit of an oxymoron to speak of golf fashion—sorry Tiger!—but “fashion” was front & center at the Expo. One example: famous designer Nicole Miller loaned her name to a line of fashion forward golf apparel and accessories for women.

Were you at the Expo too? If so, what caught your fancy?

Notes from the MAGIC Show

The MAGIC Marketplace Show took place last week in Vegas. And since this is THE tradeshow for all people and all things in the fashion industry—including some very inventive, patent-protected new clothing... as well as DJs, models and many a Bravo TV / Project Runway D-list celebrity—we wanted to be there too.

Here are a few observations and highlights from our very own Evelyn Salguero, who attended the Show with an eye towards new products and licensing opportunities:

- The show was packed—the busiest Evelyn’s seen in her seven years attending tradeshows. Better still, exhibitors were taking lots of orders from retailers.

- Looking across the many new products people were showing, we discerned a broadening of the trend towards casual but very cool and chic. You could see this in everything from the tattoo inspired garments from Ed Hardy and Glamour Kills to pop-tabloid star Jessica Simpson’s shoe collection to Tulle dresses. Evelyn’s top pick: the inventive Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, which are designed to give a little tummy tuck with style.  

- The men’s options were diverse but very masculine (could it be the whole “metrosexual” thing is over, at last?). Among the Show’s standouts: Rocawear for clothing with street cred and Tommy Hilfiger for the clean, conservative look. And Evelyn’s personal favorite: Uniform for the Dedicated, defying conformity with its own unique take on casual.

- Beyond the crowds, purchase orders and cool new products, it was refreshing to see an abundance of young entrepreneurs putting forth some very inspired “wears.” The next Ralph Lauren and/or Donna Karan could well be the kid next door—with a skateboard in hand and a head full of fashion audaciousness. Cool, isn’t it?

Notes from the NY International Gift Fair—Summer 2009

NYC right now is hot, hot, hot. Humid too. And while the news this week focused on a thunderstorm that totally decimated Central Park (more than 100 trees completely knocked down), we were down the road checking out inventive new stuff at the NY International Gift Fair. Here are a few highlights from one of our Licensing Managers, Evelyn Salguero:

1. Attendance every day far exceeded expectations… and the attendance numbers from the last big Gift Show in January. Better still, a large majority of attendees were manufacturers and retailers. And whereas six months ago attendees were mostly window shopping, this time around we saw lots of orders being placed—retailers replenishing low inventories and/or stocking up before the holidays. Needless to say, we took this as a positive sign.

2. The buzzword of the Show: “unique.” Of course, it’s expected that buyers come to these shows looking for unique new products, but it’s how they defined “unique” this time that was a little different. Specifically, within the Gift industry—a broad one that includes everything from clothing and accessories to jewelry and novelties—this meant appearing to be handmade, even when not actually handmade. When you think about it, this makes sense: just like restaurants are adding meatloaf and mac ‘n cheese to their menus, stores are looking for “comfort” items to ease people back during uncertain times.

3. A few of the standout items drawing crowds and attention:

• Banglz from FitnessUwear. These inventive designer bracelets make for a fashion statement and a workout—they’re available in a wide variety of styles, and weighted from ½ lb to 1 lb each. The creators like to say you can wear one alone or pile them on to get your arms in shape by New Years Eve.
• DayNa Decker Bath & Body’s luxury home fragrance products. The eco-friendly, animal-friendly products—from seemingly low-tech candles to highly innovative "essence moisturizers"—had buyers buzzing. Evelyn’s fave: the oh-so-fabulous Chandel (derived from chandelle, which is the French word for candle) with “EcoWood Wicks.” Also big on the fragrance front were Pooch-Pourri’s: essential oil-based deodorizers for use around pets.
• Areaware’s neon roller skate doorstop. Perhaps more an accessory than a real “invention,” but people were lining up to get a close look at these things. (Maybe it’s a NYC thing—Areaware is all about NYC designers).

Were you at this Show too? If so, what caught your attention?

Notes from the NACDS Marketplace

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) annual Marketplace Conference recently wrapped up in Boston. With buyers representing more than 145,000 store locations – including most of the big guys like Costco, Walmart, Safeway and CVS stores – it’s one of the top events for people selling into drug, food and mass retailers.

Now that our very own Serena Soo is back from the conference, here are key notes from the NACDS:

1. Packaging innovation is huge. From beauty products that can be applied from their packages in new ways to BPA-free plastics to UV-blocking vitamin bottles, everyone was focused on new packaging. Are you? Perhaps it’s not appropriate for your invention… but definitely keep in mind that how you deliver your product – to protect it and to showcase it – matters… and can add a ton of incremental consumer value.

2. “As Seen On TV” may be As Seen Everywhere. If you’ve been in a Walgreens lately, you know they’ve devoted a whole section of every store to infomercial fare like the Ped Egg and Bumpits Hair Volumizing Leave-in Inserts (try to say that three times fast). And these are often the #1 selling products in Walgreens stores. Others are now taking note, and all those As Seen on TV products are branching out further. Expect a bunch of them in your local drugstore, supermarket, and big box soon too, if they’re not already there.

3. The Show was abuzz with talk of a new consumer segment and related new consumer shopping behavior: the “conservative shopper,” who is more concerned about protecting their finances and thus acting with the motto “buy less and buy more carefully.” Many of the retailers attending NACDS are working to ensure that they better convey their value so that folks in this new segment will feel comfortable spending in their stores. This talk is also a helpful reminder that every inventor should be sure to convey the value his or her invention provides… especially when people are minding every dollar so carefully.

Just shy of networking

Invention success often requires networking with the movers & shakers in your particular product category or industry. We enjoy this.

For those who don’t, we found some helpful tips in a recent New York Times column, written for people who are more comfortable tinkering than talking about their creations. A few highlights:

1. Be you-ish. As you meet people, try to be more outgoing and sociable than you normally are. But don't push to an extreme because, if you’re shy by nature, trying to be the total extrovert will likely come off as artificial.
2. Be objective. Yes, you’re "networking." But really this is just business-speak for building relationships. So focus on the objective of building relationships with these people just like you would with others… and don’t feel you need to sell from the start – build that relationship first.
3. Be in the moment. Don’t fret about what to talk about with those people you’re just getting to know – talk about the present. For example, if you’re all at a conference, talk about something conference-related. If you’re at a tradeshow, discuss the tradeshow. This immediate common ground can be a very good ice-breaker.

You can click here to read the full article (free registration is required) with additional detail and tips.

Invention lessons from the National Hardware Show

The Show's wrapping up shortly. Before we start to dismantle our AbsolutelyNew booth and pack up all the cool new inventions we’ve showcased this year, we wanted to share a few key highlights, and lessons, from three days in the Las Vegas Convention Center:

Utility is big. At a time when some tradeshows are experiencing their own economic slowdowns, the National Hardware Show has been packed. Much of this can be explained by the fact that Tools & Hardware (and all the related categories like Lawn & Garden, Plumbing, Storage, etc) are necessities – not just nice-to-have items – for large numbers of building professionals and DIYers. The lesson: especially in times when money is tight, it will serve you well to make sure people see your invention as being indispensable.

Ladders & ShamWows galore. Across hundreds of thousands of feet of convention floor, we can’t walk a minute without seeing another company demonstrating its version of the Little Giant ladder or ShamWow. No joke – we’ve seen at least five booths showing their own version of that little orange shammy soaking up cola from a carpet. Too much of a good thing? We haven’t researched who has patents on what in these specific areas, but we do know retail buyers seem to be eating up these As Seen On TV hits. One of the key reasons is that these products and their benefits are highly demonstrative, making them perfect for 2-minute infomercials and tradeshows. The lesson: the more you can simply and effectively demonstrate your product, the more success you too may find.

Keep it concise. We saw lots of great products out there, including some very cool ones from independent inventors (kudos to the first-timers in the independent Inventor’s Spotlight section). Sadly, we also saw some inventors presenting so many features and benefits that nothing they presented stood out. Instead, we just got confused. Or overwhelmed by lots of small words in a booth. The lesson: like the demonstrations mentioned above, presenting your invention’s benefits in a very clear and concise way will help you stand out and shine. Saying too much, well, that’s no different than saying nothing at all.

BTW, are any of you tweeting on twitter? We thought about tweeting with tidbits from the Show… but thought we’d instead ask if you’re into it and then do it next time if helpful.

Notes from the International Housewares Show

The Show ended just minutes ago. So before we pack up our booth and fly home, we wanted to take a moment to share a few highlights while they're fresh on our minds. What we saw in chilly Chicago:

Green is gold... when seen. Everyone at the Show was trying to play up their greenness. Really—you couldn’t walk 10 feet without seeing signs proclaiming products and packages to be “green,” “eco-friendly,” and/or “sustainable.” The Housewares Association even put up its own special exhibit on green materials. None of this is surprising as everyone’s looking to cash in on the green trend; however, the effect of this is that many really cool green inventions got lost in the fray. If you’ve got a green invention, think about how you can get beyond the buzzwords and truly highlight why buyers should be clamoring for your green invention—if you don’t, don’t count on being seen... and seeing greenbacks come your way.

Snuggie wannabes galore. With TV ad rates down and several "As Seen On TV" products (think Snuggie, Aqua Globes, ShamWow, etc.) selling incredibly well, it seems like half the housewares industry wants to go the infomercial route. Thus we saw countless companies that are new to this space or claiming that they’re the leading company in this space in their country (Yes, someone really did tell us “I’m huge on TV in Serbia”), and we also met more than a few people who tried to convince us to partner with them and put our innovations on TV. The model seems to work especially well for products priced affordably under $20. We can’t wait to see more inventive products go this way… but we’re also curious how long the dynamic will last when the economy improves and TV ad rates go up.

Money-savers sell. We saw a lot of cool products this week (our fave: the Sodastream, which easily turns tap water into sparkling or soda water… and of course claims to be green too). But where were some of the biggest crowds? At the relatively mundane booths put up by folks like Wahl—the clippers people—and those 30 or so companies offering coffee and espresso makers. You see, as people look to save money, they’re starting to note all the small expenses that add up over time… so products that enable quality home haircuts and home coffee brewing are becoming increasingly popular (sorry Starbuck!). The lesson: if your invention can save people money, now’s the time to emphasize this point.

BTW, a quick shout out to the many inventors who visited our booth to say hello and see the latest AbsolutelyNew products. It was great to speak with you!