Davison-Designed Products Sold by Sears

As time goes on, Davison continues to rapidly add to its expanding list of retailers.  In August of 2011, only a few months after Davison announced that they had reached the 900-store milestone, Ross and Shop NBC were added to the list, bringing the total count of different stores that have carried Davison-designed products and packaging solutions to 1,000.  

“Setting our mission one day to have inventions in 1,000 stores would be like a school boy believing he would have a Super Bowl ring on his finger someday,”said founder and CEO George Davison.  “The light at the end of the tunnel was so far away, I didn’t know if we’d ever reach it.   We climbed that hill, and we’re smashing through 1,000 stores today!”

One of the retail outlets that have sold multiple Davison-designed products is Sears. Officially founded as Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1893, Sears began as a mail order catalog and opened its first stores in 1925. With over 2,248 locations as of 2010, Sears has established itself as a steady presence among multinational department stores.

Davison’s innovative RCV Leveler has been sold by Sears.  The product was conceptualized to solve the problem of ensuring that Recreational Vehicles (RVs) are level to make sure that refrigeration fluids flow the way they should. The other existing product at the time for leveling an RV required that the user take measurements from inside the RV.

In response to this issue, Davison developed the RV Leveler, a two-part product that enables the user to quickly and easily determine if the vehicle is level. The base communicates wirelessly via radio with a corresponding handheld device that operates even beyond 30 feet away. The simple LED display lets the user easily see where adjustments are needed: green for level and red for non-level. 

Another Davison-designed product to be sold by Sears is the Party Traveler. Initially developed by a client who came to Davison with her idea, the Party Traveler provides a neat and easy way to transport food.  Traditional methods, covering with plastic or foil, don’t always do a proper job of keeping the food inside protected. The initial design was inspired by deviled eggs, though once the client brought the idea to Davison, it was expanded, so that not only deviled eggs, but many other treats can be easily taken from house to event.

The Party Traveler includes a universal base, egg tray, cupcake/muffin tray, pie/cookie/cake tray, veggies/chips tray, and a tightly locking lid. The veggie, pie, and cookie trays rotate, and all of the trays stack neatly inside the unit so that everything can be stored easily in one place. Made of lightweight material, the Party Traveler can go anywhere, and the material is simple to clean.

The Trik Stik, another innovative product inspired by a Davison client, has also been sold by Sears. The Trik Stik is designed to provide extreme sports enthusiasts with an obstacle to jump. While there was an existing market with many items that provided the opportunity for skateboarders, skaters, and bike riders to jump ramps and rails, the Trik Stik offers an advantage that many others do not.

The Trik Stik’s design enables riders to adjust the height of the obstacle as their skill increases. The sticks can be positioned between ramps and rails or on their own. The two-piece design means that the arm moves out of the way if the rider does not jump high enough, and two models, the deluxe and standard version, give versatility to extreme sports enthusiasts looking for different things.

“The once unthinkable has happened — our products have now sold in 1,000 different stores. It’s an incredible day for the company and for all of us. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this mission of making dreams come true.”

A typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable. 

Strangest Inventions of 2010

Have you ever wondered what the strangest inventions are? Keep reading, and you will learn about some of the strangest inventions of 2010. Although quite odd, if you have the nerve to use any of these products in public, they may be useful.

The Baby Mop
The first one in this series was invented by a Japanese man, Kenji Kawakami. It’s called the Baby Mop. The Baby Mop is an unusual and bizarre invention. It is so odd that the inventor coined a word to classify it into a category; it’s called the Chindogu category. In fact, Kawakami founded the International Chindogu Society for unusually strange inventions. The criterion for membership is that the inventor’s creation be so ridiculous and useless, that the fact that it is real and practical is nearly forgotten.

The idea behind the Baby Mop is to get your floors mopped while keeping track of your child. The mop fibers protrude from the legs, arms and tummy of a garment the size of a baby that crawls. The baby is put on top of the clothing that has the protruding mop fibers, and while he or she crawls on the floor it gets mopped from the movements of the baby.

Hamster Powered Paper Shredder
Next is the Hamster Powered Paper Shredder. That’s right! You can shred your paper with the aid of a hamster. This unit was designed by Tom Ballhatchet. The paper shredder is built into a hamster’s cage. While the hamster runs on the typical round cylinder seen in hamster cages, it activates the shredder. This is when you insert the paper into the unit for shredding.

E-tomb
Have you been thinking about your future gravesite or headstone? The E-tomb is one of the strangest inventions; however, it is quite innovative at the same time. The E-tomb is a grave marker that is powered by solar energy. The cross on the front of the headstone is equipped to enable a key to be inserted into it and connecting by means of bluetooth technology.

The headstone, through the connection, provides digital information about the deceased. It provides audio and video clips, pictures, social networking sites, and it gives out information on the individual’s digital personality. The headstone is also capable of uploading information from friends that may stop by with the intention of making it a memorable experience for friends of the deceased. The E-tomb was designed by Huang Jianbo, Zhao Ting, Wang Yushan, Ran Xiangfei and Mo Ran.

Umbrella Shoes
Do you hate getting your feet wet during a rainstorm? Umbrella Shoes may be one of the strangest inventions, but you will end up with dry feet. A small umbrella approximately three inches high is attached to the pointy end of each shoe, where your big toe is. The umbrella is opened, and you are ready to walk outside in the rain keeping your feet dry. The circumference of the opened umbrella is just wide enough not to interfere with your feet or legs.

Sweeper Slippers
Last but not least of the strangest inventions are the Sweeper Slippers. This invention is a pair of slippers with a dustpan attached to one slipper at the point where your big toe is and a miniature broom, without the stick, attached to the other slipper at the point where your other big toe is. To sweep your floor, you simply maneuver your feet to brush the dirt onto the dustpan.

These inventions from 2010 are only several of which most people may never hear of. Nevertheless, for the courageous person who doesn’t mind looking like a fool, if not useful, these inventions can be a lot of fun.

How to Invent a Baby Toy Product

If you are wondering how to invent a new baby toy product, but worry that it will take too much time, be too difficult, or cost too much money, there are ways to reduce these concerns. However, at the same time, new product development is something that is uncertain. It is quite a risk, much like everything in business. No company or invention can guarantee success. So when you are thinking about how to invent a new baby toy product, there are plenty of factors to consider.

For one, companies continue to be more innovative. Therefore, there are people coming up with new invention ideas every day and making prototypes as you think about how to invent your idea. That is why it is important to do research and make sure your invention idea is not already on the market. Even if there is a product like the one you came up with, there is always a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas.  These products should either solve a problem or improve something and be able to fit in with a certain company’s product line.

For example, if you are thinking about inventing a new baby toy product, one of the most successful products to recently come out is My Pal Scout from LeapFrog. This interactive plush toy connects to the internet so parents can customize it for their child. Parents can download songs to the toy from LeapFrog’s online library and they can input their child’s name and favorite color for a more personalized play experience. The iPad also has many apps like HappiTaps from Infantino LLC. It includes different games and sing-alongs for interactivity.

Another top baby toy of 2012 was the Alphaberry, which could be considered the baby version of Mom’s Blackberry.  All the baby has to do is press a letter to hear it repeated and see it on the digital screen (which changes to blue, orange and red when you scroll the color wheel). The Alphaberry also plays the ABC song in versions including country, blues and rock 'n' roll.  Babies are huge fans of anything that lights up and makes noise, so it’s no wonder that this invention is a hit.

When figuring out how to invent your baby toy product, you may face some obstacles along the way. This can cause you to lose time, energy and money in trying to get off the ground with a product, especially if you do not know how to invent on your own.  If you face any obstacles or are having a hard time inventing a product alone, keep in mind that there are inventing companies that can help.  One of the biggest obstacles most inventors must overcome when pursuing an idea, is being willing to trust someone with their idea.  Make sure to do your research and choose an inventing company that has experience with developing products and getting them on store shelves.  Also make sure that the company will sign a Confidentiality Agreement to ensure that your idea is safe.

Davison Employees are Regular Attendees at Trade Shows

In a continued effort to get that Davison “D’ on store shelves, employees from the company’s Licensing Team and Business Development Team often attend large trade shows around the country.

“The goal each time we attend shows is to continue to advance exposure for our clients and their ideas,” said the President of Business Development.  Davison does this by using the trade shows as a way to meet with existing companies that they have presented products to, meet with new prospective companies they want to present products to, network with REP groups and take part in buyer meetings and discussions.  In addition to meeting with lots of companies, Davison also uses its time at trade shows to plan follow-up meetings at Inventionland and other facilities.

Most recently Davison’s President and Vice President of Business Development attended the 67^th National Hardware Show in Las Vegas.  According to them, there were two key exhibits at the show, Drillcraft and On the Edge Marketing, that displayed Davison designs.  Those two were certainly not the only ones interested in Davison though.  The company’s President and VP also met and mingled with the following retailers at the show: The Fulham Group, Ontel Products, Zibra, Dynamic Paint Products, Century Drill Tools, Drillcraft Tools, Trillium Worldwide, JGR Copa, Camp Chef, Nothern International, Mac Sports, On the Edge Marketing, Char Broil, Wild Sports, Len Fest Media and Metro Designs.  

“[Our VP] actually followed up with a company tour of On the Edge Marketing’s facility while on a trip to a buyer meeting with Petco,” said our President.

The end result of all of these meetings?

“Davison is committed to improving the method from idea to store shelf, so that Davison clients have the best opportunity for exposure when it comes to getting noticed. Davison is slowly, but surely, strengthening the road from idea to store shelf, refining the stages that are critical in getting noticed,” he said. “These meetings have allowed us to continue to shore-up the hardware and lawn and garden categories, which will benefit our clients tremendously.”

While Davison regularly attends trade shows in a number of industries, it does not promise that any particular client product will be, or is likely to be, presented or discussed at a trade show.

The BikeBoard Featured on Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act”

An episode of Lifetime TV’s “The Balancing Act,” which originally aired the day after last Thanksgiving, featured an appearance by George Davison in the segment, “Dare to Invent.” The founder of Davison told the story of the development of the BikeBoard, an idea created by Davison client John Iavarone, and explained the Davison “Better Way to Invent” process. He also provided the opportunity for the company’s followers to win a $100 Toys R Us gift card through Davison’s Facebook page. 

John Iavarone was inspired by his children when he came up with the idea of marrying a bike, a skateboard, and a surfboard into one product. His children loved the Razor scooter, and while John was happy to encourage their activities, he was concerned that the scooter itself wasn’t safe. He wanted to create a scooter that was more stable, and had the maneuverability of surfing. After watching his kids fall and hurt themselves, he gave the idea more thought until he was ready to bring it to Davison.

Davison’s team took the idea and developed it further, thinking to join the front end of a bike with the back end of a skateboard to enhance maneuverability and stability. They attempted to create a scooter product that would be appealing to kids and teens while still being affordable to build and easy for companies to add to their product lines. 

The team at Davison worked on the prototype, perfecting a model that worked beautifully—except for the fact that it was impossible to ship. A separate issue with the handle bars in the prototype drove the team to go back to the drawing board and re-work the idea. They worked out a new model that included a change to the handlebars for greater safety, an alteration of the size of the board, and a sleeker frame, to make the product easier to ship. Inspired by another project they were working on, the team created a range of the BikeBoards, making them accessible to everyone from young children to adults. 

The product came into an incredible surge of luck when Kraft foods wanted to feature its design on their Macaroni & Cheese boxes and Capri Sun pouches, including the image of the product in a national ad. Then the BikeBoard went on to receive an Industrial Design Society of America award, firmly cementing it in American design history. The BikeBoard has sold through Dunham’s Sports, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and F.A.O. Schwarz, among other retailers, and was featured on the CBS Early Show and even appeared on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover—Home Edition.”

The episode of “The Balancing Act” featuring George Davison in the segment, “Dare to Invent,” can be found at http://www.thebalancingact.com/story/?id=4023 . The original Dare to Invent webisode can be found at http://www.davison.com/webisodes/bikeboard.html

 

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.