Monthly meet-up: Launching A Baby Product With A Bang, 20 October 09 (PAST EVENT)
With access to the Internet and Social Media for researching and marketing new products, many parents, mums especially, are coming up with ideas that make parenting easier.
Some of the most compelling new products address common problems and difficulties we come across in everyday life. And as any parent will know, there are few situations as beset with issues as raising happy, healthy children.
From that first flash of inspiration, many new ideas fall by the wayside as the concept is advanced through market research, prototyping and protecting aspects of Intellectual Property. Yet more will encounter financing issues that mean the good products won't ever get manufactured. Most will simply find that it's far harder to carve out routes to market and get sales than anticipated.
So what are the insider secrets to leaping all hurdles and getting to a successful launch in the marketplace?
For the October meeting, we're lucky to have Tilly Beazeley, hot off her stand at The Baby Show in Earls Court, where she will be exhibiting her award-winning Wean Machine.
Tilly came up with the idea for her Wean Machine in 2002 when faced with moving her 4-month-old son onto his first solids. Not wanting to rely on jars of processed baby food and keen to make sure her son's diet was as healthy and fresh as possible, she found the whole process of food preparation awkward and certainly inconvenient for regular feed times on the go. She jotted down notes for a solution, and even mapped out a business plan, but didn't return to develop the concept until her son started school.
Tilly's product development journey has been a roller coaster ride through prototyping, managing Intellectual Property issues, safety testing, and raising finance for tooling and manufacturing.
But what really sets Tilly apart from most inventors is the bang with which Wean Machine launched onto the market and won immediate sales. After its launch in June 09, The Wean Machine sold more than 20,000 units in its first month.
Maybe it's Tilly's background in R&D and business development for servicing the pharmaceutical industry that has given her insights into successful international product launches. Maybe it's her go-get attitude and focus on her business goals. Maybe it's a secret formula she's discovered, which is prompting her to add more healthy-living products aimed at families. Come and hear Tilly's story and find out what it takes to line up an innovative product for a successful launch.
NEWSFLASH - PR OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR PRODUCT
Is your idea ready for some free publicity?
If so, for the 20 October meeting come prepared for a photo/ interview session with journalists from national media who are covering She's Ingenious! as a support network for today's growing numbers of women inventor-entrepreneurs.
No obligation to take part, but it could mean £thousands worth of exposure for your product.
NEWSFLASH The British Library has kindly offered to take pics of your products and you may use them for FREE in your promotional materials. With just a credit back to the British Library Business & IP Centre. A great way to get photos for your website etc that won't look like you've taken them on the family camera! :)Cally
Every month there's a She's Ingenious! networking meeting with a purpose. Come and learn about a key topic in the product development life cycle and network with other ingenious women also on the journey to making their product ideas and inventions a profitable reality.
Who should attend? • Women with new product and start-up ideas • Anyone already marketing their own products • Professionals interested or involved in bringing new products to market
Booking details: Time: 2pm to 4pm Date: 20 October 2009 Price: £20 non-members, £10 Members Take up Trial Membership for just £1 Booking: Add to cart at top of this page. (Members remember to use the email you joined with to claim your discount) Place: British Library Business & IP Centre, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB