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Got an Idea for a Great Office Product? You Could Win $25K
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Sep 22, 2005, 21:39

Got an Idea for a Great Office Product? You Could Win $25K


(NUI) - According to a recent survey commissioned by Staples Inc., 44 percent of Americans say they have had an idea for a new product or invention but have failed to follow through on its creation. The top reasons include lack of time and money and not knowing where to start.

From entrepreneurs to accountants to stay-at-home parents, everyone possesses the ability to invent. Additional research by Staples shows that people do their most creative thinking while performing everyday tasks, such as commuting, listening to music and exercising.

The following tips can help inventors bring their ideas to the marketplace.

* Find inspiration. Many inventions have spawned other ideas. So look around, but make sure your idea is original.

* Socialize. Connect with a mentor from whom you can learn and with whom you can share your ideas.

* Confirm the need. Be sure a market exists for your idea. Investors must be interested in it to develop or fund the invention.

* Protect your idea. Patent it! To learn how, contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at (800) 786-9199. Information also can be found online at www.uspto.gov.

* Share the idea with an innovation-minded company. Staples, for example, created a contest called Invention Quest (IQ) to make it easy for inventors to bring their ideas for office products to market. Visit www.staples.com/IQ or pick up an entry form at a Staples store. The winning entrant will receive $25,000 plus royalties.

"Staples recognizes the importance of innovation, so we created Staples Invention Quest to make it easy for everyday inventors to share new product ideas with us," said Jevin Eagle, senior vice president of Staples brands. "We want to help Americans recognize their innovative spirit and come up with new office products that make work life easier."

Staples Invention Quest helped Todd Basche of Palo Alto, Calif., achieve his invention dream. Basche invented last year's winning product - the WordLock, an easy combination lock that uses letters instead of numbers - which will be available exclusively at Staples stores and on Staples.com this summer.

For more information and complete contest rules and regulations, visit www.staples.com/IQ.

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