Question for anyone who has entrepreneured an idea

[Maraya1969]

I have an idea for a pen that I would love to present to a pen place. Obviously it is cheep so it is not that big of an investment. But I don't want to get into making them....I'd rather have one of those pen places make them, (I would like it to be an advertising pen.) I doubt I could get a patent but I want to protect myself if anyone likes it. IOW I'd like to make a little bit if the pen company sells any of my pens.

I don't want to advertise anything myself. I just have the idea for a different type of pen that other companies can use to give to their clients or maybe even sell the pens as they are somewhere.

I've had ideas before but I like this one because it seems like it would not take much money to get it started.


What do I do....anyone?

[Ian David]

1. I already beat you to patenting the prostate-stimulating talking vibrating pen. n/t

[Maraya1969]

3. Yes it is!!!!! Did you market yours yet? Or do you spend your time

market testing it on yourself? B-)

[Ian David]

4. I've been sneaking up to people on the train and monitoring their reactons. n/t

[TomInTib]

2. First thing you do....

is try to gain entry to the Premium Incentive Show

link to last year's show:
http://iebms.heiexpo.com/iebms/oep/oep_p1_exhibitors.aspx?cc=npis07&oc=06

Find the manufacturers that you think might be able to meet your needs.

But these people are barracudas.

I don't really want to take a lot of my Friday evening on this (the Blues are coming from a bar down the street and I must be on my way), but you are more than welcome to PM me on this and I can maybe shed more light on the subject for you.

Tom

[Duer 157099]

5. Can I PM you too? :D

I have so many ideas that I never know what to do with, and I'm getting tired of eventually seeing someone else bring them to market and get rich. This has happened enough to me over the years to know that my ideas are good, and that I need to develop them myself rather than be satisfied to see that someone else finally had the same idea, but did something with it.

I'm ready, but have no real clue how to do it (correctly that is). What stops me is thinking "oh, I bet somebody already has the patent and will prevent me from doing anything" or "Oh, I know if I pitch the idea, they'll just slightly modify it and do it without me" or ... and on it goes. Some of my ideas are perfect for some of the big players already in the field, but I have a hard time getting past some of my cynicism.

So what's an entrepreneur to do?