One Simple Idea for Startups and Entrepreneurs: Live Your Dreams and Create Your Own Profitable Company Book

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 Opportunities for Inventor-Entrepreneurs in the Twenty-First Century 1

My Journey 2

Successful Inventor-Entrepreneurs in This Book 9

Finding a Mentor 15

2 Do You Have What It Takes? 17

Entrepreneur: Born or Made? 17

Does the Shoe Fit? 20

Startup Enemy Number One: Fear 27

Why I Took the Leap and Started a Business with One Simple Idea 29

3 Keep It Simple 31

What Is a Simple Idea? 31

Creating a Product That Will Sell 34

Test the Market 43

Creating a Product That Is Simple to Produce 47

Is It a Money-Maker? 48

4 Watch Your Back 53

Outsmart the Competition 54

Build Partnerships 59

Protect Your Idea 61

5 Ready, Set, Launch! 79

No MBA? No Problem! 79

Do You Need a Business Plan? 83

Show Me the Money! 87

Setting Up Your Business 96

6 Flip the Switch 103

Product Design Package 103

Packaging 107

Finding the Right Manufacturer 111

Logistics 120

Getting Off to a Good Start 121

7 Power Marketing Made Simple 125

What's Brand Got to Do with It? 126

Create Demand and Drive Sales 133

Get the Word Out on a Limited Budget 144

Hitch Your Wagon to Someone Else's Star 154

8 a Winning and Losing at Retail 157

Start Local, Go National, Grow Global 159

How to Get Your Product into Retail Stores 162

On the Shelves of Giants 172

Other Retailing Options 174

Creating Happy Campers and Repeat Sales 178

9 Managing the Monster 183

Taking Care of Business 185

Be Careful What You Wish For 200

When the Going Gets Tough 206

Cruise, Expand, or Sell 206

Appendix: Valuable Resources 211

Index 225