Beach Blanket Invention Finds its Way into the Hands of Celebrities and onto the E! Entertainment Network
When Tina Marie Connors began working on the first prototype of her multifunctional, wind-resistant beach towel, the Towel Down™, she never would have guessed it would one day appear on the E! entertainment network.
"I couldn't believe it," said Connors. "I had hoped for some publicity, but I never imagined this," as she explained how she attempted to promote her invention by donating samples to the 2004 Screen Actors Guild Awards for inclusion in the gift baskets given to all nominees.
The Towel Down made it onto the network's news program, E! News Live, this past January during a segment that announced the contents of the gift basket given away to the ceremony's celebrity nominees.
Connors, who watches all of the awards shows faithfully, said she wanted her invention to be a part of the excitement these shows tend to generate. "I had to find a way to associate the Towel Down with the SAG awards. Even if it led to just one new person hearing about it," she said. "I felt the opportunity was worth my time and money."
Determined to find a way to link her product with the award show, Connors began researching and making phone calls to find out how she could donate samples of the Towel Down for inclusion in the gift basket.
Connors finally reached the right person at SAG who worked on putting the gift baskets together. "She requested a sample of the Towel Down for review. That's when the work really began," Conners said.
Connors went to work enhancing her promotional materials, upgrading her web site and creating professionally packaged samples to send to the SAG Awards committee. After several follow-up calls, the Towel Down was added to the list of items in the basket.
"It took persistence, patience and lots of hard work," said Connors. Connors was thrilled with the publicity her invention received on E!, a network with more than 70 million viewers. "You can't predict where an opportunity will lead," she said. "But after my experience with the Screen Actors Guild Awards program, I'm convinced that you have to work hard to create your own opportunity."
Tina Marie Connors recently exhibited Towel-Down at the International Housewares show in Chicago, Ill. She was a part of the INPEX Inventors Corner, featuring inventions and new products. While at the Housewares Show, Connors was featured on the CBS2, Chicago's Morning Show, demonstrating her Towel-Down.
After doing this work on her own, Connors decided to exhibit the Towel Down at INPEX 2004. We welcome this creative inventor to our show.
