INPEX Exhibitor Wins "Inventor of the Year" at Annual ERA Convention
On September 10-12, the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) held its 16th annual convention in Las Vegas. The ERA is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association for companies who use electronic media, such as radio and television, to sell goods and services to the public. Since 1999, the Invention Showcase, part of the ERA's trade show, has been providing inventors with a forum to showcase their products to the direct response industry. Over 20 exhibitors from INPEX® 2006 were invited to be a part of the ERA's Invention Showcase.
At INPEX, inventors presented their ideas to a panel of TV marketing professionals who shared their insight and offered feedback. A number of these inventors received invitations to participate in the ERA Invention Showcase in Las Vegas.
"We collectively decide if the inventions qualify for one of the following categories: radio, long- or short-form TV, upsells, catalog, live shopping or the Web," says Wendi Cooper, Chair of the ERA's 2006 Invention Showcase. "All products must have a 'problem-solving' feature." The ERA also requires that products selected either have a patent or be patent-pending, and have a trademark for any product names.
Dennis Moss, along with his son, Michael Moss, co-inventor of the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer, was one of the INPEX exhibitors chosen to attend the ERA Invention Showcase. "INPEX was the first showing of our invention and we couldn't have been more pleased," he said. "The great reception we received there really validated our product, and we qualified for the ERA show – which turned out to be another great experience."
Along with the bronze medal they took home from INPEX, the Moss's also wound up winning the "Best Potential Short Form" prize as well as the "Inventors of the Year" award at the ERA show. The father/son duo is currently working with manufacturers and distributors to try to have their product, the Brooklyn Bagel Slicer, introduced in time for the 2006 holiday season. And, through contacts they made at the ERA Invention Showcase, they hope to start selling their product on TV early next year.
While the above exhibitor's experience is not typical of what most INPEX exhibitors can expect from attending the trade show, the events reported are a result of what can happen from attending INPEX – The Invention Show.
INPEX Inventors Take Home Awards at ERA's Invention Showcase
Four of the top five awards presented at the ERA Invention Showcase were awarded to INPEX exhibitors:
Best Potential Print: Shirley Hayden – The Unique Seat
Best Potential Radio: Eddie Solomon – Nu Credit Software
Best Potential Live Shopping: Lisa Novak – Free Me Bags
Best Potential Short Form: Dennis & Michael Moss – Brooklyn Bagel Slicer
