I wanted to let my readers know about Walmart's Get On The Shelf program. This is how it works. It's an annual online contest. Businesses and individuals submit products that are not sold by Walmart, and the public vote for their favorites. Semi-finalists get a shot at selling on Walmart.com. Winners get the possibility of placement in the brick and mortar stores, and tons of marketing and production guidance. All contestants get free visibility.
The contest is closed for new submissions this contest run, however, bookmark this site for future reference and support independent inventors by voting for your favorite product. It's interesting to see what other inventors are doing. And I will be reminding you again, so get your products ready. Photo Courtesy of Walmart
- Visit - Get On The Shelf
These contests are all good and well, if you have at least a Provisional Patent. The general public seems to think that just because it is Walmart that nobody will steal their idea is gravely mistaking. It is not Walmart that would be stealing your unprotected idea but the vultures that loom around these so called contest sites that allow the world to see your idea and not kept to certain private eyes where only a few can see.
When opening up the contest for the world to see that is exactly what the world wants. The Chinese (or any other manufacturing cheap labor unethical product stealing idea countries) can have a excellent idea on a boat half way to anywhere in the world before you can even have the mold made. You cannot tell me that this does not happen. This is the dark side of putting your ideas out front. The Chinese can have your ideas in stores all over the world before you can even get it “On the “Shelf ” even with Walmart.
You may be able to protect your invention in the U.S. but kiss your attempts at securing any foreign patents. This information is not just for the Walmart contest but any contest that allows your product to be seen by those less fortunate to think for themselves yet have no scruples when it comes time to steal and manufacture your idea.
The fact that you should be at least Patent Pending should be emphasized and strongly suggested. The way this is written it does say that it is better to be protected but it gives you a false sense of security if you are a first time inventor and do not know about all the vultures out here ready to take a chunk of money from you any way they can.
If you do want to enter a contest make sure that it is judged by a small panel, not for the whole world to see. I have several Patents that I could enter, but why give the Chinese a heads up? They have no concern about stealing ideas, nor does the rest of the world when it comes time to making a buck.
Randy,
I thought that your comments were very “eye opening”. They made me feel a lot better about my decision to put my idea “on hold”… The cause of my concern is Obama’s “America Invents Act”. You made me realize that I had better not try to develop my invention at this time or present anything to anyone about my idea until the U.S. patent laws return to normal.—Obama has tied my hands.—Innovation for me is now dead—I can no longer protect my idea in its early stages —It’s too bad because my invention could have created an incredible number of good manufacturing jobs along with reducing the price of fuel and helping the American economy…Cars using my invention would have gotten(believe it or not) about 200 mpg and big trucks(believe it or not) would have gotten up to 60 mpg…They could have run nearly pollution free on almost any fuel and they would all be affordable. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.
Inventors or product companies looking to get product into any of the major retailer might consider our free webinar: Selling to the Masses. It’s taught by CPG and retail veterans from our office in Bentonville, Arkansas: sellingtothemasses.com.
Aaron,
The “America Invents Act” just puts the US in line with the rest of the world. The Act switches the U.S. patent system from a “first to invent” to a “first inventor to file” system. This removes a lot of the lawsuits and need to prove you were the first to invent something.
So you should hurry to finish your invention and submit for patent to protect your invention.
Stop listening to right wing nuts and read the act for yourself and get the facts correct.
@ Aaron ~ you are kidding right ??? Cars 200 mpg , 18 wheelers 60mpg , new factories in the USA and boost our economy ??? I have the same EXACT , invention !!! You had better file right away Bro .
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