June 2012
CONTENTS
I am not an Inventor, but I have a theory.... I’ve never seen my theory as the subject of an official study, never the findings of a University research programme, or even the widely held belief of government officials...But I believe it to be true anyway. I can trace it back to my early memories way back in time to when I was a young child. When my paternal Grandfather used to pick me up in his 3 wheeled Bubble Car (the finest German engineering of the day) and take me back to his home. Where my Grandmother would have prepared a royal spread, of the finest best red salmon and cucumber triangular shaped sandwiches with the crusts cut off, with jelly and ice-cream and the obligatory slices of bread and butter, for afters. Not being particularly partial to this ‘posh’ spread, my Grandfather would disappear into his garden shed and await the call when I needed chauffeuring back home. Irrespective of the fact this was my big opportunity to sit and watch a television for an hour or two, the lure of the garden shed and to see what went on within was too great and much to my Grandfather’s frustration I would have to follow him. The inner sanctum was an Aladdin’s cave of tools and gadgets. The walls were festooned with screwdrivers, hammers, g-clamps, spanners and files of every imaginable size. Whilst on his work-bench was an incandescent light bulb fixed to a huge magnifying glass with chips all around it’s rim, clamped to a stand, that later in life I recognised as the type to be found in a school chemistry laboratory. Piled on the bench were small drawer units, full of watch parts, little cogs, valves, transistors, coils, wires of various colours and to my amusement some things called ‘Cat’s Whiskers’ on which he could listen to Billy Cotton’s Band Show, Around the Horne and The Navy Lark, amazing! Of course I couldn’t touch or even go too close, I could smell the heat from the soldering iron sat in its cradle and see the flux trickling down onto the bench, making the ancient greasy stain ever bigger. But there at the end of the bench was the star object, a cross between a large mantle clock and a small steam engine and if I stood quietly for ten minutes, or that’s what my Granddad said, I could hear the slow tick suddenly turn to a bubbling then hissing sound, which eventually turned to a rumble and a spurt of water from one side of the machine to the other. With a deft flick of a little brass tap, a big white mug started filling with a steaming brown liquid. My Granddads hourly cup of tea! WOW, a Tea-maker! It was much later in life when I was bought a ‘Goblin Teasmaid’ as a wedding present that I mused over the fact that I could have been an heir to a Teasmaid fortune had my Grandfather ever patented his little comfort gadget. I wondered how many other technological gems never emerge from the garden shed. Which finally, in a roundabout way brings me to the crux of my theory......? It is my fervent belief, that EVERYONE has had an idea to improve upon an existing product or to invent in their own mind something that would do a job to make their lives’ easier. Everyone knows someone that has had a great idea, but done nothing about it.
I believe it’s in our make-up, it’s what makes us human – My theory is ‘We are ALL INVENTORS’.
Star Feature Five Steps to turn an idea into a Business The first article we are happy to feature from Jacky Tustain of Concord Business Solutions Pages 4-5
- Many will remember the nervous student that entered Dragons’ Den in season 1, looking for money to buy land and grow BLACK TRUFFLES. HOW HAS HE PROGRESSED? Pages 6 - 9 Dr Paul Thomas
Do Fairies exist? If you believe, you can overcome anything....Including the Wicked Witch of Recession! See How Sarah Blinman did it.... Pages 10-11 Does he need any introduction? The man we all aspire to emulate.... STEVE JOBS Pages 12- 13 About Inventors Showcase - Page 15 How you can become anything you want....By award winning entrepreneur Richard McMunn Pages 16- 17
Successful Inventions of the Past. Microwave Oven - Page 18 Rubik’s Cube - Page 28 Velcro - Page 35 Scrabble - Page 38
Inventions on the verge of success. Pebble Watch - Page 14 Anyway Spray - Page 19 DermXtract - Page 23 Smart Mat - Page 26-27 Reestore, revolutionary design - Page 29 Sci-Tie, the cable tie with a twist - Page 30 Horse Face Veils - Page 49
The Dragons aren’t always right! Some of their ‘rejects’ That made it big. Page 24
Up and coming Entrepreneurs. Matt Gubba - Page 25 e247 Shops - Pages 20-22 Meals in Fields - Pages 32-34
Review of 40th Geneva Inventors expo Pages - 50-51
How Playground Chats Created A ‘Mumpreneur’ Kiddiebikes - Page 31
Why Franchise? A selection of franchises
Page 39
Business Doctors - Page 40 Hens Dancing - Page 41 Handyman - Pages 42-43 Ticketcomm - Page 44 Your Own Store - Page 45 Razzamataz - Pages 46-47 Health and Safety Check - Page 48
Letters from readers - Page 52 Classified Ads. - Page 53 Orange Rabbit - How a single mother of 5 can set-up and operate a successful business from home......and we can highly recommend her! Pages - 36-37
THIS MONTH’s STAR FEATURE
What is 'Inventors Showcase Magazine'? Just as the name implies, the new 'Inventor's Showcase' magazine is primarily a place for new inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs to showcase their inventions and ideas. This will help those entrepreneurs be able to provide valuable insight into the world of inventing while increasing their potential of being spotted by investors and buyers. In addition to helping these new inventors, we also aim to provide a publication which contains a wealth of informative articles for would-be innovators and entrepreneurs, as well as being of great interest to the general public. We invite articles from individuals and organisations who are involved with the intellectual property at every level. While we welcome and actively encourage submission from anyone, we also seek out articles from around the world and back so that we can give a more balanced view of the innovators which have collectively changed, or continue to change the world we live in. Share your ideas with the world! Go to our submissions page www.inventorsshowcasemagazine.com
We want your story..tell us, and tell the world...For FREE!! In each and every issue, 'Inventors Showcase' will print the most interesting articles about how you, as an inventor, entrepreneur and/or innovator formulated your ideas, developed them, and then put them into action. These articles will form the largest part of our publication, and will be of the greatest interest to like-minded people who are looking for inspiration, as well as business development professionals who are looking for the next BIG THING. (That's YOU!) Complete a submission form on our website (www.inventorsshowcasemagazine.com) and tell us in your own words:• Who you are? - (With picture) • When/How/Why did you start inventing? • Previous Successes/Failures • What is your latest Invention? • How did you get the idea? • What problem does it solve? • What stage is it at? Future Steps
• ...and most importantly... What advice would you give to others?
Characteristics of an Inventor The Inventor has an enthusiasm for improvement of everything they touch. The Inventor's vision is usually supported by a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings and aesthetics that normal people don’t ever question The overall blueprint to realise the vision is clear; however details may be incomplete, flexible, and evolving. The Inventor promotes the vision with enthusiastic passion. With persistence and determination, the inventor develops strategies to change the vision into reality. The inventor will work tirelessly to prove a concept that has only ever existed in their subconscious to prove it to themselves alone. Inventors take no realistic cognisance of costs, market, customer needs for any concept they have to prove as viable An inventor is usually a positive thinker and a decision maker.
To begin with, let’s think about vending machines – picture a snack or drink machine, possibly in an office or sports centre. They all function pretty much the same and as long as they’re plugged in, they will dispense products for the right amount of cash. Pretty uninspiring really, aren’t they? Now clear your mind of this concept and be prepared to be amazed at how Nicole Turner and Maurizio Costantini have brought a vending revolution to the UK; one which will enable community retailers to take on the 24 hour supermarkets, and allow people to shop locally 24 hours a day! Nicole and Maurizio live in Southport and have worked in the hospitality industry most of their lives, mainly in restaurants and bars, which is how they first met. Although they had steady occupations, Nicole was looking for something different to do, something more dynamic and inventive. One evening they were discussing how much easier it would be if they could pop to their local shop out of hours and still be able to buy products – like a 24 hour supermarket, but without any staff. Most of us have these conversations and think nothing of it – Nicole however realised that this was exactly the sort of concept that could revolutionise local shopping, so she immediately set about finding out if it was possible. “I got straight onto the internet to see whether there was already something available which could make our idea possible” says Nicole. “ My search resulted in me identifying an Italian company called Magex, who already provided vending machines for library books and DVD’s but could also produce custom machines to order too”
After contacting Magex and finding out more about the company and their uniquely flexible production methods, Nicole and Maurizio made the decision to go ahead with their ‘24 hour shop’ idea and took on the UK licence for Magex machine installations. They decided to trade as ‘e247 shop’ and are now supplying UK retailers with these amazing units. Describing the machines, Nicole says: “Each machine is made to order and is customised to provide the correct storage environment for your goods. The machines can take ambient or chilled products; the size of the unit and the range of items it can sell is limited only by what you, the retailer, decides is the right design for you” “The machines aren’t there to replace staff, far from it – they are a 21st century way for you to trade 24/7 giving you the ability to compete with large national chains. If people need to pick up a packet of mince or some fresh ingredients after a long day at work, why should you miss out on this sales opportunity?
If your store is closed people can’t buy from you - investing in one of our machines is the perfect solution to the problem” Each of the machines has a variety of well-thought out reporting and safety features. They are designed to be situated outdoors and have a number of excellent features such as: On-Board CCTV - to capture the image of any would be thief Touchscreen Selection Mechanism – no buttons to break or vandalise Stock Control Reporting – letting you know when to replenish goods Highly Detailed Sales Reports – helping you to identify your best-sellers Moveable Display Modules – letting you change your product range when you want to Multiple Payment Options – notes, coins, pre-paid cards One of the more interesting concepts which Nicole and Maurizio envisage is where a small group of community retailers could come together and have one machine which they all use to sell their goods ‘out of hours’. A perfect example would be a local fruit shop and bakery on a small shopping parade sharing the same machine. Apart from splitting costs for the retailers, it would provide a real alternative for consumers not wishing to travel to a major supermarket. Smaller businesses need to be able to compete with larger chains; an e247 shop machine levels the playing field quite substantially. The clear advantage of using these machines in this scenario is that it keeps local money within the local economy, which is good news for both customers and retailers alike.
Although Nicole and Maurizio have the exclusive UK rights to the machines, there are ways for other interested people to become involved in this revolutionary new sales platform. If a person identifies a particular niche market, with clearly defined boundaries with regard to location and/ or product selection, then they could certainly be considered as a potential franchisee. Similarly, businesses can apply to be an exclusive local vendor. This has the advantage that your own local competitors won’t be able to have an e247 machine, making you the only local 24 hour retailer in your business sector locally. Nicole and Maurizio funded their business using their own capital; they didn’t approach banks or other business angels, meaning they have complete control over their company. If you’d like to see images the machines in situ, or would like to know more about the endless possibilities these machines have, visit the e247 shop website at www.e247shop.co.uk.
The immense benefits of being open 24 hours a day shouldn’t belong exclusively to large supermarkets who have adequate staff and resources – smaller local retailers can pull back their market share from the ‘bighitters’ by investing in an e247 shop machine. So what are you waiting for? Why not email Nicole at info@e247shop.co.uk and see what e247 shop can offer you and your business?
Remember, the machines are custom built and can accommodate a huge variety of items. Some machines are currently vending items like: Fresh Farm Produce Fresh Milk Toiletries Pharmacy Essentials Books Groceries
By choosing to go ahead and create their company, Nicole and Maurizio have not only demonstrated their own entrepreneurial skills, they have created a vehicle which will help other people to expand their existing business, which is particularly important in tough economic times. Let e247 shop help you to make your mark in the business world too and see just what you can achieve with this dynamic retail aid.
The first reference to a vending machine is in the work of Hero of Alexandria, a first-century engineer and mathematician. His machine accepted a coin and then dispensed holy water. When the coin was deposited, it fell upon a pan attached to a lever. The lever opened a valve which let some water flow out. The pan continued to tilt with the weight of the coin until it fell off, at which point a counterweight snapped the lever up and turned off the valve. The first modern coin-operated vending machines were introduced in London in the early 1880s, dispensing post cards. A few people have been fatally injured after having a vending machine topple over on them, either while they were attempting to steal from the machine, or venting frustration over a malfunction which caused a failure to dispense the purchased item or dispense the proper change. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (11 November 1988, p. 2697) documents 15 cases in which men trying to get a can out of a vending machine were crushed. Three died, the other 12 required hospitalisation for injuries such as fractures of the skull, toe, ankle, tibia, femur, and pelvis; intracerebral bleeding; knee Refrigerated Apples Vending Machine c1951 contusion; and one punctured bladder!
The global skincare market is worth billions of pounds to manufacturers, who regularly come up with yet another ‘must have’ molecule or nutrient to make our faces fresher and more appealing. It’s a tough market to get into, but Steven E Cano has come up with such an innovative new product, he may well be the next big name in skincare. Steven, 26, has always dreamed of being an inventor (or a superhero!) and has a very diverse career history – ranging from loss prevention to being a concrete finisher. Ever since he can remember, he’s always been creating gadgets and trying to create solutions to problems. Steven has always wanted to bring a great product to market, but it wasn’t until his twin daughters were born just over a year ago that he decided to act upon his dreams. “I originally got my idea from a Ninja Carpet Extractor and the fact that Asia has been using sinks full of hot and cold water to cleanse pores and to maintain skin health for centuries” says Steven, who realised that if he could combine the two methods, then he could create an exciting new product that would truly revolutionise the way we clean our skin. He set about designing a device that combined the two methods and came up with the ‘DermXtract’ system. The product is a complete skin cleansing system designed to assist with acne and other dermatological issues, as well as offering exceptional skin cleaning to the wider market.
So what does DermXtract do? Steven has designed a unit which provides hot water to a hand held wand with bristles, so that during use your pores will open, allowing the angled bristles to gently deep cleanse your skin. Once you’ve finished the unit provides cold water via the wand to close your pores again, to keep your skin as clean as possible. It’s very similar to using a sauna and a plunge pool, but with DermXtract you have the whole experience within one small unit.
Of course, this invention has taken time and money to bring to market; Steven says he couldn’t have got his invention off the ground without financial support provided in the early days by his good friends Edwin Barcenas and Minister Monica Hines. Like many inventors, Steve needed friends and family to invest in his first project – unless you win ‘Dragon’s Den’ it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get a millionaire investor for your first invention, no matter how brilliant it is. The product is currently awaiting patent and Steven is now actively looking at routes to market for DermXtract. He’s negotiating with manufacturers with regard to product licences and is also investigating distribution and marketing. He knows that simply having a product is just stage one – the next part is to get it out there and sell it to the world. If you’d like to see the product then you can visit his website at www.dermxtract.com where you can also get in touch with Steve if you have any queries. Sometimes it takes a change in life to kick start our ambitions, having two little girls was Steve’s inspiration; it shows that anyone can follow their dreams or ambitions if they wish - though whether or not Steve gets to be a fully-fledged superhero may be subject to debate.
“Up and Coming Entrepreneurs!” Allow me to introduce you to Matt Gubba,
An entrepreneur from London. He is the founder of 'Business Circuit' which is a networking community for UK entrepreneurs Unlike other networks, users of Business Circuit are encouraged to initiate contact with other entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors absolutely free. Face to face meetings are also encouraged. The site states that it currently holds over eleven thousand users and is growing rapidly.
Matt: Sometimes balancing work and play can be tough, particularly when I’m up against deadlines. My social life more often than not takes a bit of a back seat. I do have a girlfriend, but she is very supportive of what I do, and she understands the sacrifices that must be made in order to succeed. I think it’s critical that those close to you are behind what you are doing. Angela: How did you get started in this business? Is this work your passion, would you do it even if you were not earning money?
Matt: Business Circuit began when I spotted a gap for a different kind of networking organisation in the marketplace. At the time I was running an accountancy firm, and was using social media and networking events to promote it. I felt that I could create a better and more effective networking community, so I set out to do it. Here is my interview with Matt. I love what I do, and although financial rewards are Angela: I am so thrilled that you have decided to be a important, they are not the only reason that I do it. part of this series on “Up and Coming Entrepreneurs!” I feel this could be a way to get your As you can see, Matt, saw a need in the community and a way that he could fill a gap. name out there and have other entrepreneurs take He didn't just dwell on the idea, but turned it into notice of your venture. First of all, tell me a little about yourself and your busi- reality in 2011, when he created 'Business Circuit'. It is that drive, that attention to his surroundings, and ness. ability to follow through that makes him such a Matt: My name is Matt Gubba, and I’m from London. successful entrepreneur. I founded the business networking community “Business Circuit” in 2011. Business Circuit helps entrepreneurs, business owners and investors in the UK to connect with each other online and at networking events. Angela: Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur and run your own business instead of being in a more traditional work environment.
Angela: How does your business benefit those in your community? Matt: Business Circuit helps entrepreneurs and business owners in the community to market themselves in a low cost and highly effective manner. I believe that in the current economic climate, the ability to save on marketing costs is more important than ever.
Matt: Ever since I was a teenager I always knew that I Angela: Where do you see yourself 5 years from wanted to be my own boss. I guess I’ve just always found the idea of working by someone else’s rules re- now? strictive and frustrating. Matt: In 5 years time I would like to see Business Circuit as the UK’s leading after work open networkMatt shared with me that he is single, with no chiling community. dren, which lead me to the following questions: Angela: If you are single with no kids, how do you find time to socialise? Are you “putting off a relationship for your career?” How do you balance work time and play time?
And with the growth which his company has seen in it's first year, his five year dream could very well become a reality. Would you like your idea to be featured in our magazine for free? Contact us via our website www.inventorsshowcasemagazine.com . .
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Velcro (C) The hook-and-loop fastener was invented in 1941 by Swiss engineer, Georges de Mestral who lived in Commugny, Switzerland. The idea came to him one day after returning from a hunting trip with his dog in the Alps. He took a close look at the burrs (seeds of burdock) that kept sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur. He examined them under a microscope, and noted they had hundreds of "hooks" that caught on anything with a loop, such as clothing, animal fur, or hair. He saw the possibility of binding two materials reversibly in a simple fashion if he could figure out how to duplicate the hooks and loops. At first people refused to take him, and the idea, seriously when he took his idea to Lyon, which was then a centre of weaving. However he did manage to gain the help of one weaver, who made two cotton strips that worked. But the cotton wore out quickly, so de Mestral turned to synthetic fibres. He chose nylon as being the best synthetic, which had several advantages. Nylon doesn’t break down, rot, or attract mould, and it could be produced in threads of various thicknesses.
Mechanising the process of weaving the hooks took eight years, and it took another year to create the loom that trimmed the loops after weaving them. In all, it took ten years to create a mechanised process that worked. He submitted his idea for patent in Switzerland in 1951 and the patent was granted in 1955. Within a few years he obtained patents and began to open shops in Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada. The fabric got its first break when it was used in the aerospace industry on astronauts bulky space suits. However, this reinforced the view among the populace that Velcro was something with very limited utilitarian uses. Now Velcro fasteners are used for just about every conceivable application where a temporary bond is required. It is especially popular in clothing where it replaces buttons or zippers, and even shoe laces.
George de Mestral's patent expired in 1978, but the term Velcro is a registered trademark, the subject of more than 300 trademark registrations in over 159 countries. NASA makes significant use of Velcro. Each space shuttle has ten thousand inches of a special Velcro. Velcro held together a human heart during the first artificial heart transplant. The Army have a silent version of Velcro developed for use with soldier uniforms, as the ripping sound could betray a soldier's position. The new version created especially for the Army reduces the noise by over 95%. The manufacturing process to create this noiseless Velcro is, however, a military secret. Velcro was not the first patent registered by De Mestral. At the age of 12 he designed a toy airplane and patented it! George de Mestral (June 19, 1907 – February 8, 1990) He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999 for inventing Velcro hook and loop fasteners.
Are you a Franchisor? tell us about what you offer. Are you a Franchisee? Tell us why you went into the business and how you have fared. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS?
Horse Face Veil Sunburn and rain scald on horses’ faces is a big problem, especially in harsh climates. Sunburn on horses blisters and forms into scabs which can lead to infection. The Horse Face Veil protects a horse’s muzzle, eyes, and blaze areas, which are those most susceptible to sunburn, so that they don’t get burnt by the sun or scalded by rain. It covers the front of the horse’s face to fully protect them, whilst using as little material as possible to decrease sweating.
About the Inventor Kirsten Milic has loved horses all her life. She started riding when she was young, and used to do hacking (riding for fun) and dressage. She has a passion for animals and the horse in particular. She is a mum of 3 children, and has a horse, dog, cat and 3 chickens.
Inspiration When Kirsten, who lives in Australia, brought her horse up from Victoria to Queensland, the dramatic change in weather caused him to develop sunburn on his muzzle and suffer rain scald at the time of the summer floods, all over his body and face. She made her first veil for him as a stopgap protection measure and it stayed on him from then on; it shaded him 24/7 and kept the cream on him to fix up the rain scald. The design she created was surprisingly successful. Kirsten’s horse’s sunburn went away and she started thinking of the broader application for such a device.
How it works The Horse Face Veil protects a horse’s muzzle, eyes, and blaze areas, without obstructing their eyes and vision. It covers the front of the horse’s face to fully protect them whilst using as little material as possible to decrease sweating. They cover the horse’s face from the whole muzzle to the tip. The veil does not cover the eye like a normal fly veil, although there is also a version that works as a fly protector that is an attachment to the basic paddock veil. While the old-style fly veil can come with nose flap attachments, these are usually too small, do not give enough coverage, and don’t last. The Horse Face Veil covers the whole nose and the sides. The veil is fastened with Velcro and can be pulled apart to come off easily if caught by the horse against something. The veil breathes and only covers the front of the face without covering under the head and all the sides, so the horse will not sweat uncomfortably. It is made out of 90+UV protecting shade cloth. It is very strong, does not curl when it’s wet, and can be used for a long period of time. The veil also has attachments for different times of the year, for flies, rain, and sun, and can swap when needed.
Contact For more information about Horse Face Veil, contact the following: horsefaceveils@bigpond.com www.horsefaceveils.com
LETTERS WHY CAN’T SOMEONE INVENT THIS? I would buy it like a shot. I am sure loads of others would too. It would save loads of agro. And I would sleep at night. Nature is fine, but in its right place. Why does it have to happen on my windowsill? What is wrong with trees and hedges? I think you may now ‘twig’ my problem Nests. Damned sparrows. They insist on building their nests on my bedroom windowsill. I suppose they think it is a good location. It is on the dark side of the house and protected by an ornamental metal grill, so providing protection from predators. It also has mosquito netting just in front of the glass. This leaves a nice area between the netting and the grill. So not only do the sparrows keep me awake with chatter and fluttering, they also ruin the mosquito netting by incorporating it into their nest design What I need is a bird scarer. I have tried all sorts of things. Half full bottles of water and mirrors were the most effective for a while. But that was it. Only for a while. It was humorous though watching Mr Sparrow dive bomb the mirror only to be attacked by himself. Mrs Sparrow just sat on the windowsill observing the antics. Eventually she skipped along, admired herself, made a few pecks and was satisfied that she looked just right for mating and house-building. Another nest appeared on top of the water bottles and around the mirror. The only thing that gets rid of the sparrows is movement and noise at the windowsill. I can’t get my kids to stand there all day – they do have to go to school I suppose. So this is what I want invented - a solar-powered, pressure-sensitive mat that sets off a flag movement with a sharp bang and flash of light when a bird lands on the windowsill. Or perhaps even better, a modified burglar alarm. You know, a directional beam that when broken triggers the alarm. But it does not need to be loud or bright – that would keep me awake as well. So, all you inventors out there, especially those with burglar alarm knowledge, get to work. You know it is a great idea and would be a real money spinner. Just think of the applications. You could protect national monuments from bird damage - Nelson would stand clean and proud. Whole buildings could be save from pigeon poo! And, more importantly, I would be able to get some sleep at last. Signed Ian Ventor (a frustrated Rip Van Winkel) or Mahdeen 'Ventah (Get it? Mad Inventor!)
Editors note: This really is a genuine letter! From Ken Parkin, Spalding, Lincs. It is an example of how this ‘Letters’ feature can be used....But there are other ways:If you need help with a particular project If you are offering help and you have a particular skill or piece of equipment (cNC, Laser cutter etc) Or absolutely anything else you want to write about - Letters via website www.inventorsshowcasemagazine.com