Launching my business

Head, arms and legs strewn everywhere...that was the scene that inspired my business. Fortunately this was not a horrible crime scene, but was instead the way my apartment looked every time my dogs joyously dismembered yet another brand new toy. I couldn't afford new toys every day (but oh how they loved ripping those toys apart), so I decided to make a toy they really COULD rip apart. I bought a stuffed bear, took the head, arms and legs off, re-attached them with Velcro...and voila!...a true rip-apart toy was born. Now the "Rippys" are putting smiles on dogs, and the people they own, everywhere.

People approach me all the time saying "I have a great idea for something but I would never know how to get it off the ground!"  Yet ANYONE can do it! My formula is called YACHT:

Y=YOU decide what that great idea is, and don't wait! Go for it! You have no idea how many ideas I have waited on, only to see someone else bring them to fruition.

A=AFFIRM your ownership. Go to uspto.gov and get some level of protection. Now, receiving my patent did not protect me from getting knocked off.  Immediately, two of the biggest pet toy companies completely copied my toy. BUT, because I had a patent I was able to license to an equally big company who fought the infringers AND paid me royalties while using my patent.

C=CREATE! Sites like alibaba.com list manufacturers of everything imaginable. Use the terms OEM and contract manufacturer to find those willing to create your designs. DO NOT go with the first one you find , they vary widely. Email pictures, get quotes, receive samples...and you're off and running!

H=HELLO tradeshows!  I went to my first tradeshow with an apartment full of rip-apart toys (would I be left with "Christmas presents" for friends and family for life?...aaah!)  Fortunately, I gained sales reps, distribution, and accounts from CA to NY at that show.

T=TAKE OFF on your yacht! Well what I mean is that it is possible to do everything, anywhere, if you automate.  I receive orders from my reps on my wireless laptop via an internet fax line, I create invoices and charge credit cards through Quickbooks (the money goes straight to my account), and then I forward the orders to fulfillment. Now I have more time to focus on things like giving back, and finding investors for my next Rippy design!

I haven't sailed off on my yacht yet, but it is a nice goal.  If you sail off first, send me a postcard... I'll see ya there soon! In the meantime, good luck and bon voyage...

Advice for others

Make "running your business from your yacht" a goal!  This is a glossy way of saying that with wireless internet, an internet fax line, and Quickbooks (for invoicing, accounting, credit card processing and more) you are set FREE!  So get that great idea off the ground or start that business you've been dreaming about -- then take advantage of these great tools we have available....and go....go live life!