This fine product was first brought to our attention when a representative of its inventor brought one into our office in Chicago. The product was perfectly engineered, but the inventor did not know how to market it. Our president meet with the inventor in Van Nuys, California, and purchased the balance of his inventory and licensed the marketing rights to the product worldwide. The product was patented in the USA and in most other major countries. As with most failed products, not enough attention was given to advance market research, to packaging, and to the other necessary sales tools.

The first step was to establish a suggested list price of $49.95 and the next, to change the name from "Mini Serrating Ribbon Check Writer" to "Executive Check Writer." Then we designed packaging, a brochure, instructions, and attractive in-store displays. To get the product launched, we did in-store demonstrations. We provided the giant direct mail catalogue companies with our artwork, and some gave as much as a full page for this new product. Sears, Roebuck & Co. placed the product in their office products catalogue and ordered so many units that their order took up the entire production capacity. The inventor retained the manufacturing rights but was unable to keep up with production. Our president agreed to travel with the inventor to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo to find a capable manufacturer and to pay a royalty to the inventor. After visiting many suppliers in foreign countries, we decided not to be in this type of manufacturing. About this time, we had an offer for our entire company that we couldn't refuse, and so we sold the business. Whether manufacturing a product and marketing it ourselves or marketing a product with our name behind it, we pride ourselves on delivering a product whose quality and delivery our customers can trust.