By Vicki Matranga, Design Programs Coordinator
At the International Home + Housewares Show in March, the Innovation Theater in the Lakeside Center will present 21 educational programs, every hour beginning Saturday morning and ending Tuesday afternoon. At the Theater, located in Room E350 (near the entry to the Level 3 Lobby), experts in new product development and launch will discuss critical and timely topics in our industry. Over the next weeks, we’ll introduce you to the presenters with a series of interviews. Be sure to mark your calendars for these exciting programs! Check www.housewares.org regularly for updates on the schedule of Show events.
Saturday, March 2 12:30 – 1:20 pm
The New Environment for Independent Inventors
Warren Tuttle manages the Open Innovation Program for housewares industry leader Lifetime Brands and is president of Monashee Marketing, a company dedicated to helping inventors and product developers get their innovations to market. He serves as the president of the United Inventors Association, America’s largest non-profit dedicated to inventor education. Those familiar with the television direct response market will recognize many products that Warren guided to multimillion-unit sales success. Warren has also helped numerous housewares product patent holders obtain licensing agreements with major U.S. manufacturers and has counseled many inventors who went on to start their own small businesses. Warren works with IHA to develop and manage the Inventors Corner and Inventors Revue in the North Building.
Prior to developing and marketing products for the housewares industry, Warren owned five gourmet specialty kitchenware stores in Connecticut, a prepared food and catering business, a nationally recognized cooking school and a partnership in a kitchen design business. Warren began his career as a department store buyer of cookware and small appliances in New York City (Abraham and Straus of Brooklyn, N.Y.).
Warren, ideas for new products are swirling everywhere. Inventors appear on TV shows and share their concepts on websites to attract potential investors. Patent regulations recently changed. An inventor’s path is rocky one. You’ve been in the business for a long time. What inspires your passion in your work?
I enjoy helping inventors get to market, helping companies open up to external product development and working in this “blue water” arena. I have a unique understanding of the challenges and rewards from such pursuits.
Why did you choose to speak at the International Home + Housewares Show?
I have been attending the Housewares Show since 1979. I enjoy being a part of this industry and sharing my collective knowledge.
Tell us what you will be speaking about and how and this topic is important for Show audiences.
I’ll explain how Open Innovation works and give some tips on how to approach companies with your product submissions for licensing.
You’ve presented in the Innovation Theater before. What are you looking forward to most from speaking at the Innovation Theater?
Meeting new people and spreading the Open Innovation message. I presume the folks attending will be motivated to listen and learn. It does not matter how many attend, as long as those who do are there because they want to learn and grow.
What do you see as consumers’ biggest concerns regarding housewares products?
Consumers want to know three things: 1) do the products function properly? That is, does a product do what it says it should? 2) Do the innovative introductions solve a real problem, or otherwise make people’s lives a little easier in the kitchen? 3) Do they hold up to repeated use?
What are some of today’s trends or issues that new product development professionals face in the housewares market?
Consumers are looking for product that are heart healthy, safe for the environment, lower food costs and solve a real problem.
What is the best advice you could give someone trying to get into your area of expertise?
Spend extra time and truly gain on the ground experience. Find some real winners to gain credibility. Give something back charitably to the greater community.
Thank you, Warren. You know the housewares business inside out and have worked with such a variety of people and products. We look forward to hearing about your experiences in shaping concepts into best-selling products. Your presentation will be most informative as you describe how Open Innovation has evolved on the corporate side over recent years. We hope inventors will come to hear your tips on how to seek licensing opportunities with established companies.
To learn more about Warren’s work, see www.monasheemarketing.com or call him directly at 203-594-8808 if you are looking to launch the next biggest hit.
