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Getting the Most Out of Your New Product Ideas

by George Martin

Start ı Another One Bites the Dust ı A Plan of Action ı Running with a Good Idea ı Sources and PDF

My motherıs home has electric hot-air heat/air conditioning unit. It was built when electric homes received a discounted electric bill. The AC failed recently, so I started calling around to get an estimate on what it would take to either fix or altogether replace the AC. It was nearly impossible for me to get anyone to come out and look at the system. Apparently, because Iım not an oil customer, I donıt appear in anyoneıs computerized system. I finally got one oil company to send out a service man, but that was only because I gave them my credit card number first. Ninety-five dollars bought me a service man to come out and tell me itıs broken, a fact I already knew, so Iıll consider whether or not that bill will be paid.

Starting again, this time I asked for a quote on a new heating system. Out of the many calls I made, only one supplier returned my call. He was organized, efficient, and knowledgeable, and his company is installing a new system today.

I write about this not to air my complaints but to ponder a questionıwhy did all the companies that have ads in the yellow pages and offer 24-hour service fail to even take the opportunity to quote my project? Are they too busy or just not organized? Is there no profit in my project?

I could go on, but my point in all this is to ask you one questionıdid you or your company pass over any opportunities last year? Did you look at everything that came across your desk? Did the receptionist misplace any calls? How much is that one extra customer worth today? When times are good, I think we overlook some important opportunities.

The electronics industry is in the tank. Itıs seeing one of the largest declines ever recorded. The senior members of our group will be familiar with these declines and know how to get through them. However, it doesnıt make much sense to worry about the decline now, because it will be over soon anyway. But because we are where we are, letıs talk about new products. Itıs a great time to think about them and perhaps even build some prototypes.

Iım sure each of us has said "I wish there was aı." But, how many of those ideas have actually come to fruition? Here are a few of the products or ideas that I have come across in the past.

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