ge didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint Gentlemen: if you want to save your relationship, read this.

George Foerst, Lighthouse Point, Florida inventor, was listening to a friend complain that her partner always forgot to put the seat and lid down after using the toilet. This ‘primordial act’ was perceived to be so irritating, this guy was going to be shown the communal door. George figured he could solve this, having himself lived on a boat at one time, having to use a marine toilet. He knew full well that his answer to this perennial problem might create a market for boats and their marine toilets, too. He invented the Toilet Lid Alert, a unique, patent-pending device that is affixed to the underside of the toilet lid. It makes sure you ‘remember’ to put the seat and lid down after use. To ensure this happens, George designed a way to remind you with sound: either the pre-recorded alert, as it comes from the factory; or the one you can record creating your very own customized message. Most folks would have stopped there, but not George. This is where the real marketer comes in. He continued to talk with people and do more research on this “problem” caused by ‘unevolved males’. He studied the history of the toilet and uncovered a few more needs that he could fulfill.He discovered that the TLA could be used by mothers toilet training girls and boys. It would help prevent an accidental drowning of toddlers; if/when left unattended in a bathroom with the seat and lid up (the statistics are horrifying).

Additionally, he learned from pet owners that the fear of drowning is ever-present whenever the lid is not down. Additionally, dog owners explained that taller, lanky canines like to take a cold drink from the bowl, and then give their owners a big ‘ol juicy “kiss.” (Even more dangerous, I have read about toilet bowl cleaners in tablet form that you put in the toilet tank. The instructions warn that these tablets are extremely poisonous and may cause fatalities if ingested.)George took a prototype of his invention to several trade shows. Many different individuals and groups, representative of different potential TLA uses, (e.g. sports teams, pets, potty-training etc.) wanted the rights for this device to sell in their own niche markets. Many wanted to sell special Toilet Lid Alerts that were made in their sports team colors and were capable of playing the (football) ‘fight song’ until the lid was put in the down position. (One baseball-oriented group wanted the lid to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”) Others were interested in the pet market; particularly those who owned ferrets. George was astounded to learn that next to dogs and cats, ferrets are the next largest group of domestic residential pets in America. It is estimated there might be up to 25 million of them in houses and apartments. These lovable, fuzzy critters are very inquisitive. They get into loads of trouble, including drowning in carelessly uncovered toilet bowls.(If you would like to see a brief video of just what this little invention looks and sounds like, click on the live link found in the "credits" section at the end of this article).

Just recently, the hit television show, Las Vegas, featured a scene in which we hear a “splash sound” (off stage), the female protagonist, (Belinda) screams loudly from off stage, then storms back on stage to yell again at the male lead character, (Danny) in the living room of the newly shared apartment. She is red-faced-furious that he has forgotten to put the toilet seat down. He has some smart-ass answer but the point is well taken. Even fictional television is portraying this no-longer-funny scene in their scripts!

But let’s get back to George Foerst, the inventor. George didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint v

our very own customized message. Most folks would have stopped there, but not George. This is where the real marketer comes in. He continued to talk with people and do more research on this “problem” caused by ‘unevolved males’. He studied the history of the toilet and uncovered a few more needs that he could fulfill.He discovered that the TLA could be used by mothers toilet training girls and boys. It would help prevent an accidental drowning of toddlers; if/when left unattended in a bathroom with the seat and lid up (the statistics are horrifying).

Additionally, he learned from pet owners that the fear of drowning is ever-present whenever the lid is not down. Additionally, dog owners explained that taller, lanky canines like to take a cold drink from the bowl, and then give their owners a big ‘ol juicy “kiss.” (Even more dangerous, I have read about toilet bowl cleaners in tablet form that you put in the toilet tank. The instructions warn that these tablets are extremely poisonous and may cause fatalities if ingested.)George took a prototype of his invention to several trade shows. Many different individuals and groups, representative of different potential TLA uses, (e.g. sports teams, pets, potty-training etc.) wanted the rights for this device to sell in their own niche markets. Many wanted to sell special Toilet Lid Alerts that were made in their sports team colors and were capable of playing the (football) ‘fight song’ until the lid was put in the down position. (One baseball-oriented group wanted the lid to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”) Others were interested in the pet market; particularly those who owned ferrets. George was astounded to learn that next to dogs and cats, ferrets are the next largest group of domestic residential pets in America. It is estimated there might be up to 25 million of them in houses and apartments. These lovable, fuzzy critters are very inquisitive. They get into loads of trouble, including drowning in carelessly uncovered toilet bowls.(If you would like to see a brief video of just what this little invention looks and sounds like, click on the live link found in the "credits" section at the end of this article).

Just recently, the hit television show, Las Vegas, featured a scene in which we hear a “splash sound” (off stage), the female protagonist, (Belinda) screams loudly from off stage, then storms back on stage to yell again at the male lead character, (Danny) in the living room of the newly shared apartment. She is red-faced-furious that he has forgotten to put the toilet seat down. He has some smart-ass answer but the point is well taken. Even fictional television is portraying this no-longer-funny scene in their scripts!

But let’s get back to George Foerst, the inventor. George didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint

instructions warn that these tablets are extremely poisonous and may cause fatalities if ingested.)George took a prototype of his invention to several trade shows. Many different individuals and groups, representative of different potential TLA uses, (e.g. sports teams, pets, potty-training etc.) wanted the rights for this device to sell in their own niche markets. Many wanted to sell special Toilet Lid Alerts that were made in their sports team colors and were capable of playing the (football) ‘fight song’ until the lid was put in the down position. (One baseball-oriented group wanted the lid to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”) Others were interested in the pet market; particularly those who owned ferrets. George was astounded to learn that next to dogs and cats, ferrets are the next largest group of domestic residential pets in America. It is estimated there might be up to 25 million of them in houses and apartments. These lovable, fuzzy critters are very inquisitive. They get into loads of trouble, including drowning in carelessly uncovered toilet bowls.(If you would like to see a brief video of just what this little invention looks and sounds like, click on the live link found in the "credits" section at the end of this article).

Just recently, the hit television show, Las Vegas, featured a scene in which we hear a “splash sound” (off stage), the female protagonist, (Belinda) screams loudly from off stage, then storms back on stage to yell again at the male lead character, (Danny) in the living room of the newly shared apartment. She is red-faced-furious that he has forgotten to put the toilet seat down. He has some smart-ass answer but the point is well taken. Even fictional television is portraying this no-longer-funny scene in their scripts!

But let’s get back to George Foerst, the inventor. George didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint

s. These lovable, fuzzy critters are very inquisitive. They get into loads of trouble, including drowning in carelessly uncovered toilet bowls.(If you would like to see a brief video of just what this little invention looks and sounds like, click on the live link found in the "credits" section at the end of this article).

Just recently, the hit television show, Las Vegas, featured a scene in which we hear a “splash sound” (off stage), the female protagonist, (Belinda) screams loudly from off stage, then storms back on stage to yell again at the male lead character, (Danny) in the living room of the newly shared apartment. She is red-faced-furious that he has forgotten to put the toilet seat down. He has some smart-ass answer but the point is well taken. Even fictional television is portraying this no-longer-funny scene in their scripts!

But let’s get back to George Foerst, the inventor. George didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint

ge didn’t stop with the obvious; he continued to do his research. Now he had a potential market that was four times the size of his original estimates. He reasoned that if less than one half of one percent of dual-gender homes (with or without pets or toddlers) bought a toilet lid alert, he would have to manufacture millions of these devices.Next, George and his associates took a long look at their own resources...and what they knew and did best. They were very good at inventing new concepts and products, not manufacturing them. ‘The best solution? ‘Send potential manufacturers and marketers to the toilet lid alert web site, where there they could be informed and motivated about licensing the Toilet Lid Alert for their own market purposes. They’re the experts at manufacturing. They have all the contacts with suppliers – they work with these folks daily in their other pursuits – so why invent a flat tire? ‘Joint venture with people who will want to license the invention for their own market segments and uses. George told me: “we want to sign a licensee agreement with a first-class firm that preferably manufactures and markets toys.”

He quickly added: “We want a firm with a good reputation, a strong track record in the domestic and international marketplace; one that has established relationships with major retail chains, like Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Kroger and such too. ‘A lot to ask, but we know they’re out there.” They determined that when they sign an agreement with one or more licensees who are already in the business of making and marketing toys and novelties, they won’t have to do it themselves. Why take on something where you don’t have the industry contacts or that specific market experience? Let others do what they do best.

George said: “We’ll drive pre-qualified, targeted traffic to our site, which explains our product and its many uses. Then, we’ll discuss possibilities with the interested manufacturers or other parties who visit the toilet-lid-alert site”. When a prospective licensee calculates the potential sales of this device, his pulse should quicken, and then start to race. ©Copyright, Roy W. MacNaughton, 2007