50th Annual INVENTION EXPOSURE

Transcription

1 The Minnesota Inventors Congress presents its 50th Annual INVENTION EXPOSURE June 8-10, :00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Redwood Area Community Center and Fieldhouse Redwood Falls, Minnesota S H O W C A S E! TEST MARKET your invention SELL your product at MIC INVENTION CENTRAL Connect with new PRODUCT SCOUTS INTERACT with professional consultants Attend the INVENTING SUCCESS SEMINARS REGISTRATION INFORMATION BOOKLET Contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress for more information: PO Box 71, Redwood Falls, MN Phone: Fax: mic@inventhelper.org

2 2 Why should I come to the MIC? One word. EXPOSURE! Inventors: By exhibiting your new product idea, you have the opportunity to test-market your idea to the general public by getting feedback, conducting surveys and holding drawings. Not to mention that you can connect with various professional consultants and product scouts! If information is what you re looking for, the MIC Invention Expo is THE place to be! Take advantage of a variety of educational opportunities. Check out the Inventing Success Seminars, schedule Exhibitor Information Registration All exhibitors must be approved by the MIC Board of Directors or their duly appointed designee(s). The Minnesota Inventors Congress reserves the right to refuse any or all applicants/exhibits for exhibit areas, speakers, product sales or provision of information. Early registration is requested. Registration forms faxed, ed or Awards As an exhibitor of the MIC in the Invention Exhibit area with a new product, you are eligible to compete for these and other awards. The F. Robert Starr Grand Prize cash award is $1,000. The People s Choice, Maynard Speece Memorial award is $500. Gold, Silver and Bronze Medallions. Among other awards are the Carl Oja award for the best display, the Gordon Volkenant Memorial Award for the best working model, the Friend of the Environment award, and the AgrAbility award, which is a cash a Custom Invention Plan and visit the Inventors Resource Center, a pod of booths staffed by various consultants in the invention development field. Inventor Resources: Having a booth at the MIC Expo is a great way for you to connect with inventors who are looking for information in various aspects of the invention development process! Need more information? Call the MIC office at or visit our web site at postmarked by May 1, 2007 qualify for reduced registration fees. Check-in for the Minnesota Inventors Congress is Thursday, June 7 from 5:00 8:00 p.m. You are also asked to set up your booth for the weekend during this time. The exhibit area will close that evening at 8:30 p.m. and will re-open Friday morning before the Expo begins at 8:00 a.m. award honoring the best invention for persons with disabilities. A panel of independent judges select exhibits that receive these awards. All inventions are judged on their own merit and are not compared to one another during the judging process, except for the Grand Prize. EXCITING NEW AWARD FOR 2007! One invention will be awarded a booth at the 2008 National Hardware Show in Las Vegas!

3 Exhibitor Information Exhibit Requirements Exhibitors must display a working model or prototype, and are limited to displaying only his/her own product in their booth. The exhibit must be in place by 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 8, and must be maintained in place until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 10th. The booth must be staffed at all times, either personally or by a designated representative. If needed, please read more about our Rent-A- Helper program detailed below. Selling is not permitted at any time by inventors in any booth. Should you decide that you would like to offer your market-ready product for purchase, please contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress office about selling your product through the MIC Invention Central. If you have previously exhibited at the Minnesota Inventors Congress in an Invention Exhibit, you are eligible to showcase that market-ready product in a booth in the Marketplace exhibit area. Although selling is prohibited in your booth, we strongly encourage you to contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress regarding the sale of your product at MIC Invention Central. Exhibitors in all exhibit areas must furnish proof of liability insurance, sales tax compliance, exemption, etc., upon request of the Minnesota Inventors Congress Board of Directors. Events at the Minnesota Inventors Congress The Minnesota Inventors Congress will be hosting two events corresponding with the Annual Invention Expo. The Expo 2007 Exhibitor Reception will be held on Friday from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel. Tickets cost $10 and must be purchased in advance. The reception will feature hors d' oeuvres and a cash bar. This is a great meet and greet opportunity for exhibitors and consultants to talk with each other informally. Dress is casual this evening. The MIC thanks Neustel Law Offices for helping to sponsor this event. The Awards Dinner is an event in which Invention Exhibits are recognized with various awards such as the F. Robert Starr Grand Prize Award, and Gold, Silver and Bronze Medallions. The Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame also announces its latest inductee during this event. The Awards Dinner will be held at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel where dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. with the Awards Ceremony to follow. Tickets are $20.00 and must be purchased in advance. Rent-A-Helper If you need to leave your booth at the Minnesota Inventors Congress for a short period of time, be sure to take advantage of our Rent-A-Helper program. Area youth and volunteers will be available for you to hire and watch your booth for a minimum fee of $7 per hour, payable directly to them. 3

4 Exhibitor Information MIC Invention Central Sell your market-ready product at the MIC Expo! Available exclusively to current and past exhibitors at the MIC If you would like to sell your product at the Minnesota Inventors Congress, we strongly encourage you to to contact us about selling your product at MIC Invention Central. Since the Minnesota Inventors Congress does not allow you to sell any products at your booth under any circumstances, this area of the MIC Gift Shop has been specifically set up for the sale of market-ready products that are being exhibited at the Minnesota Inventors Congress. If you have already exhibited a product at the MIC and would like to sell it at the show, you are also eligible to sell your market-ready product in MIC Invention Central. Please contact us for more information. If you are interested in selling your product, please indicate so on your registration form. We will then mail Disclaimer out detailed information to you in your confirmation packet regarding various requirements and information we will need from you in order to sell your product. All pertinent information regarding sale of your market-ready product must be obtained and/or returned to the Minnesota Inventors Congress no later than May 15, Presentation or promotion of products or services by exhibitors, speakers, other participants, media, or persons attending MIC events does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of the product or service by the Minnesota Inventors Congress. 4 IMPORTANT INFORMATION! Please be aware that to obtain a patent or a provisional patent to protect your invention, you must file a patent application within one year of displaying the invention to the public or your right to a valid U.S. patent will be lost. If a U.S. provisional patent or full patent application is not filed before you display, many foreign patent rights are lost as well. Please consult your patent attorney or agent with any questions before exhibiting at the Minnesota Inventors Congress.

5 Expo 2007 Guide Advertising Want even more EXPOSURE? Each year, the Minnesota Inventors Congress publishes an informational showbook that is handed out to each attendee of the Expo. This year s guide, Expo 2007 Guide will again offer inventors and business professionals the opportunity to reach each attendee of the show by publishing information about their products and services. Inventors: By advertising your new product idea in the showbook, you have the opportunity to get your idea into the hands of every show-goer without even talking to them. Some suggestions for advertising are to have a picture of your invention along with the name of your invention, a short description, and if you are seeking services, manufacturers, a licensing agreement or are offering your patent for sale. Advertising is a great way to gain the attention of show attendees and encourage them to come to your booth. Even if they don t get to your booth at the show, they will still be able to take the showbook home with them and may come across your advertisement later! Inventor Resources: Advertising in the showbook is an invaluable opportunity to Showbook Ad Rates (Black and white ad unless noted) Advertising Total Full Page 7.5x10" advertise your services to not only each exhibitor at the show, but each person who walks in the door! This guide is something that attendees will have access to at the show, and they will also be able to take it home with them for future reference. *Please see the prices below for the cost of advertising in the showbook. All ads are black and white with the exception of the back cover, which will be black and red. Then don t forget to add your advertising total to the line designated for Showbook Advertising on your registration form. Also, please note that the prices listed below are for ads that are submitted in high quality print PDF format, or high resolution (300 dpi) jpg or tiff format. Any ads not submitted in this format (i.e. Microsoft Word documents are not acceptable) will incur a $30 set-up fee. If you would like help with ad setup, please add the $30 set-up fee to your advertising total. The deadline for submitting ads is May 15, 2007, no exceptions. Call the MIC Office at for more information. All ads will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. The MIC reserves the right to reject any/or all advertisements/sponsorships submitted. 1/2 Page 7.5x5" or 3.75x10" 1/4 Page 3.75x5" 1/8 Page 3.75x2" or 2x3.75" Directory 5 lines max. Invention or Mrkt. Exhibitor $150 $125 $100 $75 Free Non-profit Inventor Org. $150 $125 $100 $75 $35 General Public $250 $200 $150 $100 $40 For-Profit Business $350 $300 $250 $175 $100 Inside Front or Back Cover $500 $300 $200 n/a n/a Back Cover (Black and Red) $700 $500 $300 n/a n/a Add this amount to the Show Guide Advertising line of your registration form Advertisement Directory Set-up fee (see above) Advertising Total + + = 5

6 Educational Opportunities Get an Inventing Success Mini MBA! Thursday, June 7, 8:00 a.m. check-in, 8:30 4:30 seminar Cost is $80 for early registration, $100 after the early registration deadline. Seminar held in the Redwood Area Community Center. Presented by the MIC and the US Small Business Administration. This all-new addition to the Minnesota Inventors Congress offers you a full day of education in the invention development process from start to finish. The cost of the seminar includes lunch and two breaks. During this day, we will be covering four main subjects. The first is So you want to be an inventor? This area will explore some of the necessary questions to ask yourself before making this move, as well as information you need for making it as an inventor. The next subject will be Where do you find the money to make your invention? This topic proves to be a challenge for most inventors. There will be discussion on overcoming those Inventors Resource Center Included with gate entrance fee A valuable asset for attendees at the Minnesota Inventors Congress Expo is the Inventors Resource Center. This pod of booths will be located in the Inventor Resource Vendor Exhibit area and will be staffed by a variety of consultants in the challenges as well as different financial avenues to explore. Protecting your invention has to do with laws surrounding intellectual property as well as an overview of the patent process. The final topic of the day is How to make money with your invention. Here we will explore the various paths you can take with your invention and what they might mean for you financially. This unique educational opportunity is open to anyone. For those planning on being an exhibitor at the MIC Expo, this provides you with the opportunity to take advantage of a seminar without having to miss any of the show! Early registration deadline is May 15, Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Minnesota Inventors Congress Exhibit Floor invention development field. This Resource Center will provide a unique opportunity for Minnesota Inventors Congress attendees to interact with professional consultants on a firstcome first-serve basis. 6 RESOURCE PARTNERS U.S. Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Development Centers Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association SCORE Counselors to America s small business National Inventor Fraud Center Redwood Area Development Corp. Inventors Digest Magazine

7 Educational Opportunities Inventing Success Seminars Friday, June 8 10:00 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 9 10:00 a.m. / 1:00 p.m. Learn from the experts! Cost is $20 per seminar, payable at the door. There is no pre-registration for these seminars. Seminars held in the Redwood Area Community Center. Presented by the MIC and the US Small Business Administration. If information is what you re looking Your Idea, Product Development and for, the Inventing Success Seminars Evaluation, Marketing, Licensing, are definitely something you'll want to attend. With subjects covering all aspects of the development process, you can pick and choose which areas you would like to learn more about. Some topics will include: Protecting Creative Financing and Successful Inventor Stories. Please note: Schedules are subject to change. For the most current information on the seminars, please visit our web site at Custom Invention Plan Friday June 8 By appointment only. Limited availability register today! Cost is $100 and is limited to one evaluation per inventor. The Custom Invention Plan offers Plan is $100, with the estimated market you the opportunity to meet with a value of this service being anywhere team of two or three consultants for between $250 up to $800. a private, personalized consultation If you would like to make an lasting 1-2 hours. Teams are assigned appointment for a Custom Invention based on the needs you express in your Plan, please indicate so on the application. Available resources include Registration Form in this booklet. In your consultants with expertise in the areas confirmation packet, you will receive of financing, intellectual property, a Custom Invention Plan application. marketing, manufacturing and business Please complete the application form planning. in the confirmation packet and return This resource is available only it to the MIC office no later than May to current or past exhibitors at the 15. Minnesota Inventors Congress, and Applications will be scheduled on a Evaluation Registration is limited to first-come, first-serve basis. There will one evaluation per inventor. be a limited number of appointments. The cost of the Custom Invention Invention Protection Seminar Friday, June 8, 7:30 9:30 p.m. Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel The Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association and the US Patent and Trademark Office offer a seminar that is free and open to the public. Space is limited. First come, first serve. 7

8 2007 MIC Fee Schedule EXHIBIT AREAS INVENTION EXHIBIT ( Indoor Outdoor )... Exhibiting at the Minnesota Inventors Congress gives independent inventors a unique opportunity to gain EXPOSURE for their new product idea. Inventors may test-market their idea by conducting surveys and holding drawings, listening to feedback from the general public, and interacting with various professional consultants. Inventions in this category also compete for a variety of awards! Please note that selling is not permitted at any time by inventors in the Invention Exhibit area. Should you decide that you would like to offer your market-ready product for purchase, please contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress office about selling your product through the MIC Gift Shop. See pages 2-4 of this brochure for a complete list of all exhibit requirements and restrictions. Included with your booth is a 8' x 10' draped booth indoors or an exhibit space outdoors; one sign with the name of your invention; a draped 6' table; two chairs; and one ticket to the Awards Dinner. If you select an indoor booth, your booth will be located indoors in the Marketplace Exhibit area. If you select an outdoor exhibit, you will have one booth indoors in the Invention Exhibit area, as well as an area outdoors to display your product. Please contact the MIC for more information. MARKETPLACE EXHIBIT ( Indoor Outdoor )... Previous exhibitors are eligible to showcase their market-ready product in the Marketplace at the Minnesota Inventors Congress. Although selling is prohibited in your booth, we strongly encourage you to contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress regarding the sale of your product at MIC Invention Central. You may also test-market your product, conduct surveys and hold drawings, and gain feedback from the public and professional consultants. Included with your exhibit is a 8' x 10' draped booth; one sign with the name of your invention; a draped 6' table; two chairs; and one ticket to the Awards Dinner. If you select an indoor booth, your booth will be located indoors in the Marketplace Exhibit area. If you select an outdoor exhibit, you will have one booth indoors in the Marketplace Exhibit area, as well as an area outdoors to display your product. Please contact the MIC for more information. INVENTOR RESOURCES VENDOR EXHIBITS Individuals and businesses in this category are provided the opportunity to present their products or services and contribute a useful resource to those in the invention development process. Included with your booth is a 8' x 10' draped booth indoors in the Inventor Resource Vendor Exhibit area; one sign with the name of your service; a draped 6' table; two chairs; and one ticket to the Awards Dinner. NON-PROFIT ENTITIES... These include non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, Governmental Agencies of the United States or Educational Institutions of the United States. If you will not be able to attend the Minnesota Inventors Congress, you may send literature to be displayed at the show. This opportunity is available to non-profit entities only for a nominal fee.... FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES... Please note that any company that has had a Federal Trade Commission action filed against them will not be permitted to exhibit. All For-Profit entities must have filed all necessary licenses, permits, bonds, etc. as required by the State of Minnesota, Minnesota Statutes 325A. References must be supplied upon request. EXHIBIT ADD-ONS AND SUPPLEMENTS Additional 8' x 10' exhibit space... Additional Invention and Sign V Electrical Hook-up... Additional Awards Dinner tickets (Saturday night See page 3 for more information)... Exhibitor Reception tickets (Friday night See page 3 for more information)... Show Guide advertising total (See Expo 2007 Guide Advertising Fee Schedule on page 5)... Online advertising at I am interested in selling my market-ready product in MIC Invention Central. (See page 4) EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (For more information, see pages 6-7) Custom Invention Plan (MUST BE faxed or postmarked by May 1, 2007)... Inventing Success Mini MBA... (EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT IF RETURNED BY MAY 15, 2007.) INVENTOR RESOURCES Patent it Yourself - by David Pressman + $5 Shipping and Handling... The Inventor s Bible - by Ron Docie + $5 Shipping and Handling... From Patent to Profit - by Bob DeMatteis + $5 Shipping and Handling... Scientific Journal (Inventor's Notebook) - by Bob DeMatteis + $5 Shipping and Handling... (PLEASE SEE OTHER SIDE OF REGISTRATION FORM FOR PAYMENT INFORMATION) BASE PRICE QTY. TOTAL $ $ (EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT IF FAXED OR POSTMARKED BY MAY 1, 2007.) $ $ (EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT IF FAXED OR POSTMARKED BY MAY 1, 2007.) $ $ $ $ (EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT IF FAXED OR POSTMARKED BY MAY 1, 2007.) $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ TOTAL $

9 2007 MIC Invention EXPOsure Registration Form PLEASE MAIL OR FAX TO THE MINNESOTA INVENTORS CONGRESS OFFICE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU KEEP A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR YOUR RECORDS. Name/Inventor Co-Inventor (if applicable) Designated Representative (if different from inventor) Company Address City State Zip Phone ( ) Fax ( ) Website Name of Invention/Service for Sign Information (Limit of 27 maximum letters and spaces per sign) Invention/Exhibit Description (Limit 25 words) Please check the appropriate box if you would like the MIC to release your name, address, invention information and photographs for: Media Promotion Business Contacts Is your invention patented? Yes No Pending Have you exhibited at MIC previously? Yes No If yes, what year(s) did you exhibit? Exhibitor Name Badges (limit 4) Name badges are required for staff in your booth. Special Needs for Booth (i.e. water, forklift, television set, etc. Fees will be assessed at check-in.) FOR INVENTION EXHIBITORS ONLY: Select the category that best describes your invention: Renewable Energy Health Care/Medical Toys and Games Household/Personal Tools/Construction Electronics Industrial Equipment Hobbies/Crafts Sports and Recreation Agricultural Auto/Transportation Other For determining various awards: Inventor's Date of Birth Miles traveled to MIC Eligibility Statement I believe I am the original, first and sole (or joint) inventor(s) of the inventions I will display at the Minnesota Inventors Congress (MIC) June 8, 9, 10, I also agree to the exhibit requirements listed in this brochure. Signature (required to exhibit) Date Payment Information please check one of the boxes below. Booth cannot be guaranteed without pre-payment. Check or money order payable to Minnesota Inventors Congress Credit Card ( Please check one MC Visa Discover AMEX ) Card # Card ID Exp. Date Signature I prefer to pay by phone. Please contact the Minnesota Inventors Congress for payment. PO Box 71, Redwood Falls, MN Phone: Toll Free: (INVENT-1) Fax:

10 Minnesota Inventors Congress P.O. BOX S. Mill St. Redwood Falls MN MINNESOTA INVENTORS CONGRESS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007 Redwood Area Community Center 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Inventing Success Full Day Seminar FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 Redwood Area Community Center and Fieldhouse 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. MIC Exhibits Open To Public MN Inventors Hall of Fame Exhibit Small Engine Display 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Inventing Success Seminars 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Resource Pod 1:00 4:00 p.m. Student Inventors Exhibits Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Exhibitor Reception 7:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m. Invention Protection Seminar Downtown Redwood Falls 7:00 p.m. Community Parade Sponsored by Women of Today PLEASE NOTE: SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2007 Redwood Area Comm. Center and Fieldhouse 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. MIC Exhibits Open To Public MN Inventors Hall of Fame Exhibit Small Engine Display New Ulm Gem and Mineral Show Arts Festival 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Inventing Success Seminars 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Resource Pod 1:00 4:00 p.m. Student Inventors Exhibits Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel 6:00 p.m. Awards Dinner & Inductee Ceremony SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2007 Redwood Falls Airport 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Rotary Pancake Brkfst. Redwood Area Fieldhouse 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. MIC Exhibits Open To Public MN Inventors Hall of Fame Exhibit Small Engine Display New Ulm Gem and Mineral Show 1:00 4:00 p.m. Student Inventors Exhibits 4:30 p.m. Final Awards Presentation Make plans to join us for our 50th Annual EXPO!