1. I do not live in the United States. Can I take advantage of your program?
Yes, by all means. Our clients come from many countries. Our services are available worldwide to anyone wanting to know if their product is appropriate for the North American market, and if so, what the appropriate channels of distribution are.
In the United States we are learning that products that do well here don't do well in other countries and cultures. Two classic examples are the Chevrolet Nova and NesCafe coffee. Those of you fluent in Spanish have already recognized the problem these American brand names had in Spanish-speaking nations. After all, who wants a car with the name "Doesn't Go" or a coffee called "Is Not Coffee"? Products that do well in your country may not perform well in the North American market. Launching a product in North America can be very costly. Our product assessment procedures are designed to help you identify potential problem areas.
2. How does the World Innovation Network differ from the original U.S.-only service?
It doesn't. It is identical. We launched the World Innovation Network to help innovators worldwide to assess the potential of their products for entry into US markets. This global version of WIN uses the same Registration and Disclosure forms that we use in the United States. We are sorry, but at the present time our reports are available only in English. Please note that the evaluation fee is $20 higher because of the higher cost of sending our materials airmail to other countries. Thus the total fee is $220 in US funds.
3. Does my product have to be market-ready before we send it to you?
No, our services are available to you regardless of whether you have a finished product or just an idea for a new product. The stage of development does not matter. In fact, it is a good idea to get an evaluation early -- even before development starts -- or as early as possible. Our clients frequently use our reports to help them refine and improve their ideas and projects during their development. For early stage projects, we suggest you use the invention evaluation forms instead of the product assessment forms.
4. Is your system appropriate for evaluating products for introduction into my country?
Yes, the system has been used in some diverse economic situations with good results reported. The reason for its success elsewhere appears to be the fact that we have stuck to the basics that affect product success under most economic situations. However, we prefer not to evaluate products for introduction into countries outside of North America.
Our evaluation/system procedures are market-oriented and require an understanding of the target market. Customs, circumstances, and needs vary from country to country. Thus, it is easy to miss important factors that affect the potential for success.
5. Are licenses available for the use of your system in other countries?
Yes, licenses are available on either an exclusive or non-exclusive basis. We will work with licensees to revise our manuals so they are more relevant to their country/market area and we will provide training and assistance as required.
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