January 2, 2025 • 19 mins
Welcome to Episode 2 of the Inventor Spotlight Podcast, presented by the Inventor Smart Community and the National Inventors Club! Host Samantha St. Raymond interviews Kerry Cooke, inventor of the Spleash Spray Leash, a groundbreaking product that combines hydration and control during dog walks. Inspired by her experiences with her dog Lola in Southern California, Kerry shares how she developed the product from concept to success, including a feature on the Today Show. She also discusses the challenges of educating the market and how community support has helped her along the way. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on invention and innovation!
Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/OoDivBHJcsQ
---------------------------------
To learn more about the Inventor Smart Community App, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/PxQvjjBq1S0
Inventor Smart Community App: The Ultimate Inventor's Community! Imagine a place where your invention ideas are celebrated, nurtured, and propelled forward. Welcome to Inventor Smart, where you'll connect with a passionate community of creators who understand your journey and help you bring your ideas to life!
Here's how Inventor Smart Community App will inspire you:
*Connect and Collaborate: Join lively group chats and forums to brainstorm with fellow inventors, share your progress, and overcome obstacles together.
*Tap into a Wealth of Knowledge: Get expert advice on patents, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, and retail distribution – all from experienced inventors who've been there.
*Spark Your Inspiration: Attend exciting online and in-person events designed to ignite your creativity and connect you with fellow innovators. Join live streams with industry leaders and the National Inventor Club, participate in book club meetings and Q&A sessions, or meet face-to-face at Meet and Greets.
*Gain Recognition: Showcase your invention to the community and gain valuable exposure. Pitch your ideas to explore potential partnerships. Be featured in our "Inventor in the Spotlight" series, where we share your inspiring journey with the community.
*Stay in the Know: Receive real-time notifications and announcements to keep you informed and inspired. Download Inventor Smart today and experience the power of a supportive community!
Download the Inventor Smart Community app today:
iOS in the Apple app store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inventor-smart-community/id6448789752
and Andriod in Google Play store: https://inventorsmartplay.com
Also on the web app.inventorsmart.com.
Have a great invention idea? Do you want to know if your idea will make you money? If you're just getting started, need help with product development, engineering, prototyping, finding a product licensing agent or with bringing your invention idea to reality manufacturing overseas or in the USA, schedule a call with Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach @ https://brianfried.com
Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/OoDivBHJcsQ
---------------------------------
To learn more about the Inventor Smart Community App, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/PxQvjjBq1S0
Inventor Smart Community App: The Ultimate Inventor's Community! Imagine a place where your invention ideas are celebrated, nurtured, and propelled forward. Welcome to Inventor Smart, where you'll connect with a passionate community of creators who understand your journey and help you bring your ideas to life!
Here's how Inventor Smart Community App will inspire you:
*Connect and Collaborate: Join lively group chats and forums to brainstorm with fellow inventors, share your progress, and overcome obstacles together.
*Tap into a Wealth of Knowledge: Get expert advice on patents, licensing, manufacturing, marketing, and retail distribution – all from experienced inventors who've been there.
*Spark Your Inspiration: Attend exciting online and in-person events designed to ignite your creativity and connect you with fellow innovators. Join live streams with industry leaders and the National Inventor Club, participate in book club meetings and Q&A sessions, or meet face-to-face at Meet and Greets.
*Gain Recognition: Showcase your invention to the community and gain valuable exposure. Pitch your ideas to explore potential partnerships. Be featured in our "Inventor in the Spotlight" series, where we share your inspiring journey with the community.
*Stay in the Know: Receive real-time notifications and announcements to keep you informed and inspired. Download Inventor Smart today and experience the power of a supportive community!
Download the Inventor Smart Community app today:
iOS in the Apple app store:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inventor-smart-community/id6448789752
and Andriod in Google Play store: https://inventorsmartplay.com
Also on the web app.inventorsmart.com.
Have a great invention idea? Do you want to know if your idea will make you money? If you're just getting started, need help with product development, engineering, prototyping, finding a product licensing agent or with bringing your invention idea to reality manufacturing overseas or in the USA, schedule a call with Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach @ https://brianfried.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hi Carrie, nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi Samantha, good to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Thanks for having me on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh well, this is our second episode of our spotlight series,
brought to you by the National Inventors Club and of
course Inventor Smart Community. So it's been my pleasure to
kind of head up these podcasts. And when I saw
your on the schedule, I was like, let's do this.
I'm always excited to see and speak with you, and
(00:37):
I love your product, so I think it's just really smart.
I'm a dog mom myself, and I know that you
are as well.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And speaking of he is on the couch.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
He's sleeping right now, but like I said, that can
change at any moment, so we'll just get through all
of that. So, first and foremost again, welcome, thanks for
being a premium subscriber to the Inventor Smart Community. We'll
talk more about that in a few minutes, but I
want you to tell our audience exactly what your product
is and how you came up with the idea and
(01:07):
where you're at now, so I'll give you the floor
for just a moment.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, thank you. So the product I came up with
is called Spleash. It's a spray leash handle, so it's
meant to bring. Turn any leash into a water bottle
and bowl essentially have one right here. You fill it
up with twelve ounces of water fresh water, attach it
(01:33):
to any standard sized leash so it doesn't come with
a leash standard, but you can buy one as an
option if you're not sure your leash will fit. But
most any standard sized rope, leather or nylon leash.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Fits into the leash.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You pop it in, come to the handle, fill it
with water, and then if you're out on a lock
and then off leash, animals coming up at you sort
of aim for their face and that little bit of
water can be a great deterrent for them. They'll shake
their head, change direction. You can clean off their paws
by squirting their paws clean. But the best thing is
it has a slip open cup and you can squeeze
(02:09):
water in for a quick sip if you're out on
a hike, and if they need a big bowl of water,
then you pull the plug open and it will fill
the whole thing up without overflowing, so you give them
a good drink while they're out on their hikes and walks.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That is so smart.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
So not only does it have a reservoir for water
and a little cup section so you can water your
dog while you're out, there's also a spray option too,
and I use water spray for training, especially when Myla
was younger, not so much now, but I always found
that was a great deterrent as well.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
So you're saying that's a two and one.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
A water reservoir to thirst your dog and then a
little spray action in case you are approached by another animal,
and you can just do a couple of little water
skirts just to kind of keep them back.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
That's brilliant. Yeah, And when did you come up with
this side? Dan? How are you been working on this?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I had the idea in late twenty eighteen, Okay, I
literally thought when I when the idea sparked, because let's
see if she's back here, the inspiration for the product
is over on that couch. She's black and kind of
blending in there. But our black lab Woimrin or Lola,
(03:26):
she's ninety five pounds of pure energy.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And we live in southern California, so I was constantly
getting a few blocks away and then realizing I forgot
the water, And when you do have a you know,
a darker colored dog living in hot conditions, you really
should bring water every time. So I've got a couple
(03:49):
of blocks away, and oh, I forgot the water again.
So one day I had one of I had one
of those solutions that was available on the market, which
you squeeze it and it fills up a little bowl
at the top, and I would squeeze the water up,
and she was laying under a tree sort of panting,
and I was trying to cool her down. So I
just tossed the water on her from the cup that
(04:13):
I filled it. I thought, well, if you could really
direct this water a little better, it would be really handy.
I'm sure you could clean up messes on the sidewalk
and if the poop bag breaks, and all of these
things started going through my head that you could use
a spray feature on the end of a dog leash,
and I thought, well, I'll just go home and buy
(04:34):
it because I thought it existed. And I was twenty
thirty pages deep on Google, same with Amazon, couldn't find
anything like it. And I thought, Okay, there's just no
way I've thought of something that doesn't already exist, you know,
let's keep researching, and that's when I decided to go
(04:56):
for it, and in March of twenty nineteen we formed
the company. So we just had our fifth anniversary. So
we've had Spleash as an idea and then in the
market now for the last couple of years, and it's
been just an amazing journey, full of adventure and learning.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Of course, full of adventures and learning.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So speaking of what were some of the what were
some of your biggest challenges like early on and of
course some of your biggest triumphs and your successes.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, so there's been lots of challenges. I'm sure everybody
that was trying to launch a product in twenty twenty
had the same challenges that I did. And that was
just you know, bad timing for all of us, so
communicating our factories actually in Taiwan, and you know a
lot of the everything changed after the course costs, the plastic,
(05:52):
cost fuel, all of those things. So that's been challenging.
But really trying to perfect the product to make it
really leap proof, to make it work for the most people.
And we've gone around and around with various people who
(06:14):
they think it's it's a retractable leash. It does look
a lot like a retractable leash when you're when you're walking,
or you show it to somebody, Ah, I don't use
retractable leashes. So that's been a challenge that we've had
to deal with all along.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now let me jump in there.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Was that an unexpected challenge that you were going to
have to reteach the consumer?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
That's not expected for you? Well, yeah, I thought.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I thought with clear messaging, with clear imagery, we could
show that it's not a retractable you know that this
is a water reservoir. And that's been a lot more
challenging than I had anticipated originally. And you know, when
we're at a trade show, so you can see the
people who don't like retractable leashes a mile away because
(07:05):
they'll sort of glance over, they'll give it the oh,
I'm trying to figure out what this product is. And
then when they sort of do, they'll just they won't
look at you again, and they'll keep walking. And I
usually shout out it's not retractable, and like almost one
hundred percent of the people are like, really, it's not
and they'll come over and ask, well.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
What is it then?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And when you explain that this is actually the entire
water reservoir that there's no you know, leash inside and
it they'll fit on any standard size leash. That's when
they're they're blown away and they get it.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Got it?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I think this is a really a great topic and
a question because these are these unexpected marketing things and
messaging like you just said that you weren't really prepared for.
Because sometimes as inventors, we know our product in and out,
we know everything about it, but how it's perceived and
how the consumer because we're all visual, right, so the
(08:01):
visual is telling them right away, you know, this is
a retractable without and and But that's interesting as an
inventor that you have to see that very quickly so
that you can change your messaging, uh to to satisfy
that visual effect that the consumer is going to have
right away. So obviously you've been doing this for a while.
(08:22):
And I love this too because you know, even in
the April's newsletter, Brian talks about you know the process
of this and how long this takes, and you know
to be patient and take your setbacks as they come
and take your triumph. So I know you've you've had
some successes. Obviously, you've been selling for a moment. So
(08:43):
what is that biggest success that you like to brag
about that that you feel as an inventor that I've
made this this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, there's there's a couple. I'm happy to say there's
been a couple of those moments. I'm really excited about
one that that will be rebuilt later in the year.
I'd allowed to talk about it yet, but okay, some
really great things to look forward to, So keep an
eye on us in the late fall. Nice, but we
were we we got a spleash on the Today Show,
(09:14):
which was a really big deal for us.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
That's huge, That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
That was a lot of fun to see Hoda and
Jenna playing with it and talking about how much they
loved it and squirting each other with it. Was was
pretty amazing. My daughter and I were jumping up and
down like while we were watching it here, just really
excitable that that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
It gives me a.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Little emotional What a wonderful moment for you and your
daughter and all the hard work and dedication that it
really does take to put a product together. So obviously
you're remember of the Inventor Smart Community. You're a premium
member and we appreciate that, and we know we put
a small value of financial value on being a premium member.
(09:57):
It's you know, nine ninety nine a month or ninety
nine bucks for the year. So tell me a little
bit how this community has benefited you as an inventor
in personally building relationships with Brian and the other community members.
You know, how has that affected you in this journey's.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's been a tremendous resource. I can't state enough like
I wish I would have found this in twenty eighteen
versus I think I learned about it in like late
twenty twenty. I can't remember exactly when I signed up.
But Brian's expertise is phenomenal, and the guests that he
(10:40):
lines up to speak on the monthly meetings are so
full of amazing tips and learnings and you know, pitfalls
to avoid. And I have really just sort of tried
to be a sponge and absorb all of the content
that he's putting out there, because he does have a
(11:02):
tremendous amount of experience and all of the people that
he brings on the show have such important messages to
share with inventors to help us avoid mistakes essentially, Yes, yeah, so,
and you know, as far as determining which path you're
going to go down, like I just said, there's you know,
(11:24):
I wish maybe I would have been a little bit
earlier in the journey along with the National Invenor Club,
because I who knows which way I would have chosen
to go with Spleish at that time.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
But the.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Exactly laying out all of the ways that you can
go as an inventor, whether you choose the licensing path
or you decide to go in manufacture it yourself, there's
a lot behind each one of those topics that you
need to be aware of and plan for appropriately. And
it's a very trusted source of information because in today's world,
(12:04):
there's a lot of people out there that are kind of,
I don't know, a little sketchy on some of the
advice they give or the experience they have has been
a little bit. But it looks like it's a ton
and it just is really nice to have a community
that he's built full of like minded people are going
(12:26):
through the same sort of struggles and it's information you
can trust.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Well, I like what you just said you know, you
started in twenty eighteen, but you didn't become a member
until twenty twenty. But now and then, once you've found
the club, you can see the like mindedness, the collaboration together,
all these different inventors that are all going through the
similar path, similar journey.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Who do you trust? Where do I get this information?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
I know, for me, I agree with you. I wish
I would have found Brian Well.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
I kind of almost did right when I started. I
feel so blessed and lucky for that. To avoid those pitfalls,
to avoid all the other outside noise, I really wanted
to be around somebody that I could trust. And I
think building this community has just been so much fun
and so rewarding, and hooking up and catching up with
all these different inventors at different stages. You know, we're
(13:18):
getting together at different events, we're meeting personally because we're
all kind of going through the same thing, And especially
that first two years, Oh man, wouldn't it have been
nice to have this additional guidance that you have now,
Like you mentioned this, guest speakers, so so.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Much information that's just vital.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
It's almost even overwhelming sometimes, but thank god, everything's recorded.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You can always go back and listen to it.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I do that a lot myself, So I'm just so
happy to have you featured on our spotlight. I think
you've definitely earned it. You've worked so hard. You've got
some successes with the Today Show, Carrie, that is really incredible,
and I know you're holding on to something else and
we'll get to that later and you'll share it with
(14:03):
all of us in the community. And I think too,
that's kind of inspirational to other people to listen to
kind of you know, what some of your setbacks were,
what some of your challenges, and equally there's success there,
so you've kind of got to go through some of
the setback and the challenges to kind of get on
the other side of it. And I love it that
(14:25):
we're building this community to share with one another.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And it's an inspiration. You know.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I just got my second patent design and I never
even thought i'd have one, let alone too, And it's
definitely been the guidance and being around everybody that's helped
this journey along for myself as well.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So what's next? What are we doing next? Besides what
you can't tell us right away?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Yeah, I'm really excited.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I have.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
About five different ideas that have been percolating, one of
them since my daughter was a year and a half old,
and she's twenty six now, so I've been sitting on
this idea for so long. I went to a patent
attorney right then, and I just didn't have the money
to move it forward. Now I understand exactly what's involved,
(15:19):
the finances and everything. So I'm really looking forward to,
you know, bringing enough money in with Spleesh to start
really building out some more products. Some will be in
the pet space and some not. But I'm just looking
forward to continuing this journey and with the guidance and
support of all the fellow members in the National Inventor
(15:43):
Club and the Inventor Smart community, and with Brian's help.
He's just phenomenal to bounce different questions off and you know,
take the temperature. Am I on the right track? Am
I thinking about this the right way? It's really nice
to have a trusted source to do that with.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
As as VP of Community, I've been honored and selected
for that role, and I talked to so many inventors
that are a part of the community, and one.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Consistent message that I love so much.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Brian is a friend of mine, so it warms my
heart every single time that people are saying the exact
same thing about him every single time. It doesn't very off,
and I think that's so important. As young inventors or
seasoned inventors like yourself, we're still looking for that trust
ability that to collaborate with to you know, again, in
(16:36):
the newsletter of this month, there's a little sectionist says,
you know, don't do it alone, and that is the
premise of having this group and everybody connecting and getting together,
and you know, Brian at the lead and a few
of us behind the scenes. So I think it's great.
So proud of you, Carrie and this product. And you
sell on Amazon, I know. And you've got your own website.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
What's what's your website spleesh dot com.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's please s p l E A s H yes
splee dot com. And you're offering twenty percent off on
the code is n I C twenty yes, which I
love that. It's generous of you.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Thank you of course, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Happy to help out any fellow dog lovers out there
who like hiking and adventuring with their pet. But don't
like the hassle of uh, dealing with the collapsible water
bottles and bowls. Yeah, it's it's a wonderful community that
has been established, and I highly recommend any other inventors
out there who are sort of feeling their way around
(17:40):
in the dark to, you know, turn on the lights
with the with the national that's.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
A great one. Just turn the light on. We're here.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We're welcoming you, and we appreciate you being a premium
member because it does support this app in the community
and everything that Brian is putting together. So it's really
a credible and I appreciate your investment into that as well.
There's a lot of investments to be made in inventing.
We can't be afraid of it or shy. It just
(18:09):
kind of got to dive into it. So fantastic.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Well, I don't want to keep you any longer. Thank
you for being.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Part of episode two of this spotlight series and I
hope to see you.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
This year at one of our events.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Keep an eye on the newsletter and stay active within
the app, and please keep us informed of everything that
you want to share, hints of your new products, lines,
or whatever it is you want to share, just let
us know so we can continue to cheer you on
and support you, and of course we do the same
as well.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, thank you so much, Samantha. I'm really looking
forward to the rest of how this year unfolds and
me too, sharing all kinds of news later.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
I know, me too, I can't wait as well.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
All right, I'll see you at the next National Inventor
Club meeting, and I'll see you in the app as well.
Sounds good, sounds great, all right, Carrie, take care, Bye
bye bye, alight, bye bye o.
Hi Carrie, nice to see you.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Hi Samantha, good to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Thanks for having me on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Oh well, this is our second episode of our spotlight series,
brought to you by the National Inventors Club and of
course Inventor Smart Community. So it's been my pleasure to
kind of head up these podcasts. And when I saw
your on the schedule, I was like, let's do this.
I'm always excited to see and speak with you, and
(00:37):
I love your product, so I think it's just really smart.
I'm a dog mom myself, and I know that you
are as well.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And speaking of he is on the couch.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
He's sleeping right now, but like I said, that can
change at any moment, so we'll just get through all
of that. So, first and foremost again, welcome, thanks for
being a premium subscriber to the Inventor Smart Community. We'll
talk more about that in a few minutes, but I
want you to tell our audience exactly what your product
is and how you came up with the idea and
(01:07):
where you're at now, so I'll give you the floor
for just a moment.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, thank you. So the product I came up with
is called Spleash. It's a spray leash handle, so it's
meant to bring. Turn any leash into a water bottle
and bowl essentially have one right here. You fill it
up with twelve ounces of water fresh water, attach it
(01:33):
to any standard sized leash so it doesn't come with
a leash standard, but you can buy one as an
option if you're not sure your leash will fit. But
most any standard sized rope, leather or nylon leash.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Fits into the leash.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You pop it in, come to the handle, fill it
with water, and then if you're out on a lock
and then off leash, animals coming up at you sort
of aim for their face and that little bit of
water can be a great deterrent for them. They'll shake
their head, change direction. You can clean off their paws
by squirting their paws clean. But the best thing is
it has a slip open cup and you can squeeze
(02:09):
water in for a quick sip if you're out on
a hike, and if they need a big bowl of water,
then you pull the plug open and it will fill
the whole thing up without overflowing, so you give them
a good drink while they're out on their hikes and walks.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That is so smart.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
So not only does it have a reservoir for water
and a little cup section so you can water your
dog while you're out, there's also a spray option too,
and I use water spray for training, especially when Myla
was younger, not so much now, but I always found
that was a great deterrent as well.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
So you're saying that's a two and one.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
A water reservoir to thirst your dog and then a
little spray action in case you are approached by another animal,
and you can just do a couple of little water
skirts just to kind of keep them back.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
That's brilliant. Yeah, And when did you come up with
this side? Dan? How are you been working on this?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I had the idea in late twenty eighteen, Okay, I
literally thought when I when the idea sparked, because let's
see if she's back here, the inspiration for the product
is over on that couch. She's black and kind of
blending in there. But our black lab Woimrin or Lola,
(03:26):
she's ninety five pounds of pure energy.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And we live in southern California, so I was constantly
getting a few blocks away and then realizing I forgot
the water, And when you do have a you know,
a darker colored dog living in hot conditions, you really
should bring water every time. So I've got a couple
(03:49):
of blocks away, and oh, I forgot the water again.
So one day I had one of I had one
of those solutions that was available on the market, which
you squeeze it and it fills up a little bowl
at the top, and I would squeeze the water up,
and she was laying under a tree sort of panting,
and I was trying to cool her down. So I
just tossed the water on her from the cup that
(04:13):
I filled it. I thought, well, if you could really
direct this water a little better, it would be really handy.
I'm sure you could clean up messes on the sidewalk
and if the poop bag breaks, and all of these
things started going through my head that you could use
a spray feature on the end of a dog leash,
and I thought, well, I'll just go home and buy
(04:34):
it because I thought it existed. And I was twenty
thirty pages deep on Google, same with Amazon, couldn't find
anything like it. And I thought, Okay, there's just no
way I've thought of something that doesn't already exist, you know,
let's keep researching, and that's when I decided to go
(04:56):
for it, and in March of twenty nineteen we formed
the company. So we just had our fifth anniversary. So
we've had Spleash as an idea and then in the
market now for the last couple of years, and it's
been just an amazing journey, full of adventure and learning.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Of course, full of adventures and learning.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So speaking of what were some of the what were
some of your biggest challenges like early on and of
course some of your biggest triumphs and your successes.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, so there's been lots of challenges. I'm sure everybody
that was trying to launch a product in twenty twenty
had the same challenges that I did. And that was
just you know, bad timing for all of us, so
communicating our factories actually in Taiwan, and you know a
lot of the everything changed after the course costs, the plastic,
(05:52):
cost fuel, all of those things. So that's been challenging.
But really trying to perfect the product to make it
really leap proof, to make it work for the most people.
And we've gone around and around with various people who
(06:14):
they think it's it's a retractable leash. It does look
a lot like a retractable leash when you're when you're walking,
or you show it to somebody, Ah, I don't use
retractable leashes. So that's been a challenge that we've had
to deal with all along.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Now let me jump in there.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Was that an unexpected challenge that you were going to
have to reteach the consumer?
Speaker 1 (06:39):
That's not expected for you? Well, yeah, I thought.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
I thought with clear messaging, with clear imagery, we could
show that it's not a retractable you know that this
is a water reservoir. And that's been a lot more
challenging than I had anticipated originally. And you know, when
we're at a trade show, so you can see the
people who don't like retractable leashes a mile away because
(07:05):
they'll sort of glance over, they'll give it the oh,
I'm trying to figure out what this product is. And
then when they sort of do, they'll just they won't
look at you again, and they'll keep walking. And I
usually shout out it's not retractable, and like almost one
hundred percent of the people are like, really, it's not
and they'll come over and ask, well.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
What is it then?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And when you explain that this is actually the entire
water reservoir that there's no you know, leash inside and
it they'll fit on any standard size leash. That's when
they're they're blown away and they get it.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Got it?
Speaker 2 (07:40):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I think this is a really a great topic and
a question because these are these unexpected marketing things and
messaging like you just said that you weren't really prepared for.
Because sometimes as inventors, we know our product in and out,
we know everything about it, but how it's perceived and
how the consumer because we're all visual, right, so the
(08:01):
visual is telling them right away, you know, this is
a retractable without and and But that's interesting as an
inventor that you have to see that very quickly so
that you can change your messaging, uh to to satisfy
that visual effect that the consumer is going to have
right away. So obviously you've been doing this for a while.
(08:22):
And I love this too because you know, even in
the April's newsletter, Brian talks about you know the process
of this and how long this takes, and you know
to be patient and take your setbacks as they come
and take your triumph. So I know you've you've had
some successes. Obviously, you've been selling for a moment. So
(08:43):
what is that biggest success that you like to brag
about that that you feel as an inventor that I've
made this this is amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, there's there's a couple. I'm happy to say there's
been a couple of those moments. I'm really excited about
one that that will be rebuilt later in the year.
I'd allowed to talk about it yet, but okay, some
really great things to look forward to, So keep an
eye on us in the late fall. Nice, but we
were we we got a spleash on the Today Show,
(09:14):
which was a really big deal for us.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
That's huge, That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
That was a lot of fun to see Hoda and
Jenna playing with it and talking about how much they
loved it and squirting each other with it. Was was
pretty amazing. My daughter and I were jumping up and
down like while we were watching it here, just really
excitable that that.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
It gives me a.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Little emotional What a wonderful moment for you and your
daughter and all the hard work and dedication that it
really does take to put a product together. So obviously
you're remember of the Inventor Smart Community. You're a premium
member and we appreciate that, and we know we put
a small value of financial value on being a premium member.
(09:57):
It's you know, nine ninety nine a month or ninety
nine bucks for the year. So tell me a little
bit how this community has benefited you as an inventor
in personally building relationships with Brian and the other community members.
You know, how has that affected you in this journey's.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's been a tremendous resource. I can't state enough like
I wish I would have found this in twenty eighteen
versus I think I learned about it in like late
twenty twenty. I can't remember exactly when I signed up.
But Brian's expertise is phenomenal, and the guests that he
(10:40):
lines up to speak on the monthly meetings are so
full of amazing tips and learnings and you know, pitfalls
to avoid. And I have really just sort of tried
to be a sponge and absorb all of the content
that he's putting out there, because he does have a
(11:02):
tremendous amount of experience and all of the people that
he brings on the show have such important messages to
share with inventors to help us avoid mistakes essentially, Yes, yeah, so,
and you know, as far as determining which path you're
going to go down, like I just said, there's you know,
(11:24):
I wish maybe I would have been a little bit
earlier in the journey along with the National Invenor Club,
because I who knows which way I would have chosen
to go with Spleish at that time.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
But the.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Exactly laying out all of the ways that you can
go as an inventor, whether you choose the licensing path
or you decide to go in manufacture it yourself, there's
a lot behind each one of those topics that you
need to be aware of and plan for appropriately. And
it's a very trusted source of information because in today's world,
(12:04):
there's a lot of people out there that are kind of,
I don't know, a little sketchy on some of the
advice they give or the experience they have has been
a little bit. But it looks like it's a ton
and it just is really nice to have a community
that he's built full of like minded people are going
(12:26):
through the same sort of struggles and it's information you
can trust.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Well, I like what you just said you know, you
started in twenty eighteen, but you didn't become a member
until twenty twenty. But now and then, once you've found
the club, you can see the like mindedness, the collaboration together,
all these different inventors that are all going through the
similar path, similar journey.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Who do you trust? Where do I get this information?
Speaker 3 (12:51):
So?
Speaker 1 (12:52):
I know, for me, I agree with you. I wish
I would have found Brian Well.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
I kind of almost did right when I started. I
feel so blessed and lucky for that. To avoid those pitfalls,
to avoid all the other outside noise, I really wanted
to be around somebody that I could trust. And I
think building this community has just been so much fun
and so rewarding, and hooking up and catching up with
all these different inventors at different stages. You know, we're
(13:18):
getting together at different events, we're meeting personally because we're
all kind of going through the same thing, And especially
that first two years, Oh man, wouldn't it have been
nice to have this additional guidance that you have now,
Like you mentioned this, guest speakers, so so.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Much information that's just vital.
Speaker 3 (13:37):
It's almost even overwhelming sometimes, but thank god, everything's recorded.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
You can always go back and listen to it.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I do that a lot myself, So I'm just so
happy to have you featured on our spotlight. I think
you've definitely earned it. You've worked so hard. You've got
some successes with the Today Show, Carrie, that is really incredible,
and I know you're holding on to something else and
we'll get to that later and you'll share it with
(14:03):
all of us in the community. And I think too,
that's kind of inspirational to other people to listen to
kind of you know, what some of your setbacks were,
what some of your challenges, and equally there's success there,
so you've kind of got to go through some of
the setback and the challenges to kind of get on
the other side of it. And I love it that
(14:25):
we're building this community to share with one another.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
And it's an inspiration. You know.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I just got my second patent design and I never
even thought i'd have one, let alone too, And it's
definitely been the guidance and being around everybody that's helped
this journey along for myself as well.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
So what's next? What are we doing next? Besides what
you can't tell us right away?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Yeah, I'm really excited.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
I have.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
About five different ideas that have been percolating, one of
them since my daughter was a year and a half old,
and she's twenty six now, so I've been sitting on
this idea for so long. I went to a patent
attorney right then, and I just didn't have the money
to move it forward. Now I understand exactly what's involved,
(15:19):
the finances and everything. So I'm really looking forward to,
you know, bringing enough money in with Spleesh to start
really building out some more products. Some will be in
the pet space and some not. But I'm just looking
forward to continuing this journey and with the guidance and
support of all the fellow members in the National Inventor
(15:43):
Club and the Inventor Smart community, and with Brian's help.
He's just phenomenal to bounce different questions off and you know,
take the temperature. Am I on the right track? Am
I thinking about this the right way? It's really nice
to have a trusted source to do that with.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
You know.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
As as VP of Community, I've been honored and selected
for that role, and I talked to so many inventors
that are a part of the community, and one.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Consistent message that I love so much.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Brian is a friend of mine, so it warms my
heart every single time that people are saying the exact
same thing about him every single time. It doesn't very off,
and I think that's so important. As young inventors or
seasoned inventors like yourself, we're still looking for that trust
ability that to collaborate with to you know, again, in
(16:36):
the newsletter of this month, there's a little sectionist says,
you know, don't do it alone, and that is the
premise of having this group and everybody connecting and getting together,
and you know, Brian at the lead and a few
of us behind the scenes. So I think it's great.
So proud of you, Carrie and this product. And you
sell on Amazon, I know. And you've got your own website.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
What's what's your website spleesh dot com.
Speaker 3 (17:02):
It's please s p l E A s H yes
splee dot com. And you're offering twenty percent off on
the code is n I C twenty yes, which I
love that. It's generous of you.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
Thank you of course, yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Happy to help out any fellow dog lovers out there
who like hiking and adventuring with their pet. But don't
like the hassle of uh, dealing with the collapsible water
bottles and bowls. Yeah, it's it's a wonderful community that
has been established, and I highly recommend any other inventors
out there who are sort of feeling their way around
(17:40):
in the dark to, you know, turn on the lights
with the with the national that's.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
A great one. Just turn the light on. We're here.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
We're welcoming you, and we appreciate you being a premium
member because it does support this app in the community
and everything that Brian is putting together. So it's really
a credible and I appreciate your investment into that as well.
There's a lot of investments to be made in inventing.
We can't be afraid of it or shy. It just
(18:09):
kind of got to dive into it. So fantastic.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Well, I don't want to keep you any longer. Thank
you for being.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Part of episode two of this spotlight series and I
hope to see you.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
This year at one of our events.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Keep an eye on the newsletter and stay active within
the app, and please keep us informed of everything that
you want to share, hints of your new products, lines,
or whatever it is you want to share, just let
us know so we can continue to cheer you on
and support you, and of course we do the same
as well.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, thank you so much, Samantha. I'm really looking
forward to the rest of how this year unfolds and
me too, sharing all kinds of news later.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
I know, me too, I can't wait as well.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
All right, I'll see you at the next National Inventor
Club meeting, and I'll see you in the app as well.
Sounds good, sounds great, all right, Carrie, take care, Bye
bye bye, alight, bye bye o.
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