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"An interview with Jean Newell hosted by Jeff Piersall of Space Coast TV."

How to Turn an Idea into an Invention

by: Jean Smith Newell, Boomerpreneur

It all started a few years ago when, as a 35 year veteran Realtor, I found I was leaving my little (and expensive) high tech devices all over town. This particular day I had called my cell phone for the second time within an hour to find it.  I jokingly commented to my fellow associates that "one day I'm going to show up for work wearing a carpenter's - nail apron with HOME DEPOT printed across the front, just for the luxury of using the pockets!"

After months of searching, we came to the realization that no such product existed.  I was elected to create "the perfect" accessory for our needs. So with my associates' input I developed the PUP (acronym for personal utility pouch).

Sales began to pour in and newspaper articles with headlines like "Bag Creates Buying Frenzy", kept the phones ringing day and night.  Just 2 months after the PUP's debut, I discovered how to get the attention of QVC which accepted the PUP as a new product. 

QVC prefers the inventor to accompany their product on air so I flew from Orlando to the  QVC studios outside of Philadelphia over 35 times in 18 months. That's 70 plus airplanes that I got on and off during peak holiday times, 4 hurricanes and one week I had to make 3 round trips back to back. But the end result was QVC sold over $1.5 million in my PUP bags.

I then went on a quest to learn the power of publicity and the rewards of marketing my product to the media www.youtube.com/watch  . I decided to see if I could compete with BIG (and expensive) marketing firms and PR firms.  I read countless books, attended seminars and realized, yes it CAN be done. My business or products have been featured in 35 metropolitan newspapers including the Washington Post, New York Daily News, Orlando Sentinel and the Chicago Tribune. They've appeared on talk shows and endorsed by celebrities such as Montel Williams and Bonnie Hunt.  It's been reviewed by major TV news shows, blogs and magzines.  So if you're wondering whether you too can take an idea and turn it into a profitable business I hope you'll soon realize the answer is YES! 


I'm often asked by aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs to help them take their idea to market. But I realized there really wasn't a One Stop Shop for entrepreneurs, so I've created this website and a training series based upon my forthcoming book "How To Turn a Pink Slip into a Red Hot Business."  I work with the Small Business Development Center and Women's Business Center offering free seminars and workshops (click here to see the next scheduled seminar in April)  clients.floridasbdc.org/workshop.aspx,  Here is my business blog which offers the initial steps to starting your business  www.jeannewellbusiness.blogspot.com. 

I realize it's difficult to take the first step into the unknown world of self-employment. However, during these volatile economic times, self-employment may be your only option. During your "employment hiatus" you might discover you have hidden talents, hobbies, skills and past expertise you can dust off to create a new income opportunity.  If you are not sure what to do first,  START with my SELF EVALUATION test. This should help you rediscover your potential in other fields of expertise you may have not considered.  

I have also developed CDs and DVDs to answer your business questions and concerns and in the very near future I will be providing free teleseminars and podcasts. Just go to the CONTACT button and drop me a line and I'll make sure to include you in the email information. 

STEP TWO: Before you start your new business explore the websites of The Small Business Administration.