My patent and how it got me on television
You know, I really had to think back about how I started on ebay. My first endeavor on ebay was selling bundles of very small cardboard boxes. Yes, corny as it sounds, I actually sold cardboard boxes. That was back before everyone knew that the Post Office gave away Priority Mail boxes. Everyone knows that, don’t they? Well, the boxes I had were very small…and I had several bundles. You see, prior to ebay I decided that I wanted to invent and market my own hair tool. In addition to being an ebay entrepreneur I am also an inventor (please feel free to re: US Patent # 5,806,538). At first I thought that I would market and sell my product myself. I would be in business and sell something!! That I had invented!! From my house!! So, I put an ad in a hairstyle magazine and sold…hold onto your seats…one. One hair tool for a whopping $19.99. Do you know how much it costs to patent something? A little more than $19.99. Got a little worried, suffice it to say. God love my husband because he never said a word. Had the shoes been on the other feet I don’t think I would have been as patient. Kinda like him saying, “Honey, I am going to quit my job and run for public office.†One of my old neighbors actually did that, and he had five kids (and he lost the race!!). Sorry, I am not that kind of wife.
Anyway, I soon realized that there was a little more involved in marketing a product than just sticking an ad in a low-rent hairstyle magazine. I had the good fortune of seeing a commercial for a company that marketed ideas on television-i.e., one of the ‘AS SEEN ON TV’ companies. As a result of hooking up with them, I had two appearances on QVC and three appearances on the Home Shopping Network. After my first appearance on QVC I went back to the hotel and threw up. Not because of nerves, but because I caught a stomach virus from my son prior to leaving. Just glad it did not happen on the air, live. Now that would have been something.
My first foray on ebay was selling cardboard boxes that I had purchased when I thought I would sell my hair tool myself. People actually bought them, and without a photo. Go figure. Incidentally, if you want to see my hair tool, on the Internet, go to Scunci. Buy one, I still get royalties.
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We have used the pony tail wrap since it was invented by Tracy! If you have girls it is a “must have”. The last three years of high school my daughters friends have paid big bucks to have their hair done exactly like we do at home with the pony tail wrap! I have gotten my money’s worth a hundred times over and now I use in on my little nieces! They love it!
Hey Dana Wood! Thanks for the shout out! I appreciate the kind words.