Innovation Zone

Expert guidance

This section includes the following interviews designed to draw out maximum information, specialist guidance, vital tips and valuable experience from our experts:

Patent Attorney: Intellectual property & advice for new inventors
Business Strategist: Business strategy for new product development
Lawyer: Legal considerations in developing a new product & starting your own business
Accountant: Accounting considerations in setting up your own business
Sales & Marketing Consultant: Launching a new product into retail
Manufacturing Specialist: Managing quality & the benefits of offshore production
Additional videos include information on finding funding and the support that MotionTouch can provide for inventors in the product development process

Understanding intellectual property & advice for new inventors - Michael Deans, Patent Attorney

Understanding intellectual property

What does a patent attorney do?
Who are your clients?
What are the different types of intellectual property?
How do you register a trademark?
When can you file for design protection?
Are confidentiality agreements important?
When should you discuss IP with an expert?

Patent protection

What are the features of a patent?
What are the stages of the patent process?
How does the process vary around the world?
How long will it take?
How does a patent work?

Advice for new inventors

What advice do you have for new inventors?
What are the most common mistakes?
How can clients profit from IP?

Launching a new product - Mike Dixon, Sales & Marketing Consultant

Sales & marketing – getting started

What services do you offer clients?
How does your consultancy operate?
How do you get clients started with sales & marketing?

Launching into retail – market research & packaging

What product sectors do you specialize in?
What’s your advice on developing a product for retail?
How do retailers respond to innovative new products?
How do you launch a product to retail?
Is launch timing critical in retail?
When should clients get you involved?
At what stage do you approach retailers?
How important is packaging?

Direct selling to the consumer

What are the options for direct selling?
What products are suitable for direct sales?
What are the benefits of direct sales?

The Marketing Plan

What are the outcomes of a successful marketing plan?
What are the most common new product mistakes?

Accounting considerations – setting up your own business - Tom McManners, Chartered Accountant

Preparing to start your own business

What are the key financial considerations?

Legal obligations for new business owners

What training is important for a new business owner?

Preparing for suppliers & customers

Accounting processes

Accountancy challenges for new businesses

Advice for new business owners

Business strategy for new product development - Christopher Honeyman-Brown, Business Strategist

Starting your own business

What are the key factors for consideration when starting your own business?
What funding options are available?
What advice should entrepreneurs seek?
What are the key factors for a company’s success?
Should entrepreneurs recognise their own strengths and weaknesses?

Launching a new product

How should a project plan for a new product launch be approached?
How would you set project goals?
What factors determine sale price?
Is market research important?
How do you use a ‘virtual team’ to develop a product idea?
What are the critical factors for project success?
How do you manage and incentivise project participants?
What are the most common factors leading to project failure?

Building a valuable company

What key factors create valuable companies?
How important are Intellectual Property Rights?
Is it important to consider an exit strategy from the outset?
How far in advance should you start planning for a sale?

Legal considerations – developing a new product & starting your own business - Anne-Marie Rosoman, Lawyer

Legal considerations when developing a new product

What are the different elements of law that need to be considered when launching a new product?
How should an entrepreneur plan for product liability insurance?
How should you plan for handling warranty terms?
How should confidentiality be managed?
What are the obligations of entrepreneurs that may not be obvious?
What common legal problems do entrepreneurs face?
What advice is worth paying for?

Legal considerations when setting up a new company

What are the different elements of law that need to be considered when setting up a new company?
How should an entrepreneur plan for starting a new business?
How should you plan for engaging with customers and suppliers?
How should contracts be handled?