Businessman to inventor
Rick Kellow didn’t start out as a famous inventor. After two decades in the mortgage industry, he found himself inspired—by family movie night, complete with spilled sodas and popcorn everywhere. He thought, “Why isn’t there a plate that can hold both my food and my drink?”
Necessity became the mother and father of invention as that very question led him and his wife, Beth, to launch Bethrick, LLC and create their first product, the GreatPlate™ The Original GreatPlate | A Great Plate for Everyday Everywhere. Fast forward ten years, their products are found in 675 Walmart stores and are poised for growth.
Of course there were some bumps in the road along the way, but Rick learned fast the value of protecting intellectual property. A large nationwide retailer attempted to copy his GreatPlate, even going as far as to use his product name on their counterfeit. The lesson learned – inventors need to be creative, smart, and relentlessly on guard in business.
A New Challenge on the Horizon
Rick’s drive to invent didn’t stop with Great Plate. His next idea came when he noticed a small chip on his custom-wrapped truck. He thought it would be great to have peel-and-stick labels that matched car paint colors, making it easy to cover those pesky chips and scratches. This product would be convenient, fit in the glove box, be easy to produce and even easier to use.
Before he could move forward with licensing this automotive product, he hit a snag. A potential partner wanted a Freedom to Operate (FTO) assessment to ensure his invention didn’t bump into any existing patents. Rick’s usual law firm quoted him $30,000 and a few weeks to turn around the study, which felt way too steep and way too long. In the fast-paced world of innovation and business, time is of the essence and Rick knew there had to be a better alternative.
Finding a Better Solution with IP.com
While searching online for solution providers, Rick stumbled across IP.com. “I searched for FTO reports and they were the first ones I found,” he said. The difference was clear. IP.com provided a thorough and detailed FTO assessment for a mere fraction of what his current provider wanted to charge. Plus, it was done in just four days! “Getting a study like this performed by attorneys could takes weeks and require a number of meetings,” he pointed out. Not only was the FTO study quick and cost-effective, but the quality exceeded his expectations, too. The business partner Rick is working with shared that their marketing and legal teams were exceptionally pleased with the report, which helped them move forward quickly and confidently.
Rick was also impressed with the concierge care he got from IP.com Research Analyst, Jeff Casavant. He got straight to the point, Rick shared. The report even helped Rick adjust his patent claims, saving him even more time.
The Path Ahead
For Rick Kellow, IP.com was exactly what he needed to keep his new project on track. “We needed that report to finish up the project, and it was just what we were looking for,” he said. When asked what he’d say to other inventors worried about the cost of FTO analysis, Rick didn’t mince words: “If you think the cost of an IP.com study is too much, you might want to rethink your plans. They are one of the best options out there.” Rick doesn’t just see it as part of the business cost, he sees it as an investment and an essential go-to-market risk mitigation strategy.
Today, Rick continues to innovate, knowing he has a reliable partner in IP.com. He even joked, “I’ve added IP.com to my speed dial!” For anyone wanting to turn their ideas into reality, IP.com offers the essential analysis to accelerate the impossible.
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