by Vik Venkatraman (Author)

The definitive reference guide for developing, launching, and rolling out a new product

Each year, thousands of new products are introduced to market. Most fail. What's worse is it doesn't have to be this way. The fact is product failure is rarely the result of either a lack of need or desire for a product, but, rather, is due to an entrepreneur who lacks the know-how to successfully develop, launch and rollout his or her product. Inspired! Take Your Product Dream from Concept to Shelf helps entrepreneurs to successfully navigate the marketplace, avoiding the common mistakes most people make, while finding traction faster, and building an attractive brand that players across the value chain will want will want to buy.

• Provides readers with inspiring true stories and anecdotes, as well as insightful interviews with top entrepreneurs and merchandisers
• Presents invaluable research as to producers, designers, distributors, and retailers
• Divided into three easy-to-follow sections - Development, Launch, and Rollout

With unemployment hovering around 10%, many individuals are turning to the world of entrepreneurship. Now more than ever individuals, start-ups, and small businesses need expert guidance on how to bring their products from concept to shelf. Inspired! provides that guidance.

Front Jacket

Each year, passionate, hard-workingindividuals launch tens of thousands of new products. Unfortunately, although a great number of these products serve a need or satisfy a want, the majority disappear from the marketplace within two years. It doesn't have to be this way. Most products fail not because they weren't good ideas but, rather, because the entrepreneurs behind them weren't prepared. In Inspired! Take Your Product Dream from Concept to Shelf, entrepreneur Vik Venkatraman provides the expert guidance you need to avoid the common mistakes most people make.

Divided into three sections--Development, Launch, and Rollout--and using what the author refers to as The Inspired Method to help you build mutually beneficial relationships and make informed decisions, Inspired! walks you through each and every step of bringing a new product to market and ensuring that the product succeeds, including how to:

• Use Web tools to determine demand
• Utilize your personal network to gain access to those who can assist you through the various stages of launching a product
• Create a mock-up and a prototype, and the difference between the two
• Select a name that increases your chancesof success
• Negotiate with suppliers, including thequestions you should ask
• Determine whether to manufacture yourproduct domestically or overseas
• Pitch your product to retailers, and how to get your foot in the door in the first place
• Market your product on the Web
• Find financing from angel investors, venture capitalists, banks, grant programs, andentrepreneurship competitions

Inspired! also includes sample letters to potential business partners, invaluable insights from successful entrepreneurs, and exercises to reinforce what you've learned.

Launching a successful new product requires much more than just a great idea. Inspired! arms you with the knowledge--the knowledge most entrepreneurs lack--that can help you save time and money, and ensure that your product is one of the 10 percent that proves to be a huge success.

Back Jacket

EACH YEAR, passionate, hard-working individuals launch tens of thousands of new products. Unfortunately, although a great number of these products serve a need or satisfy a want, the majority disappear from the marketplace within two years. It doesn't have to be this way. Most products fail not because they weren't good ideas but, rather, because the entrepreneurs behind them weren't prepared. In Inspired! Take Your Product Dream from Concept to Shelf, entrepreneur Vik Venkatraman provides the expert guidance you need to avoid the common mistakes most people make.

Divided into three sections--Development, Launch, and Rollout--and using what the author refers to as The Inspired Method to help you build mutually beneficial relationships and make informed decisions, Inspired! walks you through each and every step of bringing a new product to market and ensuring that the product succeeds, including how to:

• Use Web tools to determine demand
• Utilize your personal network to gain access to those who can assist you through the various stages of launching a product
• Create a mock-up and a prototype, and the difference between the two
• Select a name that increases your chances of success
• Negotiate with suppliers, including the questions you should ask
• Determine whether to manufacture your product domestically or overseas
• Pitch your product to retailers, and how to get your foot in the door in the first place
• Market your product on the Web
• Find financing from angel investors, venture capitalists, banks, grant programs, and entrepreneurship competitions

Inspired! also includes sample letters to potential business partners, invaluable insights from successful entrepreneurs, and exercises to reinforce what you've learned.

Launching a successful new product requires much more than just a great idea. Inspired! arms you with the knowledge--the knowledge most entrepreneurs lack--that can help you save time and money, and ensure that your product is one of the 10 percent that proves to be a huge success.

Author Biography

VIK VENKATRAMAN is a dreamer, free thinker, and student of life. He is the founder of both Star Power, the first 100% pure starfruit juice sold at specialty grocery stores, and V Bespoke, a fashion company offering affordable, high-quality, custom-tailored clothing. Vik is a former brand manager for Red Bull, and as a highly respected entrepreneur and management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and American Express, he has advised Fortune 500 retail, travel, and consumer product companies on a wide range of issues, including operations, marketing strategies, and manufacturing. Vik studied biomedical engineering at Columbia University, where he graduated with honors.

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