Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011 | 2 a.m.
The inventors of Shirt Stick and Curl-Eze hope they’ll be as successful as the developers of ShamWows and Snuggies.
Those inexpensive “As Seen on TV” products, offering solutions to everyday problems that you never knew you had, can bring companies millions of dollars in profit. Just ask infomercial king A.J. Kubani. His company, TeleBrands, is responsible for products such as the Ped Egg, a foot file for removing calluses and dead skin; the One Second Needle, a needle with a built-in threader, and Pasta Boat, a microwaveable pot made for cooking and serving.
Although other recession-challenged companies have scaled back, direct marketing on TV is thriving as customers seek affordable, time-saving gadgets, Kubani says. TeleBrands is launching one new product a month and testing 100 others. The low price point, along with the promises of saving money and time, keep the products interesting to potential buyers, even when many are tightening their budgets.
To come up with products like the Jupiter Jack for hands-free cell phone use, or the swiveling Windshield Wonder, Kubani relies on both his TeleBrands team and outside submissions from professional and amateur inventors alike. Inspired by “American Idol,” Kubani created Inventors Day, when individuals could give 5-minute pitches on their inventions to the TeleBrands team for a shot at a licensing agreement.
Here are some inventors who gathered this week at Encore. Let’s see what we can’t live without.
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Photo by April CorbinLiberty Hanger
Pitcher: Marie Lugo, for her boyfriend Adrian Dy, who is enlisted in the Navy
What it is: A wood hanger with a hook jutting from the front, allowing for easy hanging of a hat. Keeps entire uniform together, perfect for the 5.3 million people estimated by Lugo and Dy to wear uniforms, in the military and other organizations.
Judges’ reaction: “My initial thought is that, at 5.3 million people, the market isn’t large enough for our type of marketing.”
Miscellaneous: Lugo has never considered herself an inventor, but after supporting Dy and checking out the Inventors Day, she says she’s come up with her own brilliant idea. “I can’t wait to work on it,” she says.
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Photo by April CorbinCurl-Eze
Pitcher: Debra Weisser, who helps husband with his self-owned business in Tampa, Fla.
What it is: Heated hair curlers that use individual heat packs placed inside the curlers instead of traditional curling irons that require cords and electricity. Intended for women traveling.
Judges’ reaction: “I ski, so I know these heat packs well, and Procter & Gamble uses these for its ThermaCare. This might be the next great product< after that.”
Miscellaneous: The Curl-Ez system isn’t Weisser’s first foray into inventions. She also created Hem-Eze, a double-sided strip that allows women to temporarily and quickly change the hem of their pants, allowing them to “wear high heels this morning and sandals tonight.”
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Photo by April CorbinHeadache Relief System
Pitcher: Dr. Morton Hyson, a Las Vegas neurologist
What it is: Individual packets of a topical analgesic meant to soothe migraines, paired with an eye mask that blocks the eyes from light and rests on forehead, providing pressure to aching temples.
Judges’ reaction: “This is like Head On.” “I would be worried about FDA claim issues.”
Miscellaneous: Hyson sells his headache solution through his private practice, as well as at all Caesars Entertainment spas. The packages for the latter product include the advertisement “hangover cure.”
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Photo by April CorbinShirt Stick
Pitcher: Spencer Adams, a software salesman from San Francisco.
What it is: A disposable, one-time “shirt stiffener,” which attaches to the inside of men’s or women’s shirt necklines and stops the collars from slipping, creating “a perfect neckline every time!”
Judges’ reaction: “If the number of collared shirts out there are any indication, this is a very good idea.”
Miscellaneous: Adams knows the inventor of a TeleBrands product called the Happy Hot Dog Man, which quickly allows you to slice a standard hot dog into a manlike creature you can feed to your children.
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Photo by April CorbinMy Pillow Ambient Sound
Pitcher: Michael Carter, a Los Angeles water-utility worker.
What it is: A speaker that you place beneath your pillow and connect to an iPod, cellphone or other music-playing device, using a 4-foot cord. When the consumer lies down, she should be able to hear the music but the person lying next to her will not. There is also a related app.
Judges reaction: “Not a bad concept but the execution might have flaws.” “I’m worried about kids getting choked on the cord in the middle of the night.”
Miscellaneous: Carter came up with the idea of My Pillow Ambient Sound while in the hospital. “I realized I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life working for someone else and not being happy. You have to make your own way.”
Encore is nearly a mirror image of the Wynn Las Vegas, from the brown glass exterior to the style and placement of the logo — and it's just as luxurious as the original. Some call Encore the younger, hipper sister of Wynn.
Located steps from Wynn Las Vegas, yet under the same roof, Encore's fanciful and intimate atmosphere is unlike anything anywhere, with an environment that is uniquely Wynn and distinctly Encore.
Steve Wynn spared no detail in his newest property when designing Encore. The casino floor is decorated in rich reds, browns and purples with mosaic butterflies embedded into the marble floors and fresh flowers greeting guests in the casino atrium.
Luxury doesn't end of the casino floor. Encore boasts 2,034 impeccable guest rooms and suites. The standard suites resort accommodations are 700 square feet with the larger suites measuring in at 5,800 square feet. Standard suites guest rooms feature plasma screen TVs, high-end bath products, spectacular views of the Strip, and also plush linens and mattresses, which can be purchased in the Encore store, in case you can't get enough.
Dining options include Chef Theo Schoenegger's fine Italian cuisine at Chef Theo Schoenegger's, Sinatra's and the pan-Asian café creations of Chef Jet Tila at Wazuzu.
Guests can also dine on steaks and chops at star Botero Steak. At Switch, Encore's French restaurant, the walls come to life mid-meal and your surroundings appear to change before your eyes. For decadent, hip Asian dining before or after a night at one of resort’s ultra-chic nightclubs, visit Andrea’s, the newest dining experience at Encore.
XS headlines Encore's nightlife and pool party scene while Danny Gans takes care of humor and entertainment. Encore also features two of the most celebrated nightlife experiences in Vegas, XS Nightclub and Surrender. Both feature main room dance floors that flow outside to pools, patio spaces and gaming areas.
When the temperature rises, don’t miss Encore Beach Club, the premier daylife destination that features three tiered pools and luxurious cabanas and bungalows with private infinity pools.
Encore Esplanade features 11 high-end retail stores, with brands like Hermes, Chanel, Loro Piana and Rock, and Republic Piaget luxury watches. The resort also has a Forbes Five-Star spa, a salon and an 18-hole, on-site golf course, which is adjacent to the Wynn.
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