INTRODUCTION

We receive dozens of proposals for new products throughout the year and are happy to consider your idea or product for our catalog and website. This information sheet is designed to educate and guide inventors and manufacturers so the process is streamlined for both sides.

SO YOU’VE GOT AN IDEA

Nearly everyone who submits a new product idea to us thinks that their idea is better than sliced bread. The reality of the tennis industry is that most ideas never make it to production and are never sold to anyone. The reasons for this inability to convert an idea into reality and profits are numerous. The biggest is that the market can only tolerate a certain selling price and if the cost to develop and manufacture a product is too high, then it cannot be produced and marketed. We are happy to give our opinion on your product. We only ask that you take our comments as responsible and objective and do not take them personally against the inventor.

DO YOU THINK YOU WILL RETIRE FROM YOUR IDEA?

Many inventors think they can retire from just one good idea. This is seldom the case. Here’s the reality. The tennis industry is a relatively small market. Training aids, target systems, DVDs, and most court equipment products sell hundreds of units annually and rarely thousands. The real question to ask yourself is, “What am I hoping to achieve with this idea?” If the answer is financial freedom, look outside the tennis industry.

BE REALISTIC

If you want to have the satisfaction of knowing that you came up with a solid idea that can help coaches and players with their tennis and make a little extra money at the same time, then you are being realistic. Be realistic while you are enthusiastic and you won’t be disappointed.

PRE-SCREENING IS THE FIRST STEP

The first thing we need is information. Send a photo, video clip, or description of your product or idea to joe@oncourtoffcourt.com. Also send your full contact information. If you do not get a response within 72 hours, call our office and leave a message for Joe. There is always the remote possibility that our spam filter blocked your email and Joe did not receive it. Not only will Joe let you know whether he feels your idea or product is a good fit for Oncourt Offcourt, but he may recommend you contact a different company instead of us which may be a better fit. If you pass pre-screening, then we will probably require a free sample or prototype for a more in-depth evaluation.

PROTECTING YOUR IDEA OR PRODUCT

There are several ways to try and protect your idea. If you are in the United States, you can learn about utility patents, design patents, provisional patents, trademarks, and copyrights by visiting www.uspto.gov. Educate yourself first if you are concerned about protecting your idea. The fact is that we can’t afford to “steal” someone’s idea as our company reputation and Oncourt Offcourt founder Joe Dinoffer’s reputation is based on integrity. Joe received the USPTA national “Excellence” award in 2006 in part because of his reputation in the industry. If you wish to have Oncourt Offcourt sign a non-disclosure form prior to sharing your product idea, it should be no longer than 3 pages and include a paragraph that recognizes that Oncourt Offcourt may already be working on a similar product. In other words, if Oncourt Offcourt shows that it has a similar product in its development pipeline, then the non-disclosure agreement is null and void.

IF YOUR IDEA OR PRODUCT IS ACCEPTED

Out of dozens of ideas submitted each year, only 2-3 make it past pre-screening. The evaluation process includes on-court use, coach and player feedback, market analysis, and more. If we feel your product fits well with Oncourt Offcourt, there are numerous ways to proceed.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?

We work with a wide range of vendors and business partners. On one extreme, we love your invention and draft an agreement for us to exclusively produce and market the idea for you and you receive a quarterly royalty based on sales. Royalties in this scenario are typically between 3% and 8% of gross sales and the term of the agreement is based on whether your idea is patented or not. On the other end of the spectrum, is the scenario when you bring the product to completion, handle all the manufacturing and marketing and Oncourt Offcourt is merely one of many distributors where you sell your product wholesale. In this case, we typically need to keystone or double whatever amount we pay wholesale to you.

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS

If your product is already being produced and we decide to add it to our catalog and website, here are some of the details we need: Our cost, MSRP, your commitment to not discount below MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price), unit box weight and dimensions, master case count plus master case weight and dimensions, and terms for payment. We also need high quality, high resolution photos, and a video clip if available. The easier you make it for us, the more your chances improve for us to carry your product. We are only looking for dependable vendors who communicate well.

When all is said and done, the process of creativity is one of the most satisfying parts of life. Congratulations on your idea. Good luck and thank you for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Joe Dinoffer

President