HVTDC Mentors Successful New Product Launch
"I just can't say enough about how good Hudson Valley Tech's inventor assistance program is. If my project was an orchestra, Paul Campanella was surely the conductor."
Mike Lucas,
Entrepreneur
and Firefighter
Viewing the cheery, smiling clock face and bright red toy-like body
of Herbie
Hydrant sitting on a child's nightstand, one might never guess its lifesaving
potential. The brainchild of Michael Lucas, entrepreneur and part-time
firefighter, Herbie Hydrant is the culmination of a vision born of a terrible
experience a decade earlier.
Responding to a residential fire in Vails Gate, New York, Lucas and his
fellow firefighters desperately sought to find two small children missing
in the burning home. Tragically, when they were finally found hiding under
their bed, it was too late. Haunted by this terrible experience, Lucas
conceived of an idea for a product that would aid in locating and saving
children in times of emergency.
After some initial research and refinement of his concept, Lucas happened upon an article about a program offering assistance with inventions run by Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, a private, not-for-profit company located in Fishkill. Lucas contacted the Center and was introduced to Paul Campanella who spearheaded the program. A veteran of the product development process, Campanella began guiding and encouraging Lucas through the sometimes daunting process of new product development. After an initial "face value assessment," Campanella helped guide Lucas to each next step and aided him in thinking through his financial requirements and patent protection. "We try to always be there for the inventor and make ourselves available when they need moral support, encouragement, guidance and technical advice." Campanella adds, "The product development process is not easy. It takes lots of tenacity, dedication, time, money, and solid, experienced advice, but it can also be intensely rewarding. Mike Lucas is a perfect example."
The concept slowly took shape. The finished product looks like a children's clock, but, when a child removes it from its base during a fire, a flashlight comes on, four strobe lights flash and a distinctive alarm sounds loudly, helping firefighters locate the child in the darkness and smoke. Along with the lights and alarm, the unit has a digital clock that begins counting as soon as it is removed from its rechargeable base, monitoring how long the child may have been exposed to smoke. Stored, securely within a compartment in the hydrant shaped body of the unit are valuable medical, next-of-kin and other information.
Today, four years later, Herbie Hydrant is a reality and has hit the market with a bang. Out of hundreds of entries, Herbie Hydrant has been awarded "Best Consumer Electronics Product for 2001" in the prestigious Hammacher Schlemmer Invention Contest. A well-known, national insurance company has placed an initial order for 10,000 units to be used as a gift premium for insurance policy holders with children. A national hardware chain has begun distribution to its stores across the country and Herbie Hydrant gets media attention everywhere Mike goes.
Much of Herbie Hydrant's immediate success can be attributed to HVTDC's exceptional product development assistance program. Quoting Lucas, "I just can't say enough about how good Hudson Valley Tech's inventor assistance program is. If my project was an orchestra, Paul Campanella was surely the conductor. From the initial evaluation, through each step along the way, the Center was very instrumental in helping me get Herbie Hydrant to market. The organization is totally honest and trustworthy."
HVTDC works closely with individual inventors, as well as businesses,
interested in developing, refining, manufacturing, launching and marketing
all kinds of new products. For additional information on HVTDC's product
development assistance program, call 845-896-6934.