Got Great Goodies? Put Them In Walmart or Staples!

Two venerable coast to coast retailers are having contests, the winners of which will be able to place their products on real shelves.  Both require submission via YouTube, so track down someone who knows the way around a video camera, sync some audio, and submit it.


These retailers are Walmart and Staples.

Both also have cash prizes and other treasures to offer too.  Looks like it is well worth the effort.

And as a caveat, don't show items that you have not copyrighted or trademarked or otherwise protected.  With an audience like YouTube, it is just so easy to take someone else's idea and run with it.  Don't let that "someone else" be you.

Other than that, go show off your creativity and ingenuity.

As long as this is going on YouTube, make sure you've got enough of a business plan to respond to any inquiry that you might get.  Never count on a contest like this generating angel investors, but it does sometimes happen.  Be prepared with an outline of your development, management team, marketing and financial projections (don't include winning a contest in those projections).

Grab a copy of WRITE A GREAT BUSINESS PLAN and have it ready, just in case.  Sure as shootin', if it is not ready, that is when you will need it.

And now that you've done the bulk of the work, ask at your local chambers of commerce, at your local universities, and at industry associations to see if you can track down any other contest where you can submit your business plan.  Many thousands of dollars is awarded each year in these contests.  And very often the university contests are open to local residents as well, so check it out.