Inventor Services

Our service starts with a confidential Product Review; a complete evaluation of your item.  Before we can do anything, we need to see what it is you've developed. First, we try it!  If it's a toy, we play with it; if its a game we play a couple of rounds.  Then we check for safety, cost, and materials issues.  Then we go to our archive (16 years of US and international toy company catalogs) and look for similar items.

We assemble a written report specific to your item, with a clear recommendation. Our goal is to help you make an informed choice.  Sometimes that means we encourage you to take the next step to further develop your item; sometimes it means that to save you time, money, and energy, we suggest the idea be shelved.

We charge a one-time flat fee (see Get Started for our fees and to download or order a Confidentiality Agreement) which we refund if you become a client.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Knowing when, where, and to whom you can or should disclose your idea are some of the toughest questions you'll have to answer. It is very, very important to keep your new device, material, or design "under wraps" to keep it safe  - because you can't put a padlock on an idea!

Eventually, however you'll have to let someone in on the secret.  Before your idea can be patented, licensed, manufactured or marketed, you've got to tell someone about it.

But how? Disclosure of your idea must be done only in a controlled, protected manner.

At Excel, we provide a Confidentiality Agreement to protect your interests. Our clear, concise agreement binds Excel to keep confidential any aspect of your idea that is new and different, and unlike others it DOES NOT commit you to using our services, it DOES NOT commit your future ideas to Excel, and it DOES NOT allow Excel to simply modify and use your ideas.

EVALUATION

When you decide to work with Excel, you'll only get the truth - good or bad. Because we only share in revenue from placing products - not from development and not from on-going "marketing fees" or retainers - we only encourage work on the things we really believe in.

DEVELOPMENT

Your idea must be in the best possible shape before it goes out "on tour". Because toy company representatives are too busy to see the potential of an item that is presented as a rough prototype.  With so many product ideas and so much pressure to bring hot stuff back to headquarters, who can blame them?

We work with premier shops and individuals on a project-by-project basis. We don't keep model makers and electrical engineers and graphic designers on staff for one simple reason - the very best in the business are too expensive. What this means is that we can have the absolute best in any field working on an item, and never, not ever, find ourselves telling anyone to pursue development work just to keep our staff busy.  Our recommendations are objective.

REPRESENTATION

Every year, we attend the London, Nuremberg, and New York Toy Fairs, the Chicago Candy Expo, and make several additional overseas trips promoting our client's ideas. Traveling more than 100,000 miles, serving more than 300 client companies worldwide, Excel is THE global  conduit for your creativity... And we don't just do it for the airline food either!

We do it because international marketing returns results. When Excel represents your idea, you'll get quarterly updates, an up-front compensation commitment, and the benefit of more than 20 years of industry experience. We've helped dozens of inventors get their ideas on the market, and because our bottom line depends upon your success, we push harder for a better contract. And our clients always sign the contract - so you can see for yourself!

LICENSING

Licensing is when you rent (not sell) your idea to an individual or company. The License Agreement sets the terms of the deal - the rent, the idea, etc. Excel makes sure you get the best possible deal four ways:

First, with expert development and the very best prototypes.

Second, Excel shows your item to the widest possible audience (so the toy companies know that they might lose an opportunity if they're too slow).

Third, our compensation is based strictly on placing your items.  We only get paid if you do.

Fourth, you'll be a party to the license agreement with full legal standing should there ever be trouble.

If you'd like, take a look at our Wish List & References, or, if you're ready, let's Get Started. If you have any questions please Contact Excel. For answers to common questions, please see our FAQ.