Five years ago I invented a bed linen concept. At home in sunny Melbourne, an Australian mum fixing a problem. Why? Because I was sick of washing heavy quilt and duvet covers every weekend because my children wouldn't use a top sheet. I would find the sheet at the bottom of the bed every week and it was so frustrating when they would look at me blankly as I ranted and raved on how hard it was to remove the quilt, wash the cover, dry the cover, and then get the quilt back into the cover and remake the bed.
There response was but the sheet gets tangled, I like the cover only. So my idea was born, I made a few sets and friends wanted one and then another and so the idea became reality.
Now I am not a sewer so I asked questions, listened to advice, and finally I was happy with the finished product.
Then someone said "What about a patent" Ummmm. I hadn't thought about that. Do I really need one?
What's the point? So I organised a meeting with a Patent specialist and I took his advice and I patented my Coshee® idea, trademarked the name as it stood for Cover-Sheet and off I went into the big wide world to manufacture and sell my bedlinen.
Now its five years on and we have branched out a little we now sell in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia and just last year we picked up an agent and started selling in the USA.
Things are good and we are moving along nicely. Until this week...someone else is selling our idea!
Could they have thought of it like I did? Maybe they didn't know we were here and had a Patent pending in the USA. Maybe just maybe it was a mistake I thought...until I watched the video and read the blurb and watched the money rolling in as people pledged to buy this product as it was an AWESOME idea.
Yeah it is and its MINE
. I spent 24hrs in denial. I was crushed. I have a Patent pending it will all be good.
But it doesn't quite work that way. Until I could listen to the sound voice of the legal team I was teetering, all those years of heard work for nothing? Then the voice of reason came through, a strategy was discussed and I saw clearly and with clarity that I was in the best position.
My Patent may not be through yet but I had 5 years behind me and hey maybe I could learn something from these guys. My website talks to you about beautiful bed linen, shows gorgeous shots and talks about eco friendly materials and how we solve your problems in the bedroom. Get it? You want to buy it now don't you?
No? No you don't. Why? Because I had missed the point. I had hidden the solution to your problems in my discussions about beautiful bedlinen. I had stopped listening to why you were here and how I could help you, because I assumed you knew what I was selling.
Well I was wrong and thanks to these guys I am back on track to show you how I can make your life better in the bedroom (now now this is not an R rated piece)
I will get rid of that pesky scrunched up top sheet. I can guarantee you can make your bed each and every day in under 5 secs flat or I will come around and do it for you (confident aren't I!) and your washing will be less and easier to do.
So to the guys out there with my AWESOME bedlinen idea. Thanks so much because I am back in the saddle and here for my customers, solving their problems, helping college kids sort out their bed sets when they leave home and best of all...When my Patent is through.....I hope you have made lots of money because that is when you will meet me and my legal team because yes I believe in Patents and Karma :)
Jane
Designer of Coshee. Smart bedding for all the family
www.ecosleepaustralia.com.au
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