Hurricanes inspire winning invention

Making their point
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Kristen Nevils wowed the Venture2 "Inventor Search" judges both with her husband's "Watersafe" invention idea and her presentation polish.

On Thursday in Delray Beach, Nevils, 37, proudly unveiled the emergency water storage product that she and husband Michael Nevils, 44, developed after South Florida was hit by hurricanes two years in a row. The Fort Lauderdale residents' product is a solution for the homeowner to keep up to 65 gallons of emergency water supply in the bathtub or sink, avoiding the prehurricane scramble for bottled water.

"When you see those palm trees starting to bend, you fill it up," Nevils said, demonstrating how the plastic storage bags are filled with tap water and secured.

On Friday, the couple were named the contest winners. "I'm blown away. I'm so excited," Nevils said. "I love my product and see so much in it. But to have other inventors say, `You really have something here,' that's amazing. That legitimizes it."

The contest was sponsored by Venture2, a consulting firm founded by Michael Docherty, a former consumer products guru for Sunbeam.

"It wasn't an easy call," Docherty said about the contests' three finalists. A gift-wrap cutting and storage product invented by David Richards, 52, of Palm Harbor, for example, "was less developed, but potentially bigger opportunity," he said.

"In the end what pushed us toward Watersafe is that they were the ones who took the total business approach," Docherty said. The Nevilses also are willing to devote their time to developing the product, he added. Several contestants were looking for someone else to market their invention.

The winners receive 60 days' consulting from Venture2 in refining their concept and licensing or launching their product in the marketplace.

Judges ranked inventors on whether their idea addressed "unmet customer needs, was unique, and an attractive financial opportunity."

Nine inventors were chosen to make presentations, set up American Idol-style with three judges giving on-the-spot feedback. But the judges, who included Docherty, inventor Bob Robbins and MIT Enterprise Forum of South Florida President Amer Akhtar, were gentler in their advice than judges of TV fame.

The judges liked the Nevilses' water storage product, but questioned how Kristen Nevils arrived at the price, $34.95 for the large and $12.99 for the "mini" version.

The judges praised Eva Thomas, a Boca Raton inventor, for her passion, but couldn't see the potential that she does in her locking mailbox designed to make homeowners safe from identity theft. "Drive along A1A. They have multimillion-dollar homes and they have $10 mailboxes. It drives me nuts," she said.

"You're underestimating what's involved in trying to build a business around this," Docherty told her.

Finalists John and Gwendolyn Corn drove from St. Petersburg to participate in the contest. The couple invented what they call the "Bath Fiddle," a back scrubber made of quick-dry, exfoliating material.

"It's a great idea," said "Judge" Robbins, who has invented many products including the Conair hair-braiding device for teenagers. He recommended the couple take their back scrubber to a bed-and-bath trade show in Las Vegas.

"I like it, too," added "Judge" Akhtar, who saw potential in using the product to put on suntan lotion at the beach. "I would buy one."

Robbins saw potential in Richard's gift-wrap idea, saying his device to cut paper was more valuable than the storage idea. Even though he didn't win the contest, Richards said he found the judges helpful. "I picked up a lot of information, and they're open to providing guidance on this.

"I didn't know how to proceed. I haven't done this before, and I don't have much time because I have a family and a job. It was a great experience."
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Local man to take invention to national exhibit

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By HALEY HUGHES

Staff writer

It may very well be the next big thing.

From fledgling inventor Donald Waters comes Timbertite, a new way for commercial truck drivers to secure dunnage to their vehicles. Dunnage is a term for spare pieces of scrap wood that is used to support loads, like cargo that is transported on a 18-wheel flatbed truck.

Typically, trucking companies and their drivers secure dunnage under the beds of trucks with either rope or elastic cord. But the knots often shake loose with the movement of the truck, especially over uneven roads.

"Cargo needs a means of securement and needs a means of proper securement," said Waters, who is from Beech Island. "Until now there's no way to store them. I literally just touched a cord and it came loose. I'm a thinker. That just got my little brain thinking."

What encouraged him even more was an experience while he himself was driving a truck on a construction site.

"The dunnage that I had secured under my trailer became loose and slid to the passenger side, hitting a bridge support as I passed through a construction site," he said. "It was enough to get me thinking even more. I didn't want to improve a product. I wanted to create a product."

The Timbertite features a 5,000-pound capacity polyester strap and a compression spring to maintain tension. All one has to do is secure the hook into the eyebolt on the spring assembly and tighten as desired.

"I designed every part of it," Waters said. "Nothing is store bought. There were a few prototypes that got thrown away. Now I've got it to where I want it."

As far as he knows, rope or elastic cord does not meet the standards of securing cargo on commercial trucks. Waters feels Timbertite meets or exceeds such standards.

Timbertite received its patent in 1999 but now Waters is looking for a licensee or a manufacturer. He will be attending INPEX — the Invention and New Product Exhibition — in Pittsburgh, Pa., on June 6-9 in hopes of doing just that.

"I'm very much looking forward to the show in Pittsburgh," he said. "I think it's an asset of safety to the trucking industry. I'll feel good about myself if I've known I've done something to make safety better."

Local man to take invention to national exhibit

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2007 Mothers of Invention Challenge

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"Good Morning America Weekend" kicked off its third annual Mothers of Invention Challenge today, in partnership with Mom Inventors, Inc.

If you're a mom who has a great idea for a new invention, you can enter to win. One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 plus a 5 percent royalty from the net sales of the invention. See full official rules below for complete details.

All entries must be postmarked by March 24, 2007, and must be received by April 2, 2007. Please see contest rules below for complete information and entry requirements.

Mothers of Invention Contest Rules

Mom Inventors, Inc.
American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

OFFICIAL RULES
"Good Morning America Weekend" Mothers of Invention Challenge

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Eligibility

Promotion is open only to female inventors who consider themselves to be or to have been a mom, who are legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. and who are 18 years of age or older. For minors, entries must be accompanied by parental consent. Void outside of the United States and where prohibited. Any individuals (including but not limited to employees, consultants, independent contractors, and interns) who have, within six months prior to the start date of the Promotion and thereafter, performed services for American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Mom Inventors Inc., Amazon Services LLC, or any organization responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Promotion or supplying prizes, and/or their respective parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, and immediate family and household members of such individuals, are not eligible to enter or win. "Immediate family members" shall mean parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, or spouses, regardless of where they live. "Household members" shall mean people who share the same residence at least three months a year, whether related or not.

Entry

"Good Morning America Weekend's" Mothers of Invention Challenge (the "Promotion") begins 7:00 am ET on February 10, 2007 and all entries should be postmarked by March 24, 2007 and must be received at the Post Office Box by April 2, 2007. All entrants must send a standard VHS, DVD, DV or Beta tape (other formats may not be considered), no longer than 3 minutes in length, discussing the origin and purpose of and showcasing their invention. The video must show the ACTUAL INVENTOR and, to her best ability, visually and verbally illustrating and describing her invention and its features and benefits. The inventor should also briefly describe herself and her family in the video tape submission. The video must be accompanied by an Invention Summary and Confidential Non-Disclosure Form , collectively the entry ("Entry"), to Good Morning America Weekend's Mothers of Invention Challenge, P.O. Box 830, Alamo, CA 94507. Only videotaped entries with accompanying AND signed paperwork will be accepted. Do not send prototypes of the invention with the entry. Entries to a post office box should be made using one of the available services of the United States Postal Service; post office boxes can not receive deliveries from an overnight or other courier delivery service other than those delivery services provided by the United States Postal Service. The entry must be from the actual inventor. Limit one entry per person for the Promotion. Multiple entries will result in the disqualification of all of your entries. All entries must be received at the PO Box address. Entries delivered to any other address will NOT be considered. Any previously submitted video tapes may not be in compliance with modified entry requirements. Entrants from prior years' challenges are strongly encouraged to update their submission.

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. ("ABC"), Mom Inventors Inc, West & Associates, A PC. , and Amazon Services LLC (collectively "Sponsors") will not be responsible for late, lost, incomplete, illegible, damaged, garbled, technically corrupt, postage-due or misdirected entries. All entries should be postmarked by March 24, 2007 and must be received by April 2, 2007. No tapes, Invention Summary and Confidential Non-Disclosure Form, including video entries will be acknowledged or returned. All such tapes and documents will be securely stored and/or disposed of at the conclusion of the Promotion. Sponsors cannot provide technical support and accept no responsibility for insuring the receipt of or viewability of your entry.

It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to notify American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. in writing if the entrant changes his/her e-mail address or mailing address. To do so, write to: Good Morning America Weekend's Mother's of Invention Challenge, P.O. Box 830, Alamo, CA 94507. Notification must be received by April 19, 2007. By entering this Promotion, participants agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of judges and Sponsors, which are binding and final in all matters relating to this Promotion.

By entering, participants agree to indemnify, defend, release, discharge and hold harmless American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Mom Inventors Inc., West & Associates, A PC, Amazon Services LLC, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, advertising and promotional agencies and prize suppliers and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives from any and all claims, liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to death or personal injury arising out of a participant's participation in the Promotion and/or acceptance or use or misuse of prize, and any claims based on rights of privacy, rights of publicity, false light, defamation, copyright and/or trademark infringement. By entering this Promotion all finalists grant permission to the Sponsors to use their respective names, video tapes, photographs, likenesses, images, voices, prize information and/or biographical information (city and state only) for Good Morning America Weekend (including their licensees) programming, publication, publicity and promotional purposes without compensation, review or approval unless prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Additional Entry Limitations

The invention must be an original concept submitted by the inventor. Do not incorporate the protected works of others in your entry. Sponsors may disqualify such entries and take all other measures Sponsors may deem appropriate so as to protect their interests. Entries must not currently be entered in any other promotion, contest or competition. Entries that contain any content determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion as indecent, inappropriate, and morally objectionable or otherwise unfit for broadcast will be immediately disqualified. Entries not satisfying these Official Rules in any respect will be disqualified. In submitting the entry, entrant understands and agrees that the invention is a "submission" as defined in the Terms of Use of www.ABCNEWS.com; and, as such, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., subject to the terms of the Invention Summary and Confidential Non-Disclosure Form owns any and all rights to use the videotape. (For ABCNEWS.com's Terms of Use, direct your Internet browser to the Legal Terms page). In the event of a conflict between these Official Rules and the Terms of Use, the Official Rules shall govern.

Entrants, selected as finalists, further agree to sign any and all documents required by American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Mom Inventors, Inc., West & Associates, A PC, and/or Amazon Services LLC upon their request, so as to confirm, record and/or perfect their ownership rights in the entry. As a condition of the Promotion, for each individual entry, all entrants must fill out the Invention Summary and Confidential Non-Disclosure Form in their entireties, which are available at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/. This Invention Summary and Confidential Non-Disclosure Form must be included with the entrant's entry.

Entrants agree to accept all terms and conditions associated with acceptance of the Prize in the event they should be selected for further participation in the Promotion. If selected as the Grand Prize Winner, Entrants accept and understand that Mom Inventors, Inc. shall own all rights, title and interest, including, but not limited to, the right to apply for and receive any and all forms of intellectual property protection, of or related to the invention submitted by the Grand Prize Winner. Specifically, the Grand Prize Winner expressly agrees to execute an exclusive license agreement on substantially the same terms as presented here.

The Grand Prize Winner expressly agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to perfect any and all such intellectual property protection and/or any and all documents necessary to transfer and all interest of or related to the Grand Prize Winner's entry to Mom Inventors, Inc. in the event the Grand Prize Winner has already received issued patent(s) on the entry, and/or has applied for patent protection on the entry, the Grand Prize Winner expressly agrees to assign ownership rights in said issued patent(s) and/or patent application to Mom Inventors, Inc. in consideration of the Grand Prize awarded to the Grand Prize Winner.

By entering, Entrants agree they will not commit their product to any other manufacturer and/or entity in any manner during the course of the Promotion and expressly warrant that they have not previously committed their product to any other manufacturer and/or entity and their product is not currently for sale through non-direct distribution or direct distribution channels such as retail stores, catalogs, other mass outlets or online. All Entrants hereby grant exclusive right to Mom Inventors, Inc. to file a United States provisional patent application or other appropriate intellectual property documents on their behalf on or before May 11, 2007, and agree to execute all requisite forms and associated documents required as part of such provisional patent or other intellectual property applications. However, Mom Inventors, Inc. shall not be obligated to file any such provisional patent application. A provisional patent application may be filed by Mom Inventors, Inc., at their sole discretion, with no charge to the selected Entrant(s). Any provisional patent application filed will list Entrant as the Inventor. All Entrants agree to grant Mom Inventors, Inc. together with its authorized licensees the right of first refusal to negotiate a license deal for their entries with not only Finalists but also any Entrant who has made a entry for which a patent application, provisional or otherwise, has been filed on or before May 11, 2007 by Mom Inventors, Inc.

Entrants understand, recognize and accept that Mom Inventors, Inc. has access to, may create or has created materials and ideas which may be similar or identical to the submitted confidential information in concept, theme, idea, format or other respects. Entrants understand, recognize and accept that often similar or identical submissions are received and that in the event their entry is identical or similar to the entry of another entrant, the Sponsors reserve the right to select one entry over said identical or similar entry at the sole discretion of the Official Judging Panel without obligation to further explain, justify or validate this decision to any inventor.

Entrants understand and accept that American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. ("ABC") has an extensive history of creating and developing television segments and programs. Such development activities have preceded this promotion and will continue thereafter. Entrants' entries shall not be construed as any acknowledgement or admission that the same or a similar idea has not previously been created and/or developed by ABC. Entrants further acknowledge that ABC, or its parent company, engages in extensive activities in creating, acquiring and developing literary, artistic, musical, design and other material, including stories, ideas, themes, plots, titles, screenplays, formats, concepts for attractions, parks and other developments and other materials (collectively, the "ABC Material"). Moreover, the ABC Material which ABC may hereafter use may have originated with or may have been acquired from ABC employees or others and may duplicate, parallel or resemble the inventions.

Judging

The Official Judging Panel, consisting of representatives from Mom Inventors Inc., West & Associates, A PC, representatives of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc, Amazon Services LLC and other sponsors, if any, is selected at the sole discretion of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. The judging panel will then select the top three (3) invention entries from all eligible entries received. The judging of the inventions will be based on the following criteria: (1) the creativity and originality of the entry; (2) the quality and persuasiveness of entrant's reasoning on why the invention has value; (3) the benefit to people; (4) the marketability of the invention. The definition of "Invention" and "Originality" is to be solely and subjectively determined by Mom Inventors, Inc. and ABC. An interview with the inventor, conducted at the sole discretion of the judges, may also be required. The judging will be conducted commencing on or about Monday, April 2, 2007 through or about May 11, 2007. During that time, selected inventors may be required to submit additional requested information to assist in sponsor/judges due diligence research, regarding patents, and background checks, etc. The finalists of the potential winning inventions will be notified by mail and/or phone and/or email. Potential winners will be required to sign and return within 7 business days of receipt an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release and Indemnification, a Publicity Release where allowed by law, as well as other documents that Sponsor may require. If any potential winner does not reply to such notification within 2 business days, an e-mail notification is undeliverable after up to 3 attempts and/or the Affidavit of Eligibility, Release and Indemnification, a Publicity Release and/or any other required documents are not returned by potential winner (and/or essay subject, as appropriate) to Sponsors within specified time period, such potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate potential winner selected (i.e., the entry ranked immediately below the disqualified entry in the judging), this process may continue until another potential winner is selected. Select entrants may be subjected to criminal and civil background checks, as well as patent searches, as determined at the sole discretion of the sponsors.

GMA Profiles & Grand Prize Voting: Each of the inventors of the top three entries ("Finalists") must be willing to work with Mom Inventors Inc. and producers of ABC News programs, Good Morning America Weekend and/or other Sponsors. The Finalists must also be available to appear, at producers' discretion, on live broadcasts of Good Morning America Weekend in May 2007. After the segment highlighting the Finalists is broadcast on Good Morning America Weekend, on or about May 12, 2007, viewers will be invited to log onto www.GMAWEEKEND.ABCNews.com to vote, based on the same judging criteria listed above, for the one invention they feel most deserves to be manufactured and distributed. Viewers must cast their votes on or about May 13, 2007 before 12:01 am. The dates for voting are subject to change due to possible pre-emption or other reasons. In the event dates of voting should change Good Morning America Weekend will announce and post on-line as necessary. The Finalist who receives the greatest number of votes will be selected as the Grand Prize Winner on or about Sunday, May 13, 2007, Good Morning America Weekend will announce which of the Finalists has received the most votes (i.e. the "Winner"). In the event of a tie the Finalist with the highest score in the greatest invention benefit category will be deemed the Winner. In the event that the Winner is disqualified, the highest vote-getter of the remaining Finalists will be selected as the Winner.

Grand Prize:

The Grand Prize Winner, by winning, is automatically entering into a licensing agreement with Mom Inventors Inc. for the manufacturing, promotion and distribution of their entry. The Grand Prize Winner will receive $10,000 plus a royalty of 5% of net sales for all time periods during which Mom Inventors, Inc makes commercial sales of a product based on the Entry, as more fully explained in the form license agreement. During such time periods Mom Inventors, Inc. shall make best efforts to make commercial sales of the product. At any time, on 60 days written notice, Mom Inventors, Inc., at its sole discretion, shall have the right to stop selling the product and may, at its sole discretion, assign all right, title and interest in any intellectual property associated with the product to the Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prize Winner shall not make, use, sell, transfer, license or otherwise encumber any intellectual property associated with the product or entry, except as required hereunder, during such times as any/all intellectual property rights associated with the product and/or Entry are in full force and effect. Net sales shall be defined as selling price less costs of manufacture, costs of shipping, costs of packaging, costs of promotion, costs of insurance, overhead costs, volume discounts and returns and allowances. Federal, state and local taxes on any winnings and royalties are the sole responsibility of the winner, who will receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the final actual value of any prize valued at $600 or more. You should consult a tax professional for a full explanation of any potential tax implications. Winners are not entitled to exchange or transfer prize or to obtain any other substitution, but Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may substitute prizes of equal or greater value due to prize unavailability or for any reason. The Sponsors in their sole discretion may provide airfare and hotel accommodations for Finalists and/or the Winner as deemed necessary. The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a $1000.00 gift certificate from amazon.com for use to purchase merchandise on its website.

Prizes for Two Other Finalists

Each of the other two finalists will receive a $1000.00 gift certificate from amazon.com.

Restrictions

For Broadcast: The three Finalists agree to make themselves available to participate in the broadcast profiles, live appearances on ABC-TV. Finalists understand and agree that, if any Finalist is NOT available for the Profiles, or in the event such background research reveals information leading the Sponsors, in their sole discretion, to determine that the Finalist should be disqualified, that entry will be disqualified and an alternate entry will be selected based on the next highest score given based on the above-stated judging criteria and this process may continue until three finalists are selected. In the alternative, the Promotion may, in Sponsors' discretion, proceed with only two Finalists. All arrangements are subject to change, availability and Sponsors' approval, including but not limited to the production schedule of Good Morning America Weekend. The Finalists must agree to follow any and all instructions of producers during taping of the Profiles and live appearances, as determined in their sole discretion and not engage in conduct that violates the broadcast standards of American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., as determined by American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., in its sole discretion. The content, location and live appearances will be determined by American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., Good Morning America Weekend.

The Finalists agree (1) that ABC may, but is not obligated to, broadcast or re-broadcast, in whole or in part, in any format or medium, including but not limited to the world wide web, the taped Profiles, the live broadcast of Good Morning America Weekend including the taped Profiles and/or footage of or information about the Finalist, without notification or compensation; (2) that Mom Inventors Inc. may, but is not obligated to, promote the challenge, in any format about Winner and/or other finalists, without notification or further compensation and may include any and all materials which were part of the original entry or subsequently became a part of the entry as part of that promotion; and (3) to sign any and all appearance releases and other documents which may be required by Sponsors in conjunction with acceptance of the prize. Nothing herein in any way obligates Sponsors to include the taped Profiles, in whole or in part, in any broadcast of Good Morning America Weekend or any other program.

The Grand Prize Winner agrees to provide her name and/or likeness for use in conjunction with the promotion and sale of her invention on both mominventors.com and amazon.com.

General

All expenses not specifically provided for herein are the Finalist's sole responsibility. Some additional restrictions may apply. By entering, Entrant grants American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. and Mom Inventors Inc. the right to use their name, voice, likeness, entry, biographical information, story and/or performance in connection with Good Morning America Weekend, such may be broadcast, distributed, published or exhibited in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, throughout the world, in perpetuity, and in any and all advertising and publicizing thereof.

Additional Conditions of Participation

If for any reason the Promotion is not capable of running as planned, including but not limited to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Promotion, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify and/or suspend the Promotion and to determine the winners by having the judges evaluate all eligible entries received prior to the action taken, or as otherwise deemed fair and equitable by Sponsors; and to disqualify any individuals who tamper with the entry process, violate these official rules or act in a disruptive or abusive manner. No responsibility is assumed for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alteration of entries; errors, defects or omissions in the advertisement or offering of this Promotion; or any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or electronic entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to, or resulting from, participation in or downloading any materials from this Promotion.

Participants further agree not to knowingly damage or cause interruption of the Promotion and/or prevent others from using the Promotion. Submission of an entry is acknowledgement of and agreement to be bound by all terms and conditions of this Promotion. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE ANY ONLINE SERVICE OR WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION VIOLATES CRIMINAL OR CIVIL LAWS. IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT IS MADE, SPONSOR MAY DISQUALIFY ANY PARTICIPANT MAKING SUCH ATTEMPT AND SEEK DAMAGES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. reserve the right to terminate, modify or suspend this Promotion due to any of the following reasons: act of God; unavoidable accident; epidemic; fire; blackout; act of public enemy; war, riot or civil commotion; enactment, rule, order or act of government or governmental instrumentality or tribunal; strike, lockout or other labor dispute; inclement weather; the recapture of any time period scheduled for the live telecast of a program for an event of national importance or emergency; failure of technical facilities; failure of essential production, or technical personnel to appear or be available for production or broadcast; or other cause of a similar or different nature. By entering, Entrant agrees that should this Promotion be terminated for any reason Entrant irrevocably waives any right to seek and/or obtain rescission and/or equitable and/or injunctive relief.

By entering your idea in this contest, Entrants specifically understand that, if selected at the Grand Prize Winner, Entrant is expressly agreeing to execute a license agreement with Mom Inventors, Inc. on substantially the same terms as presented here.

Sponsors: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., 77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023; Mom Inventors, Inc., PO Box, 830, Alamo, California, 94507; West and Associates, a PC, 2815 Mitchelle Drive, Suite 209, Walnut Creek, CA 94598; Amazon Services, LLC, 8329 W. Sunset Rd., Suite 220, Las Vegas, NV 89113.

Names of Finalists and Winner: For the name of the Finalists and Winner, available mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Good Morning America Weekend's Mothers of Invention Challenge, P.O. Box 830 Alamo, CA 94507. Requests received after May 31, 2007 will not be honored.

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Hurricanes inspire winning invention

http://eat-healthy-every-day.blogspot.com/
Kristen Nevils wowed the Venture2 "Inventor Search" judges both with her husband's "Watersafe" invention idea and her presentation polish.

On Thursday in Delray Beach, Nevils, 37, proudly unveiled the emergency water storage product that she and husband Michael Nevils, 44, developed after South Florida was hit by hurricanes two years in a row. The Fort Lauderdale residents' product is a solution for the homeowner to keep up to 65 gallons of emergency water supply in the bathtub or sink, avoiding the prehurricane scramble for bottled water.

"When you see those palm trees starting to bend, you fill it up," Nevils said, demonstrating how the plastic storage bags are filled with tap water and secured.

On Friday, the couple were named the contest winners. "I'm blown away. I'm so excited," Nevils said. "I love my product and see so much in it. But to have other inventors say, `You really have something here,' that's amazing. That legitimizes it."

The contest was sponsored by Venture2, a consulting firm founded by Michael Docherty, a former consumer products guru for Sunbeam.

"It wasn't an easy call," Docherty said about the contests' three finalists. A gift-wrap cutting and storage product invented by David Richards, 52, of Palm Harbor, for example, "was less developed, but potentially bigger opportunity," he said.

"In the end what pushed us toward Watersafe is that they were the ones who took the total business approach," Docherty said. The Nevilses also are willing to devote their time to developing the product, he added. Several contestants were looking for someone else to market their invention.

The winners receive 60 days' consulting from Venture2 in refining their concept and licensing or launching their product in the marketplace.

Judges ranked inventors on whether their idea addressed "unmet customer needs, was unique, and an attractive financial opportunity."

Nine inventors were chosen to make presentations, set up American Idol-style with three judges giving on-the-spot feedback. But the judges, who included Docherty, inventor Bob Robbins and MIT Enterprise Forum of South Florida President Amer Akhtar, were gentler in their advice than judges of TV fame.

The judges liked the Nevilses' water storage product, but questioned how Kristen Nevils arrived at the price, $34.95 for the large and $12.99 for the "mini" version.

The judges praised Eva Thomas, a Boca Raton inventor, for her passion, but couldn't see the potential that she does in her locking mailbox designed to make homeowners safe from identity theft. "Drive along A1A. They have multimillion-dollar homes and they have $10 mailboxes. It drives me nuts," she said.

"You're underestimating what's involved in trying to build a business around this," Docherty told her.

Finalists John and Gwendolyn Corn drove from St. Petersburg to participate in the contest. The couple invented what they call the "Bath Fiddle," a back scrubber made of quick-dry, exfoliating material.

"It's a great idea," said "Judge" Robbins, who has invented many products including the Conair hair-braiding device for teenagers. He recommended the couple take their back scrubber to a bed-and-bath trade show in Las Vegas.

"I like it, too," added "Judge" Akhtar, who saw potential in using the product to put on suntan lotion at the beach. "I would buy one."

Robbins saw potential in Richard's gift-wrap idea, saying his device to cut paper was more valuable than the storage idea. Even though he didn't win the contest, Richards said he found the judges helpful. "I picked up a lot of information, and they're open to providing guidance on this.

"I didn't know how to proceed. I haven't done this before, and I don't have much time because I have a family and a job. It was a great experience."
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Is Your Ego Hurting Your Business?

At your service: Convenience-craving consumers are always looking for a way to do things better, faster and cheaper. Often, that means turning to a specialty-services entrepreneur who knows how to get the job done right. Here, we provide some inspiration for aspiring service providers-from adventure-tour leaders to window washers. With 105 ideas to choose from, you have no excuse not to get started today with your own service business.

Personal Services
Mobile Pet Grooming
Snip, clip and brush your way to success as a mobile pet groomer. Fido and his owner will both appreciate the convenience of a "doorstep" doggie-grooming service. With the proper training and experience, a van and some grooming tools, start barking up the right tree by marketing your business in your neighborhood and others.

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Collectibles searchers, who carefully canvas swap meets, thrift stores and garage sales, can collect a bundle locating objets d'art for clients. Once you've found your niche--be it antique lunch boxes, dolls or grandfather clocks--advertise your services in hobbyist publications, at collectibles stores, in specialty forums on the internet, or on eBay. Soon you'll be taking up a collection of your own.

Diaper Delivery
Whoever said cloth diapers couldn't be convenient--and user-friendly? Velcro diaper "wraps" replace awkward pins, and pickup and delivery take the dirty work out of diapering. Equipped with a "clean," propane-fueled delivery truck and some washing machines, you can provide an environmentally friendly alternative to disposables. Talk about a change for the better!

Dry-Cleaning Pickup & Delivery
Are you clothes-minded? Then try on the dry-cleaning pickup-and-delivery business for size. Provide pickup and drop-off at a place that's convenient for busy professionals, then follow suit by arranging with a local dry cleaner to do the actual cleaning.

Mobile Locksmith
You hold the keys to success as a mobile locksmith. For best results, be ready for 24-hour action with a cell phone and van. With some training and basic equipment, you'll have this business mastered--lock, stock and barrel.

Graffiti Removal & Abatement
Equipped with some paint and other preventive treatments, you're set to serve residential as well as commercial clients with your own graffiti-removal-and-abatement business. City governments and schools can also benefit from the removal of unsightly "tagging" in their districts.

Golf-Club Cleaning
Take your best shot with a golf-club cleaning service. Not only will you be offering golfers a clean edge to improve their game, but you'll be offering a way to protect their investment from the rusting, pitting and discoloration of dirty clubs.

Self-Defense Instructor
You can never feel too safe or secure. People of all ages and backgrounds can benefit from the self-defense skills you can teach them. Get your business jump-started by training others in the disciplines you've learned--Aikido, Karate, or simply basic safety-awareness skills.

Adventure Tours
Got a taste for adventure? Whether it's exploring South American caves or touring English teahouses, you're sure to find a fanatic following . . . so long as you do all the footwork first. Put your service on the road to success by coordinating transportation, food and lodging. Your clients only need to worry about one thing: having fun.

Pet Sitting
When it comes to creature comforts, most canines would choose their own backyard over a kennel any day. Thanks to pet sitters--who take care of pets while their owners are out of town or busy--Fido can have his kibble at home. This business isn't just for the dogs, however; gear your services toward all creatures great and small for maximum profits.

Mobile Massage
Success is close at hand for mobile massage providers. Advertise your stress-relieving services at local workout clubs, spas and physical therapists' offices. Then bring your trained hands--and a portable massage table--to clients' homes or places of work.

Personal Chef
Cook up tasty profits as a personal chef. Those with culinary competence can likely find a hungry clientele among the ranks of America's busy working families. Or, market your business to clients for those special occasions when they prefer to dine in--complete with restaurant-quality food and service.

Mobile Mechanic
As a mobile mechanic, a good knowledge of automobile repair techniques and a list of referrals help you rev up sales. Put your business in the fast lane by bringing your service directly to clients' homes or places of business.

Seamstress/Tailor
As a seamstress or tailor, sew your way to success altering clothing and/or creating new apparel from scratch. Spread the word about your service at local boutiques and dry cleaners, plug in your sewing machine, and start stitching.

Court-Paper Serving
You can't beat the legal system . . . as a great resource for business, that is. Private attorneys, who lack the time to do much footwork themselves, often turn to registered court-paper processors to serve their summonses. Come judgment day, you'll be courting success.

Porcelain Repair
Rub a dub, dub, a porcelain-repair entrepreneur in the tub: Fixing unsightly chips and cracks in tubs and other porcelain accessories puts entrepreneurs in business. With a porcelain-repair kit in hand, sinks and tubs are made like new again.

Cover Letter/Resume Service
Not everyone knows how to look good on paper. With your editing and basic layout skills, a laser printer, and some high-quality stationery, you're set to start showing clients how to put their best foot forward in their resumes and cover letters--and how to get in the door of potential employers' businesses for an interview.

Mystery Shopping
Now, you can shop till you drop . . . and get paid for it! Just put on your shopping shoes and put service personnel to the test as a "mystery" shopper. Rate local retail stores' employees on attitude, friendliness, and overall quality of service, then report back to your store-owner clients, helping them to ensure their service really is number one.

Tax-Form Preparer
One thing is certain: There will always be a need for tax preparers. Come tax season, businesses and individuals alike need help preparing numerous tax forms and understanding the latest tax regulations. Equipped with some specialized computer software, start scheduling your career as a tax preparer this fiscal year-and get ready for some returns on your time and investment.

Wedding-Guide Publishing
For photographers, bakers, caterers and florists, wedding bells mean big business. Help them get a piece of the action by publishing a wedding guide with space for local advertisers. Include some basic wedding-planning articles, and you'll find June brides aren't the only ones to benefit from your premarital publication.

Mobile Car-Wash and Detailing
Take your business on the road, and clean up on profits as a mobile car-wash and detailing pro. Let a little soap and water do wonders . . . along with a few rags, brushes, and elbow grease; then drive home sales by marketing your services to car dealers, rental fleet owners, and corporations.

Used-Car Inspection
Sometimes, it takes a little more than a kick of the tires to evaluate a used car. With some basic diagnostic equipment and mechanical know-how, however, used-car inspectors can help steer clients away from "lemons." Developing a roster of appreciative customers puts you on the road to referrals--and success.

Professional Organizer
Neatniks need apply: If you're got a knack for neatness, why not help the organizationally challenged? Messy closets, home offices and commercial offices alike could benefit from a more efficient setup. Put some order into others' lives, and arrange yourself some pretty profits.

Tutoring
Thought your proficiency in high school algebra was all for naught? Think again: As a tutor, you could help others bone up on their studies. Whether it's reading, writing or arithmetic, help your students reach the top of their class with a little experienced guidance and support.

Power Washing
Oily driveways, mud-caked semi trucks, or barnacle-ridden boats . . . You name it, and entrepreneurs equipped with specialized power-washing equipment can probably clean it. For spotless results, target commercial as well as residential customers.

Windshield Repair
To find potential clients for your windshield-repair business, simply canvas local parking and used-car lots for cars with cracked, chipped windshields. A basic repair kit enables you to offer clients what is clearly a better alternative to costly glass replacement.

Private Investigation
Blaze your own entrepreneurial trail while following others' footsteps-literally. As a private investigator, make your mark in the industry by keeping a keen "eye" on other people's activities. Clients include attorneys gathering evidence for a case, or individuals seeking information about a significant other.

Business-Plan Consulting
Not only is a business plan crucial in obtaining bank financing, but it's an invaluable tool for anticipating--and tackling--a business's inevitable ups and downs. With your writing skills, spreadsheet know-how, and general business savvy, show clients how to present their best-laid plans . . . while accomplishing your own.

Packing and Unpacking Service
Packing up to move to a new home or office--not to mention unpacking on the other end--is enough to leave one feeling upended. Thank goodness for packing and unpacking entrepreneurs who, with their hassle- and time-saving services, make moving seem like magic.

Business-Travel Management
Make the skies even friendlier for business travelers--and less costly for business owners--as a business--travel manager. Help book low-price tickets, keep expense records, manage frequent-flier miles . . . and reap the high-flying rewards.

Carpet Dyeing
For a fraction of the cost of replacing unsightly or stained carpeting, carpet-dyeing professionals provide hotels, community centers, nursing homes and other businesses an attractive alternative. So go ahead, lay the options at your clients' feet . . . and start making wall-to-wall profits.

Hospital-Bill Auditing
There's nothing worse than being laid up in the hospital for a few days . . . except maybe the pile of often confusing bills that follow. The remedy: hospital-bill auditors, who--thanks to their billing savvy and attention to detail--make way for their clients' smooth recovery.

Specialized Staffing
Helping clients meet their workforce needs is a matter of finding a niche and filling it--and keeping up with human resources trends. Work your way up in the industry by developing a roster of specially skilled workers, then use your "people skills" to build your business.

Bookkeeping
Though today's software makes keeping your own books easier, it doesn't make it much less time-consuming. That's why, for business owners with little time to spare, a bookkeeping service is not only a time-saver, but an asset.

Computer Repair
In today's computer-based society, computer "downtime" can be both costly and aggravating. As a repair professional--equipped with some basic diagnostic equipment and technological savvy--you can get clients' computers back up and humming again.

Referral Service
For referral-service entrepreneurs--who act as a "welcome wagon" to newcomers--getting to know new as well as existing businesses pays off in more ways than one. Local companies pay to get their services introduced to newcomers, while these new customers pay for a little friendly advice.

Video Brochure
Make record profits taping corporate video brochures. Just get your video recorder handy, and zoom in on the action. Video-editing skills and special-effects techniques help you pull together the big picture--and reel in the profits.

Executive Search
Take your business to a "hire" level: As an executive-search specialist, help busy clients find the right man--or woman--for the job. Your job involves placing ads and conducting interviews to screen potential employees for clients. Put on your best interviewing suit, and get down to business.

Freight Brokerage
One sack of flour for a dozen eggs . . . Gone are the days of such no-frills, local trade. In their place: a sophisticated global commerce system requiring a thorough knowledge of land, sea, air and rail shipping rates and regulations. Knowledgeable freight brokers are indispensable to this burgeoning scene.

Long-Distance Reselling
By buying time in bulk from wholesalers, long-distance resellers ring up sales by servicing long-distance consumers--often at significant savings. You make the call: Either purchase the telecommunications equipment you'll need now, or rent it and simply focus on the marketing of your service.

Computer Consulting
Tap into a surging market as a computer consultant. Whether you're an expert at Linux, putting together hardware components, or networking, a growing number of computer "newbies" will surely benefit from your services.

Limousine Service
With a limo and some insurance, you could be the driving force behind a new business venture. Stretch your market by adding more drivers and cars to your fleet. Then, once you've established a reliable reputation, start driving home your limousine-service sales.

Language Translation
Falling foreign-trade barriers and improved communication technology translate into success for language translators and interpreters. An ear for multiple languages puts you at the forefront of this global movement.

Office-Relocation Service
Helping businesses get plugged in to a new neighborhood comes easy for office-relocation-service entrepreneurs who, as "locals," know who's who in providing such services as printing, restaurant delivery and equipment repair.

Office Plant Maintenance
Set your roots in a growing business as an office-plant-maintenance entrepreneur. Regular watering, light pruning, and fertilizing are all in a day's work. Though a green thumb is helpful, some clients may also request maintenance of their silk plants. Either way, your business is sure to grow.

Professional Office Consultant
It's one thing to spend a day at the office, and another altogether to run the office. As a professional office consultant, you'll oversee such responsibilities as marketing, insurance and daily operations for professional lawyers, doctors or other specialists--while leaving the rest to the "pros."

Miniblind Cleaning
Put an end to dusty miniblinds in offices, homes and other buildings with your miniblind-cleaning service. Immerse blinds in tanks of gentle, yet effective, cleansing solution . . . and give clients a squeaky-clean new perspective on the world outside their windows.

Office-Support Service
Typing, filing, sorting mail, entering data, and answering phones are just a few tasks an office-support service can perform to help out harried business owners. Hand out business cards to every businessperson you know--and get ready to spend a productive day at the office!

Apartment-Prepping
Move in on the housing market with some basic plumbing, painting, caulking and scrubbing skills. Busy landlords and leasing offices can both benefit from your handyman skills, while you, in turn, make some handy profits repairing vacated units for clients' new tenants.

Debt-Collection Service
Money makes the world go 'round: You get paid when your clients get paid by the people who you get to pay them. Sound complicated? It doesn't have to be: As a debt collector, it pays in more ways than one to have some persistence in tracking down clients' delinquent debtors.

Restaurant Delivery Service
When "Let's do lunch" means eating at the office, an ordinary sack lunch doesn't have to suffice. Thanks to restaurant deliverers, busy professionals can order their meals from local restaurants. By collecting a delivery charge and tip, operators get a good taste of entrepreneurial success.

Catering
A caterer's place is in the kitchen . . . cooking up hot profits, that is. So long as your kitchen is commercially approved--and you've got a knack for stirring up some "dough"--you've got the makings for savory success. Service weddings, holiday parties, and other festive gatherings; if you're lucky, clients will have your cake and eat it, too!

Seminar Promotion
If there's one thing consumers can never seem to get enough of, it's information. Give 'em an earful by planning and promoting informational seminars. You don't need to be an expert yourself; just schedule the speakers, reserve a location, promote the event, and get ready to collect the profits at the door.

Window Washing
Business has never been clearer for window washers. Grab your bucket, squeegee, and glass-cleaning solution, and rap at the dirty windows of local businesses and residences alike. Add repeat customers, and you'll soon be on a winning streak.

Valet Parking
Drive right up to entrepreneurship as the owner of a valet-parking service. Restaurants, hotels and convention centers can all use the services of a well-dressed, bonded parking staff. The key is having your own team of drivers to keep clients' customers--and their cars--on the move.

Professional Organizer
Neatniks need apply: If you've got a knack for neatness, why not help the organizationally challenged? Messy closets, home offices and commercial offices alike could benefit from a more efficient setup. Put some order into others' lives, and arrange yourself some pretty profits.

Power Washing
Oily driveways, mud-caked semi trucks, or barnacle-ridden boats . . . You name it, and entrepreneurs equipped with specialized power-washing equipment can probably clean it. For spotless results, target commercial as well as residential customers.

Marketing and Sales
Sales-Lead Generating
Streamline salespeople's efforts by identifying prospects and generating sales leads. Some footwork, market research, and a phone set you on the path to compiling a list of potential customers for your clients.

Public-Relations Agency
A way with words, enthusiasm and persistence are all necessary in this competitive business. Networking--by developing contacts with reporters and other media--is also crucial to helping your clients go public with press releases and more.

Copywriting and Proofreading Service
Wanted: creative writer with a knack for finding typos and misteaks . . . er, mistakes. Writers who help ensure clients' advertising copy is both catchy and fault-free may not win a Pulitzer, but they will have some profits to write home about.

Direct Mail/Coupon
Cash in on consumers' coupon-cutting craze with a direct-mail coupon service. Get started by selling ad space in a direct-mail coupon package to local businesses. When you mail coupons to local residents, your clients will benefit from the exposure and you'll benefit from a first-class business of your own.

Public-Relations Agency
A way with words, enthusiasm and persistence are all necessary in this competitive business. Networking--by developing contacts with reporters and other media--is also crucial to helping your clients go public with press releases and more.

Mailing Services
Post record profits fulfilling clients' envelope-stuffing and bulk-mail-processing needs. Advertise in the business section of your local newspaper, and start looking for your check in the mail.

Sales Training
Don't sell yourself short: With some self-promotion and marketing know-how, you could have what it takes to build your own business as a sales trainer. By sharing your sales savvy with other busy business owners, you not only help boost clients' bottom line, but yours, too.

Welcoming Service
Welcoming-service entrepreneurs--who greet newcomers to town with a package of coupons, samples from local businesses, and other community information--not only provide a welcome service to newcomers, but to local businesses, as well.

Home Services
Packing and Unpacking Service
Packing up to move to a new home or office--not to mention unpacking on the other end--is enough to leave one feeling upended. Thank goodness for packing and unpacking entrepreneurs who, with their hassle- and time-saving services, make moving seem like magic.

Handyman Services
If it's broke, you can fix it. Advertise in local newspapers and bulletin boards, then get busy repairing everything from leaky pipes and stopped-up toilets to jammed cabinet drawers and broken windows.

Carpet Dyeing
For a fraction of the cost of replacing unsightly or stained carpeting, carpet-dyeing professionals provide hotels, community centers, nursing homes and other businesses an attractive alternative. So go ahead, lay the options at your clients' feet . . . and start making wall-to-wall profits.

Home-Entertainment Installation
Just watch a novice attempt to connect the wires, cables and other components of their new or relocated stereo and television equipment, and you're likely to view consumer impatience at its finest. But with your sound electrical and wiring expertise, you'll have all systems buzzing in no time.

Mortgage/Debt-Reduction Service
By explaining alternative payment structures to clients (which can result in a smaller total payment in a shorter period of time), mortgage and debt-reduction-service professionals are helping to relieve America's debt--one citizen at a time.

Pool Services
Make a splash in the pool-services business with little more than some cleaning equipment and a water-test kit. Just load up your tools in your car and make the rounds in your neighborhood. Then dive right into business by marketing your service to homeowners' associations, apartment complexes and individual residences.

Lawn Care
When push comes to shove, you've probably got what it takes to make some "green." Just roll up your sleeves and start mowing, clipping and fertilizing lawns for office complexes and residential clients alike.

Home-Inspection Service
A keen eye for structural detail paves the way to success in your home-inspection service. Start by assessing clients' homes for problems such as structural damage and foundation abnormalities, then refer customers to contractors who can ensure their homes are in good repair.

House Painting
Brush up on your painting skills, and get ready to paint the town red--or white, blue or beige, for that matter. Just load up your truck with brushes, rollers and ladders, and get primed for business!

Local Moving Service
Be a mover and shaker with your own local moving service. This is no business for the faint of heart, however: Make sure you're equipped with some upstanding leveraging techniques . . . as well as brawn.

House-Sitting
Is there a sitter in the house? If so, homeowners can rest assured that, while they're away, their plants and pets will be tended to. Don't wait for opportunity to come knocking; a reliable set of references get you in the door.

Home Decorating
Home in on the decorating business with your flair for design. Work with local furniture and accessory stores, paint shops, and carpet and drapery outlets to coordinate clients' interiors. And remember: The key to getting in the door of this business is decorating your own home, first.

Miniblind Cleaning
Put an end to dusty miniblinds in offices, homes and other buildings with your miniblind-cleaning service. Immerse blinds in tanks of gentle, yet effective, cleansing solution . . . and give clients a squeaky-clean new perspective on the world outside their windows.

Pet-Food and Supplies Home Delivery
Lugging pounds of pet food and supplies from the store each week or so can be a burden on pet owners, but it's certainly not too much for pet-delivery entrepreneurs. Once you've sniffed out some leads, start serving up success by delivering pet supplies directly to customers' doors.

Custom Closet Systems
Calling all closet-organizing fanatics: It's time to come out and show your stuff! With a few hooks and shelves, and a lot of creativity (but checking any fear of small spaces at the door), you've got the makings of a custom closet-systems pro . . . with plenty of room to grow. New homeowners and long-time closet accumulators alike make up your potential clientele.

Window Washing
Business has never been clearer for window washers. Grab your bucket, squeegee, and glass-cleaning solution, and rap at the dirty windows of local businesses and residences alike. Add repeat customers, and you'll soon be on a winning streak.

Residential Cleaning
Not only is residential cleaning a good way to keep a body busy, but it's also a way to clean up some profits while you're at it. Start on the ground floor by mopping, sweeping and dusting one house, and work your way up from there!

Computers and Technology
Computer Repair
In today's computer-based society, computer "downtime" can be both costly and aggravating. As a repair professional-equipped with some basic diagnostic equipment and technological savvy-you can get clients' computers back up and humming again.

Computer Consulting
Tap into a surging market as a computer consultant. Whether you're an expert at Windows 95, putting together hardware components, or networking, a growing number of computer "newbies" will surely benefit from your services.

Internet Research
Practice makes perfect when it comes to surfing the internet. With some search-engine and self-marketing savvy, put information at clients' fingertips--and "net" profits at yours.

Web-Site Designer
With specialized software, creating websites comes easy, so long as you have some basic technical and graphic savvy. Home in on business by helping businesses establish a site; existing clients will need help keeping their websites up-to-date, as well.

Children's Services
Children's Party Planning
Do parents a favor and plan their next children's party. From hiring Sesame Street character look-alikes to coordinating games, decorations and food, you're sure to be the life of the party by allowing parents to relax and have fun, too. Plan birthday, holiday, and religious-ceremony celebrations . . . and let the festivities begin!

Child Care
As a child-care provider, you'll need a state license, plenty of baby-sitting experience, and a lot of patience and TLC. Whether you "sit" at your place or theirs, you'll find busy parents aren't your only clients; many office complexes, gyms and other businesses need quality child care, too.

Child-Identification Program
Safety first: When it comes to keeping tabs on children, there's no excuse for kidding around. By offering parents a complete child-identification program, including information files, fingerprinting, identification tags and photos, you not only set parents' minds more at ease, but provide a safety net for our next generation.

Children's Fitness
If there's one thing that never seems to run out, it's a kid's supply of energy. Tap into that vast resource with a children's fitness program. Put your knowledge of children's education and physical fitness to the test by renting a location, then coordinate activities such as tumbling, dance, gymnastics and karate. And hop to it!

Children's Transportation Service
For working and nonworking parents alike, transporting junior to and from school (as well as to after-school activities) can become, well, taxi-ing. By providing a reliable children's transportation service, you give busy parents a break-and keep their busy kids on schedule.

Baby-Proofing
Stairs, cabinets, electrical cords and outlets-they're all potential baby hazards. New parents, grandparents, and even baby sitters could all benefit from a more kid-friendly house. So grab your tools and be prepared to get down on your hands and knees (it helps to view things from a baby's perspective).

Computer Training for Kids
Reading, writing, arithmetic . . . and computers. Though it seems like kids today are born speaking computerese, they've got to start learning somewhere. Teaching them the basics early on is sure to put kids at the head of their class . . . and you at the head of your own business.

Nanny Placement
For busy parents, finding a good nanny isn't child's play. Nanny-placement agents-who screen applicants, check references, match personalities, and set schedules-provide clients an invaluable service by saving them considerable time and worry.

New Mother/Infant Home Care
Make new babies' homecomings from the hospital less tiresome for parents by providing the in-home care and support they need. Preparing meals, diapering the baby, and providing light housekeeping are all a great relief to proud-but occasionally exhausted-new parents.

Tutoring
Thought your proficiency in high school algebra was all for naught? Think again: As a tutor, you could help others bone up on their studies. Whether it's reading, writing or arithmetic, help your students reach the top of their class with a little experienced guidance and support.

Event Services
Photography
With your eye for photo opportunities-at weddings, parties, special events and more-you could be zooming in on profits as a freelance photographer. Be prepared to work weekends and evenings (when many clients will need your services) and to hire an assistant to help you juggle your photo paraphernalia.

Errand Runner/Personal Shopper
Calling all shopaholics: Here's one business where you can truly shop till you drop . . . without spending a penny of your own! Personal shoppers-who may also perform other errands, such as picking up prescriptions or buying groceries-can never complain about a lack of things to do.

Family-History Video
Money can grow on trees . . . family trees, that is. Family-history videographers are hitting home by filming personalized accounts of weddings, births and other memorable occasions. Should a customer's other family members give the film a thumbs up, you may be looking at future generations of customers.

Mobile Disc Jockey
As a mobile disc jockey, weddings, parties and other events are all music to your ears. Start jammin' with a collection of compact discs, a CD player, and a speaker system, then pass on the word about your services to wedding and event planners.

Wedding-Planning Service
Getting married isn't always as simple as saying, "I do." There's a caterer to be contracted, a location to be rented, and flowers to be ordered. So when it comes to making matrimony a more harmonious event for the new couple and their families, wedding planners take the cake.

Event Planning
If your life has been, well, uneventful until now, we have a solution: Be an event planner! Whether it's a party, wedding or convention, you're sure to be at the center of all the action when you coordinate everything from room rentals and speakers to decorations and food.

Limousine Service
With a limo and some insurance, you could be the driving force behind a new business venture. Stretch your market by adding more drivers and cars to your fleet. Then, once you've established a reliable reputation, start-driving home your limousine-service sales.

Photo Birth Announcements
For birth-announcement producers, business is booming as fast as the population! Some basic desktop-publishing software, scanning equipment, and the names of new parents put you in the starting blocks; from there, create fanciful photo-cards, including those all-important details: name, birth date, time and weight.

Videotaping Service
You may not win a producer-of-the-year award, but you'll win the appreciation of your clients when you capture their weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthdays and more on videotape. Keep the film rolling at special events, then edit a final version for clients' own special screenings.

Reunion Organizing
Reunite 'em 'cause it pays so good: Whether it's one big happy family or one big high school class, reunions can be a joyful-and lucrative-occasion for reunion organizers. Schedule the accommodations, coordinate the catering and entertainment, send out the invitations, then sit back and let it all "come together."

Guen Sublette runs her writing-and-editing-services business from her home in Redondo Beach, California.

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