Got a Great Idea for a Pet Product? Get it Made!

Whether dealing with a shedding cat, a drooling dog, a hamster's cage or a parakeet's droppings, there's always something about our pets that irks, annoys or hassles us dedicated owners. But what if, instead of throwing up your hands and wondering, "Why can't they make something that solves insert particular pet problem here," you start brainstorming a solution? (And maybe make a little scratch in the process!)

Bed Bath & Beyond has teamed up with Edison Nation (an inventors' community that links up large companies with "everyday idea people") to launch a "Live Product Search" for the store's new PawsLife line of pet products. Submit your idea (or ideas!) between now and November 2, and you might be the recipient of a $2,500 advance, plus a share of your product's sales for the next 20 years. (Now that's a lotta kibble!) You'll have to invest $25 for every product you pitch.

Because the PawsLife brand currently only manufactures and carries three products (although the store does carry pet products from other manufacturers), the possibilities for this product search are "pretty limitless," Edison Nation public relations manager Mary Dickson tells Paw Nation. "Applicants can choose one idea to submit, or they can choose ten." Dickson also stresses that this is not a contest per se; there is no pre-set number of product ideas Bed Bath & Beyond might ultimately develop.

So think outside the litter box. How could traveling with your pet be made more comfortable? What innovation might improve your pet's appearance? How would you better the cage-cleaning, fur-removing, bath-giving, water-changing, pet-lounging or odor-eliminating products you already use?

Meredith Beck, an Edison Nation account manager, offers this advice to Paw Nation readers: "Think about who your competition is so you can explain how your idea offers an advantage. Tell what problem it solves. Know who the targeted user or consumer is. And be able to give an estimate of your product price point. [They're looking for a retail price of $50, max.] The best ideas we've seen are usually innovative solutions to problems [people] deal with every day."

When submitting your idea, you can upload a drawing or video that demonstrates it visually, but simple, well-written descriptions also work just fine, Beck says; what's most important is that "inventors be as elaborate as possible when explaining the merits of their ideas."

You've got until November 2nd to submit your idea. Whatcha waiting for? Put on those brainstorming caps, future Thomas Pet-isons!

Tags: pet products, PetProducts, product competition, ProductCompetition