Enter to Win

As I was sitting in my office last week tapping away at my computer, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the local number so I let it go to voice mail. When I got around to checking my messages, there was a huge suprise in store. It was Carolyn Pione from Cincy Tech (one of the sponsors of the Cincinnati Innovates inventor competition). She wanted to know if I would be available to represent the Cincinnati Innovates contest on Fox 19 Cincinnati's morning show. All I would have to do is talk about my invention - Celly Smellys scented cleaning wipes for cell phones and electronics, and what motivated me to enter the competition.

"Of course I will!" I exclaimed. When I entered this competition, I had no idea I would have the opportunity to demo my product in my home town of Cincinnati. Thank you to Shiela Gray and Rob Williams from Fox 19 for chosing Celly Smellys to be one of two innovations highlighted on the morning show segment.

My husband and I spent 6 months in Los Angeles last winter and spring. The sprawling city of L.A. is immeasurable just by gazing out of an airplane window. It is so expansive and vast. How could I be successful in generating enough media to get my product off the ground on a shoe string budget? As we flew back home to Cincinnati and circled over the beautiful Ohio River Valley my short term marketing goals became clear. I want everyone in Cincinnati to know about Celly Smellys. Everyone! Grass roots marketing in my home town will lead me to recognition in big cities like L.A. and soon enough, all over the world.

This is the fourth time Celly Smellys have been a news worthy product in Cincinnati. The local publicity has lead to some national recognition on MSNBC and others. I want to thank anyone who has been instrumental in bringing Celly Smellys to a t.v. near you. Now its time to bring Celly Smellys to a shelf near you!

Cincinnati Innovates

One day while Twittering away before work, I got a DM by some lady from Cincinnati with the Twitter handle 'Jukemfootball'....Twighlight zone? No.

Are you still stuck on 'DM' and 'Twitter handle'? As you may well be aware, recent media coverage has spotlighted Twitter in connection to spreading global news (namely from Iran). I was lucky enough to finally make some use of the social networking craze via Twitter when I met a local Cincinnatian and inventor - Michelle Spelman.

Michelle 'DM' me (direct message is a way to privately speak with someone while using Twitter when exchanging emails, for example, or in this case juicy Cincinnati inventor competitions). Michelle shared with me her and her husband's invention called Jukem Football - a card game for kids with a football game strategy. She went on further to offer up a unique inventor competition in Cincinnati, Ohio geared towards fostering and supporting entrepreneurialism. "You should totally join!" she exclaimed and she sent me a link to submit my product. As an inventor myself, I jumped at the opportunity to participate in such a competition. And this is no ordinary contest usually seen online or sponsored by some bohemeth company. This is an acutal grass roots, team oriented support network fashioned to help people just like me achieve their dreams!

Who am I? I am a girl with a dream - a dream that would not leave my head for almost 7 years. I pulled my dirty, grimy cell phone out of my purse one day and nothing came to mind as to what to clean it off with. "And wouldn't it be great if I could clean my cell phone off with something that smelled good, like Pina Colada or fresh Berries?" I thought to myself. When the lightbulb went off over my head on that hot Cincinnati day years ago, I had no idea I'd be entering an inventor competition tipped off by another inventor I met on Twitter.

So I've entered the competition and I didn't give it much thought. Afterall I am up against a solar grill and some high tech surgical machinery. But wait! I am number 17 in the votes! So I have started feverishly tweeting about my competition to remind my followers on Twitter of my heated battle for Cincinnati entrepreneurial dollars, support and most importantly, validation that I've got a great idea.

You can browse the competition and vote for your favorites at http://cincinnatiinnovates.com/contest/entry/Funk-defied. That's the link for my submission but you can surf through others as well. In this current economic time, I encourage anyone with an idea to leap and let the net appear.

To check out Michelle Spelman's Jukem Football game visit http://www.jukemfootball.com/

In addition, I have met some amazing female entrepreneurs on Twitter including http://www.lapcoverz.com/ (personalizable laptop covers), http://www.mittmate.com/ (never lose your ball glove again!), http://www.amilya.com/ (entrepreneur, star and advocate) http://www.mommymillionaire.com/ (Autobiography of my inspiration for starting a biz).