How To Take Your Prototype To Production

Of all my ideas, my packaging innovation, Spinformation, was the most difficult to commercialize. 

A tremendous amount of effort was required, but it was well worth it.

I made my first prototypes of the spin label out of paper, which allowed me to design many variations. Fundamentally, I needed it to work with the manufacturing equipment. 

Prototype made out of paper:

After a lot of work, finally, Spinformation labels!

Applied to containers:

On the day of our commercial shoot with Alex Trebek:

Eventually, the packaging industry took note, and we won industry awards, including two Edison awards.

I remember building those first prototypes at my local Kinko’s. Having a commercial on TV and eventually selling at Walmart was a dream come true.

Here’s what I learned:

1. Some ideas are much more difficult to commercialize than others. Try to learn the difference.

2. It only takes one idea. 

3. Big ideas require a team.

Thank you so much for reading! 

Stephen Key,

inventRight CoFounder