“America’s Largest Invention Factory” is making international headlines again!  This time, the host of a popular German television show, “Galileo,” toured Inventionland to see the “world’s most creative workspace” for himself! 

The host’s tour appeared as a segment called “Bildgeschichte Inventionland” on the German TV show and on their website!

 So, what did “Bildgeschichte Inventionland” (or “Picture Story Inventionland”) have to say about Inventionland?  We’ve copied the show information below for you to enjoy:

“Ein Büro, in dem Angestellte auf einem Piratenschiff arbeiten? Oder mitten während der Arbeitszeit mit einer gigantischen Carrerabahn spielen? Unglaublich, aber tägliche Realität…”

What does it all mean?!    Well, thanks to Google Translate, we now know!

“An office in which employees are working on a pirate ship?  Or play during the middle of working with a giant slot car track? Unbelievable, but a daily reality…”

Well, that may not be exactly how we would have said it, but we think they get the gist of our creative workplace!

We’re working on getting a copy of the video with at least some subtitles and you can also visit “Galileo” online to find out a little more about the show; but, we’ll warn you, the Inventionland video there only loads for German users!

Nonetheless, we’ve got the German version of the show below, so you can get a look at Inventionland from an international point of view!  Enjoy!

To say we had a “rockin eve” after we received this next message would be MAJOR understatement! After a certain, very famous entertainment icon got a glimpse of the History Channel’s “Inventionland” reality TV special, which we are proud to say we had a hand in helping with, he had some very encouraging words!

We were so excited with his response that we couldn’t help but share the news! See his original email below!

—— Forwarded Message
From: Stanley
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:03
To: ‘GMD’, ‘Jay’
Cc: “Michael
Subject: FW: “INVENTIONLAND”

George:

Dick Clark’s response is not only gratifying but a professional ‘thumbs up.’

Love ya.

Stan

—–Original Message—–
From: Kari
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2012 2:18 PM
To: Stanley
Subject: “INVENTIONLAND”

Thanks for sending along the copy of “Inventionland,” Stan.

I found it fun to watch and most interesting and, undoubtedly, will be a
successful History channel venture.

Much luck to you … I appreciate your sending it.

Sincerely,
Dick [Clark]

____________

It’s an honor to receive such praise from such an accomplished icon! We would love to see more messages like this in our inbox!

Recently, we announced that our client, Jean’s, Meatball Baker, which offers a healthy alternative to greasy meatballs, was featured in the most recent Avon catalog and at shopavon.com.

It turns out, that great news was just the first bit of excitement the Meatball Baker has been cooking up lately!  Nearly as soon as we heard that our “Meatball Queen” Became an “Avon Lady,” the Meatball Baker was back at it!

This time, it was Good Morning America’s (GMA) ”Secret Steals and Deals” website that featured the Meatball Baker – and for 60% off at that!  For 48 hours, interested cooks everywhere could purchase the Meatball Baker for $8.80!

GMA also published an accompanying article called “Mom Inventions: Exclusive Deals and Steals, Just for ‘GMA’ Viewers,” which commended our client, Jean, on her invention.

“Mom/grandmother inventor “Jean the Meatball Queen” partnered with Davison, a new-products development company, to develop this rack that holds small, medium and extra-large meatballs letting all the fat drain into the bottom of baker,” the article stated.

We couldn’t wait to be the first to tell Jean the great news either!

“To be truthful, I am not much of a TV watcher, so I really never heard of it until you just told me about it.  I do like the publicity though,” said Jean.   Jean expressed how happy she was about all the exposure her Meatball Baker has received and said she, sometimes, is still in disbelief!

“At times, it is still hard to believe that my idea has truly came to life.  I am seeing my idea used in other ways too, meaning I have seen my pan duplicated with just a change in the handle at a Farm & Fleet store in Eau Claire, Wi.  I have also seen the meatloaf pan where the grease drains through a grid for a healthier meal.  So, I look at it as my idea must have been a good one, if it is being used in all sorts of ways,” said Jean.

As for the possibility of her invention being in the news even more?

“The press can talk about my pan all they want,” said Jean. 

Speaking of great press for Davison-designed products, we also found the Silicone Dessert Bar Pan on a Bed Bath & Beyond advertisement on the NBC Today Show website!

What will be the next Davison-designed product we find out there?  We can’t wait to see!

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

We knew when our client, “Jean, Jean – the Meatball Queen,” came to us with her idea for a way to make healthier, less-greasy meatballs, she was definitely on to something.

Now, we’re finding out just how “on” she was… Jean is AVON!  Well, at least her Meatball Baker is!

That’s right, in the most recent Avon catalog and on Avon online, the Davison-designed Meatball Baker is selling for $24.99!

According to “the company for women,” the Meatball Baker is “a healthier alternative to making yummy meatballs!”

While we all know the Meatball Baker, which was licensed by Xtraordinary Home Products, is a great tool for both male and female cooks, we couldn’t agree more that it is the perfect way to make delicious meatballs!   

You may recall, this is not the first time Jean has “made it big” with the Meatball Baker.  When Inventionland was featured on CBS’ The Early Show in August, Jean was also featured in the interactive segment that showed her and her product in action!

Congratulations to Jean and the entire team that has worked so hard on her Meatball Baker idea!  We can’t wait to see where that Davison “D” appears next!

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

Recently, the Wall Street Journal published an article called “Workplace Wonderland,” which featured our creative workplace, Inventionland, and our CEO and founder, Mr. Davison!  Since the article was published, the United Inventors Association of America and Yahoo! Finance both republished the Journal’s post! 

This morning, we’ve got a special message from our CEO and founder, in response to the Wall Street Journal article and all the press that he’s received from it!

“I always dreamed of being in the Wall Street Journal when I was a boy in my teens, reviewing the paper with my grandfather.  This is one of the best days of my life.  A moment to reflect and be grateful for wonderful people who have, are and will shape my life and the Mission of Davison.  Happy New Year!

George… Aka Mr. D”

And, Mr. Davison wasn’t the only one who was impressed with the article… or Inventionland for that matter!  Thanks to Yahoo! Finance, who reposted “Workplace Wonderland,” many admirers have shared their comments on “America’s largest invention factory!”

We’ve listed ten of the most creative comments below: 

From Texas to Maryland to… Sweden… everyone’s noticing Inventionland!  So cool!

While you’ve been out preparing for all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you may have missed some awesome media exposure that we’ve received!

Recently, Mr. Davison was the guest of honor on The Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Tech Vibe Radio.  In case you missed the informative broadcast, it’s now available online!

In the 12-minute segment, Tech Vibe Radio’s Jonathan Kersting interviewed Mr. Davison and he clued listeners in on how a new invention can go from an idea to a product on store shelves.

To listen in, click the above image and select “Davison International” or follow this link!

After that awesome segment, we were featured on www.allbusiness.com for past participation in the KISS 96.1 FM Stuff-A-Bus donation event, which benefits the Toys for Tots program.

Read the entire article by clicking the image below or by following this link!

Finally, on December 3rd, our creative-design facility, Inventionland, was featured on website design expert Mishil Patel’s online blog.  In the article, “The Creative Office of Inventionland,” Patel comments on how our creative workspace “provides one of the most intuitive work environments ever.”

Read the entire blog by clicking the image below or by following this link!

Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for more awesome examples of Davison in the media and we’ll be sure to update you of any upcoming press!

Some of the toughest critics have chosen to put a Davison-designed product to the test.  This time it was a reader from Ingredient, “a magazine for kids curious about food,” who did a slice-by-slice examination of The Original Perfect Pizza Pan.

You may recall, the Perfect Pizza Pan was invented by none other than our President… when he was a client!  And, the rest, is well… history!

So, how did the Perfect Pizza Pan, which allows you to customize every slice of pizza, “pan” out, when Bridget in Minnesota put it to the test?

According to Bridget, the pan was easy to use and it worked on the first try, making it great for anyone who likes pizza – and who doesn’t like pizza?!

She also summed it up, saying, “Kids love it.  Adults have hardly any clean up and so, it’s fun for the whole family!”

And, we couldn’t agree more!  Congratulations to our inventor-President and everyone who worked on this exceptional product!

Read Bridget’s entire review by clicking here.

A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.

We’ve recently heard about an area community project that could use a shot in the arm – and fast!  There is an organized, grassroots campaign to acquire the Aspinwall Marina near Pittsburgh and turn it into a community park.

The campaign, referred to as The Aspinwall Riverfront Park Project, is working in coordination with Aspinwall Borough and Friends of the Riverfront to raise $2.3 million by September 30, 2011, in order to purchase the eight-acre lot, which would feature several trails, two retention ponds, plus the already working marina.

Not only is the effort near and dear to many community members, it is also a top priority for many members of the Davison team.  Mr. Davison has already made a generous donation and our Senior Director of Special Operations has been very active in the effort as well.

Our Senior Director of Special Operations serves as an Aspinwall Riverfront Park Project Steering Committee member and has helped to film and edit videos for the fundraising effort.  For him, the effort is even a bit more personal.

“I actively ride my bicycle and have a family with a three and four-year-old, so seeing the Aspinwall Riverfront Park become a reality is going to be great,” he said.  “The Aspinwall Riverfront Park is a big project of which I have spent many hours working on, so I am eager to see it become a success.”

And, the project is very close to becoming a reality.  As of the end of July, the group was just over $250,000 shy of the $2.3 million goal.  If they fall short of their goal, another group could buy the lot and develop it on their own.  This summer, it was nearly sold in order to become a 450-car parking lot.

According to our Senior Director of Special Operations, a park would a serve greater-community purpose than developing the space.

“Having a bicycle trail and riverfront access so close to home is going to be so beneficial to me and my family, and our community,”  he said.

To donate to the effort, you can visit either the Fox Chapel District Association or Friends of the Riverfront online.  Each site includes easy instructions to help you complete your donation.

You can also help by simply spreading the word!  Share the Aspinwall Riverfront Park Project website with family and friends, who may also want to help.

Finally, you can schedule a time to tour the property by contacting Project Coordinator Susan Crookston at scrookston@comcast.net.  Please keep in mind, for the time being, the park is still private property, so you are not able to visit the area on your own.

Learn more about the effort to acquire the Aspinwall Marina by visiting the Aspinwall Riverfront Park Project website today!

It’s only been a few months since we announced that Davison products have sold in more than 900 stores. Well, we’ve continued to add retailers at an incredible rate, and our total count of different stores that have carried Davison-designed products and packaging solutions has topped more than 1,000!

“Setting our mission one day to have inventions in 1,000 stores would be like a school boy believing he would have a Super Bowl ring on his finger someday,” said Founder and CEO George Davison to employees at a festive party held to celebrate the milestone.

“Well, the Walmart chain was just our first store, and we have been on this mission for 20-plus years,” he continued. “The once unthinkable has happened — our products have now sold in 1,000 different stores. It’s an incredible day for the company and for all of us. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this mission of making dreams come true.”

Although in business since 1989, all facets of the Davison Inventing Method were brought under one roof in Inventionland in 2006. Since then, Davison’s method has resulted in close to 200 additional products – with the total approaching 250 – that have sold in stores or other retailers.

Recently added stores include big names such as Ross and Shop NBC. In addition, numerous niche retailers that specialize in a particular category, such as pets, health and wellness, and cooking, added many products and product lines with the Davison “D” to their shelves, bringing up our total product count as well as store count.

“I find it extremely rewarding to be able to help the everyday ‘idea person’ bring their idea for a new product to life, and then hear their reaction after they actually see it in packaging and on the store shelf,” Davison said. “There’s nothing more exciting.”

In a recent profile of Inventionland on the CBS “Early Show,” reporter Taryn Winter Brill explained that Davison’s “assembly-line approach to trial and error has led products to find success in over 1,000 retailers.” The creative piece showed numerous successful products that got their start in Davison’s creative design facility.

Inventionland also offered the perfect setting for the celebratory gala. Following a dazzling laser-light show, Davison addressed the crowd from a rock in “Pondering Pond.”

“It started with an idea to get an invention to the stores one day,” said Davison, as he opened a 9-liter bottle of champagne (with a dry, stubborn cork) to cheers from hundreds of employees.

“The light at the end of the tunnel was so far away, I didn’t know if we’d ever reach it … We climbed that hill, and we’re smashing through 1,000 stores today!”

Another D-lightful product that we created for a client and that was licensed by Health Enterprises soon will be headed to CVS! Health Enterprises recently got the “green light from CVS” on the 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool, which will be sold under the “Portables, by Essence of Beauty” brand name.

“Congratulations to our client, Cathalene,” said Davison’s VP of Licensing. “Her dream is about to come true!”

The Design team quickly made two more prototypes for CVS, as the retailer, which has more then 7,000 stores, prepared to add the product to store shelves.

“We’ve been working on that one on and off for 2½ years, so I’m very glad it has finally found a home!” said Davison’s Corporate Creative Coach. “I think everyone on my team has touched it in one way or another.”

The full manicure set has a nail file, two-sided nail buffer, cuticle pusher, two-sided cleaning stick, nail brush and nail clippers. By combining six tools into one convenient, compact tool, it is perfect for enhancing nails anytime, anywhere! It also has a silicone, non-slip grip that is gentle on the fingers.

The 6-in-1 Manicure Multitool is expected to hit CVS stores in December… what a perfect stocking stuffer, and what a great gift for our client! Congratulations, Cathalene, and to everyone who worked on this awesome new product!

The client has not made a net profit from this product. A typical project does not get a royalty agreement, sell in stores or generate a profit.