It’s hard to believe, but after the hustle and bustle of preparing for the Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s largest annual trade show has come to a close for another year.

As we mentioned in a previous blog, we were hard at work putting the finishing touches on our Davison-licensed products that were heading to the Global Pet Expo.

This year, Managing Senior Director of Licensing Matt made his way to Orlando, Florida for the trade show on our behalf.

While at the show, Matt picked up on some trends in the pet industry – food and treats, toys, and leashes seemed to be hot-ticket items that were spurring trade show-goer interest.

But there were several other items spurring interest, according to Matt. This year was very successful for both Davison and for Hugs Pet Products, who license many Davison-designed products.

“Hugs did very well,” said Matt. “There were times when I walked by their booth that every rep there was talking with someone and there were interested people still standing around waiting to hear about the products.”

At this year’s trade show, our friends at Hugs Pet Products were able to showcase some of their new items at the Expo’s “New Product Showcase.”

Hugs featured their Paula Deen Premium Select Pet Food, their brand-new line of Massaging Groomers, the Puff Pad and their recently-unveiled Realtree Dog Treats.

Matt also mentioned that words like “Innovative” and “Interesting” were used to describe the Massaging Groomers brushes including the Palm Brush, Pin Brush, and Slicker Brush.

Thanks to Matt’s updates, we can see that the excitement didn’t stop when the Global Pet Expo ended. In fact, it’s just begun!

Copyright Davison, 2016

While Davison regularly attends trade shows in a number of industries, it does not promise that any particular client product will be, or is likely to be, presented or discussed at a trade show.

The typical client project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.

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All of the hype that we’ve built up around this year’s SuperZoo in Las Vegas has finally arrived! The National Show for Pet Retailers starts today and lasts through Thursday!

Nearly 50 of our new pet products will be featured at the annual trade show. While there, we will show off our latest designs to those in attendance!

Among the lineup of new pet products we’re debuting at this year’s SuperZoo, retailers will be able to see grooming products, beds, leashes, toys and more! We’ve even got new products for dogs and cats!

Needless to say, we can’t wait to share our feedback with you! Stay tuned for updates!

Copyright Davison 2014

Image:

http://www.superzoo.org/

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“Stick a knife in it!” “Smack the bottom.” “Hold it at a 45-degree angle and tap the 57.” Every ketchup connoisseur has their own technique for coaxing the tomato topping slowly out of a newly opened bottle. But things can get down right dangerous as diners flail around trying to get the last ounce of this creeping condiment from the bottom of the bottle.

Well, the painstaking process of topping our burgers and fries may be over.

From the people who brought you a mapping of the human genome and Bose sound systems comes LiquiGlide — “a revolutionary super-slippery coating to liberate your ketchup” – from a group of MIT engineers.

MIT PhD candidate Dave Smith and his team of mechanical engineers and nano-technologists from the Varanasi Research Group have put hundreds of years of bottle-beating debates to rest, creating bottle surfaces from which condiments simply glide onto your plate.

According to the LiquiGlide website, the coating is made entirely from food materials; no nanoparticles to worry about. “Even if you scraped off the coating with a knife and ate it, it would be completely harmless and flavorless.”

Varanasi’s innovative way to package condiments will hopefully make life easier in the future.

In the meantime, check out these Davison products that already do.

RV Leveler

We don’t want our vacations to turn into work. So Davison created the RV Leveler, a two-part product that enables users to quickly determine whether their motorhome is level. The RV Leveler’s base communicates wirelessly with a corresponding handheld device. The four-light LED display on the remote unit enables the user to see immediately where adjustments are needed.

Hover Creeper

Working on cars is tough enough. Navigating underneath them shouldn’t be. Traditional automotive creepers have wheels that get stuck in floor cracks and shift wildly over bolts or other loose parts that frequently break, leaving a mechanic stuck. Instead of trying to roll over an uneven or cracked garage floor, the new Hover Creeper literally hovers slightly above it.

Better Tether

It’s a doggone shame that some pet owners leave their pups twisted around trees or poles outside without food or water. Well, this Better Tether is placed in-ground, eliminating obstacle to pets, humans and machines. The divided food and water bowl can never be tipped over, and the unit never has to be moved for the lawnmower.  Also, a big congratulations to the winner of our Better Tether Giveaway, Stephanie Shreve Baker!  We hope your pup really enjoys it!

In the future, when you make a burger with the Fill N’ Grill, it will be much easier to put Ketchup in the middle. Try some bacon too.

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

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Springtime sunshine has just begun to prepare us for the dehydration dangers that hot, summer sun can pose to our pets.  However, have no fear, a new “Dare to Invent” webisode is here with a refreshing solution!

Tonight’s webisode is the tenth in our 13-episode series and features Diane DiRaimo, inventor of the Hydro Bone, her adorable Japanese Chin puppy, Alexander James, and our lovable cast of Creationeers!  You can absorb the latest “Dare to Invent” webisode NOW on YouTube and Davison.com.

Diane loved taking Alexander James for rides in the car, but she had a hard time keeping him hydrated and happy on long trips.  She knew putting a water bowl in the car or feeding him out of a water bottle was out of the question… but, she thought, surely there must be a better way to provide Alexander with on-the-spot refreshment!

Diane brought her idea for a hydrating, new pet product to Davison, where fellow animal lover, Curtis, and his creative team, got to work on helping Diane’s idea soak up success, creating an absorbent chew toy with a foam core.

This week’s webisode also brings back Clay and his eccentric product-testing ways, but it all pays off in the end!  Diane’s Hydro Bone was licensed by Hugs Pet Products, has sold in Sam’s Club, Bed Bath & Beyond and many other retailers, was featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” was a 2010 Dog Fancy Editors’ Choice Winner and has now spawned an entire line of hydrating chew toys!

Tune in NOW for all the thirst-quenching fun as Diane “Dares to Invent!”

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

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With reality TV shows like “The Voice,” “American Idol” and “The X Factor” captivating audiences nationwide, Walmart is making a play for a bit of the spotlight, with their own “Idol-style” contest called “Get on the Shelf.”

The “Get on the Shelf” competition, which launched in late January, gives small and large companies the opportunity to submit product ideas and supporting videos to the mega-retailer, in hopes of landing their products on Walmart’s store shelves.

Hugs Pet Products, an innovative pet product company that licenses many Davison-designed products, has entered several of those designs in the competition, including:

• Pugz Shoes
• Hydro Ball
• Hydro Bone
• Hydro Saucer
• Better Tether
• Dog Wash
• Auto Dish
• Cool Cot
• Cool Cottage

Since the start of the submission period, the “Get on the Shelf” contest has created quite a bit of buzz in the press.  USA Today reported on the competition and even showcased some early entries, including the Davison-designed Pugz Shoes for Dogs that our client, Kay, invented!

According to USA Today, “Some of the offbeat products competing include Pugz Shoes — boots for puppies that keep your pooch’s paws warm.”

Starting today, consumers have the opportunity to visit www.getontheshelf.com to browse all submitted entries and vote for their favorites.  According to an Advertising Age article, top vote-getters will be featured at Walmart online and may sell in select stores.

“The top three vote-getters will be sold on Walmart .com, and a grand prize winner will be featured on the home page for its 50 million monthly unique visitors and in select Walmart stores,” the article stated.

“Get on the Shelf” voting runs in two rounds:  Round 1 is March 7 to April 3, 2012 and Round 2 is April 11 to April 24, 2012.

Let’s show Walmart how powerful the Davison community can be!  Alert your friends, family, coworkers and everyone else you know to vote for all entered Davison designs!  To vote, simply visit www.getontheshelf.com!

A typical client project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.

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We’re happy to announce that the adorable Davison-designed doggie boots are back in the press!  This time, Pugz were featured on none other than CNBC, as part of their Small Business section!

The article, titled “Cutting Edge Products for your Pet” showcased the faux-fur and faux-leather boots alongside several other innovative pet products, like a zebra-printed doggie pillow, canine cupcakes and a stylish puppy quilted puffer coat!

Including a photo of the booties, a link to the Hugs Pet Products website and a short write-up on Pugz, the CNBC article deems the shoes “one of Hug’s best-selling products” and a big hit over the 2011 holiday season.

CNBC writers even talked with Hugs’ spokeswoman Kristie Vossler, who gave a little advice for first-time Pugz wearers!

“The first time a dog wears them, they’re not used to them, so they walk funny,” Vossler said. “People are very, very into seeing their dogs in Pugz.”

And, we are very, very into seeing Davison designs making the news!  See the CNBC article for yourself here!

In conjunction with Hugs Pet Products, who licensed Pugz, our newly-released Dare to Invent webisode series and our social media campaigns, we’re giving away a free pair of Pugz on Facebook!  After you watch the latest episode, head on over to our Facebook page for details on how to win a pair for your four-legged friend!

A typical client project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.

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Mr. Davison, our Inventionland creationeers and one of our clients are back at it in tonight’s “Dare to Invent” webisode!  This week’s episode features Michigan inventor, Kay, and her Pugz Shoes! 

For our client, Kay, and her two Shelties, Autumn Angel and Rough Spot, taking a December trot in the snow, with her neighbor, Janice, and her golden retriever, was nothing close to walking in a winter wonderland.  Instead, their faithful friends would wind up with either cold, wet snowy paws or even salt-soaked paws, from treated roads and sidewalks.

“I needed something that would stay on and protect their paws… [Something to] keep their paws from getting dry and cracked,” Kay said.

For Kay, the logical solution was boots for her pups.  Follow along  as Kay and her Pugz Shoes take the journey though project inception, development, licensing and beyond! 

“I would advise [future inventors] to stay positive and do some research… Don’t get discouraged, it can happen,” said Kay.  “I’m a firm believer… nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Tonight’s episode is live right now!  Tune in on YouTube or through a link at Davison.com! 

After you watch, head on over to our Facebook page for details on how to win a pair of Pugz for your four-legged friend!

The Pugz Dare to Invent webisode is the second in our interactive 12-video series, which debuted February 9th and portrays Davison clients and their inventions.  Tune in March 8th for the third interactive Dare to Invent webisode! 

A typical client project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.

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We’ve recently received “paws-itively” great news about some innovative Davison-designed booties!  Pugz Shoes for Dogs have been marching their way on and off of store shelves, into the homes of happy, happy customers!

In fact, Bed Bath & Beyond, who added the adorable faux leather and faux wool boots to their line-up this fall, can’t keep enough pairs on the shelves; so, they’ve placed orders for additional supplies!

And, thanks to members of our Licensing and Sales teams, we’ve got some awesome proof at a couple stores across the nation, too!

While at a trade show this fall, our Vice President of Licensing sent us a few pictures from a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Chicago!  Look at that awesome end-shelf placement!  From the looks of the display, several customers already have had their paws on the puppy shoes, which we designed for our client, Kay!

A Managing Senior Director of New Products found some Pugz at a Bed Bath & Beyond store in Pittsburgh.  If they’re in Chicago and Pittsburgh, they may be right in your backyard; so, if you’ve got a puppy who’s made Santa’s “Nice” list this year, pick some up!

Even greater news for these comfy kicks, Bed Bath & Beyond isn’t the only retailer “begging” for the booties!  Petco representatives have expressed interest in increasing their orders, too!

Plus, Pugz recently were featured as the ”Big Steal” on meijer.com!  The site featured the regularly-priced $29.99 shoes at a whopping 40% off for the day!

It is so exciting to see the big moves these little shoes are making!  Congrats to everyone who’s worked on Pugz and special thanks to our Davison team members who spotted the Davison “D” while they were out and about!

Look for more updates on Pugz and other Davison designs in the coming weeks!

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

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That’s right, now pet owners can fill up their bone-shaped treat pan with Doggie D’Lites cake and frosting mixes.

These D-licious dog treat mixes come in three varieties:  Carob (similar to chocolate, but safe for dogs!), Peanut Butter and Banana!

According to our Vice President of Licensing, they’re a first for both Davison and for Hugs Pet Products.

“We are entering the consumable market with Hugs,” said our VP.

While we can’t say we’d love to sample the cakes (though, they do look tasty), we’d love to share them with our four-legged friends!

Congratulations to the entire team that has worked on Doggie D’Lites!  Stay tuned for more news on this and other exciting upcoming Davison-designed products!

This was a corporate product designed for Davison’s own profit.

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