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: </a>Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. That's why, every year, BLACK ENTERPRISE dedicates its November issue to fearless entrepreneurs. This year, we took a look at a unique type of entrepreneur–inventors. Here, we take you behind the scenes of the shoot for the November cover story, <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/10/15/code-name-inventors/"><strong>Code Name: Inventors</strong></a>. </p>

: </a>Renita Burns, BLACK ENTERPRISE Online Producer (left), asks the BLACK ENTERPRISE Facebook and Twitter communities to submit their questions about bringing an invention to market, while BLACK ENTERPRISE Small Business Editor Tennille Robinson (right) goes over some notes.

: </a>Hair stylist Clark Vincent (left) and makeup artist Natasha Denis (right) prep one of our featured inventors, Elaine Cato. Cato created the <a href="http://www.barenecessities.com/Maidenform-Breakthrough-Backless-Underwire-Bra_product_MAIDENFORM7445.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Breakthrough Backless Bra</strong></a>, which she licensed out to undergarment manufacturer <a href="http://www.maidenform.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Maidenform</strong></a>. Her bra is sold in Macy's and other large retailers nationwide. </p>

: </a>While Denis gets Cato perfect, Burns (right) snaps a few images to post on Twitter. </p>

: </a>Robinson takes questions from <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/tennillesmbiz" target="_blank"><strong>her Twitter followers</strong></a> about the challenges of getting a product to market. </p>

: </a>Cato's Breakthrough Backless Bra was featured on the second season of <a href="http://www.realitytvworld.com/americaninventor/" target="_blank"><strong>ABC's American Inventor</strong></a> reality show. Though Cato was only runner-up, she impressed undergarment manufacturer Maidenform and inked a licensing and distribution deal with them. </p>

: </a>Denis readies <a href="http://www.blackenterprise.com/small-business/2010/10/29/how-to-find-a-manufacturer-for-your-invention/">inventor Andre Woolery</a> for his close up. </p>

: </a>Woolery created the MagnoGrip Magnetic Wristband, a tool designed to keep drill bits and other small hardware close by. </p>

: </a>BLACK ENTERPRISE Associate Editor LaToya Smith captures some exclusive <a href="http://bit.ly/BEInvent"><strong>behind-the-scenes video.</strong></a> </p>

: </a>Woolery and Cato pose as agents of invention. </p>

: </a>Smith is camera-ready as she introduces Woolery and Cato. </p>

: </a>BLACK ENTERPRISE Associate Photography Director Lonnie Major (right) shows Woolery and Cato outtakes from the photo shoot. </p>

: </a>Woolery and Robinson answer questions from Facebook and Twitter. </p>

: </a>BLACK ENTERPRISE's social media community is full of aspiring inventors and entreprenuers. </p>

: </a>Cato works the camera. </p>

: </a>Smith captures every moment of the shoot on video. </p>

: </a>Woolery explains the steps he took to get his <a href="http://www.mdgtools.com/" target="_blank"><strong>magnetic wristband</strong></a> into Lowe's and Home Depot hardware stores across the country. </p>

: </a>Woolery estimates he’s sold 400,000 units to date and earned revenues of more than $1 million. </p>

: </a>Cato received 25% in royalties for three years, which she says amounted to $50,000 to $70,000 per year. </p>

Posted: October 31, 2010

illstreetapparel@yahoo.com

I too am a black inventor… Patent #d471391s.. However I didn’t get the licensing nor the proper information to get my ideal to the market… I just found out yesterday that the company that was representing me was in a deceitful practice… PTI OR PATENT AND TRADEMARK INSTITUE OF AMERICA is no longer in business nor doing what they claimed for the thousand of inventors that they deceived… How can I get my invention to the market place with out going backwards with all these wolf in sheeps clothing claiming that they can help for a small fee… Please help.
kevenljoslin@hotmail.com

This article is very informative and hopefully your reader will learn from some of the mistakes that were made. Theirs a lot of sharks out their who will take advantage of your lack of knowledge. More stories like this should be told. I’m traveling down the same road as your featured guest in this article, i have a design patent issued and a utility patent pending for a multi purpose razor designed specifically for shaving the bald mans head and women can shave their legs. I’m on twitter and facebook @kevenjoslin