Game or "blue ocean"? A Minsk entrepreneur has invented what to do with used tea bags

Dmitry is not an adventurous student or an eccentric retiree. He is 37 years old, he owns a small business selling double glazed windows. That is, not hungry, but "far from the dreams of the 20-year-old version of himself".

– I am tormented by my work. It's an income, a support, but not what the soul needs. And I can not take a break, look around or go on sabbatical vacations. I have a family, two children – bears the blame.

Somewhere in the Wild West, we could add "end-of-life loans", but not the essential. It is important that many of you live in such a whirlpool.

Dmitry decided that he was fascinated by utilitarian inventions. He will improve the world and finally combine his earnings with interest.

– I'm a big fan of tea. Where to place wet infused tea bags is a familiar problem. And she is neither mine nor Belorussian – from all over the world. Everywhere, they solve it in different ways. Someone puts the bag on a saucer, some one in the garbage can, some greenhouse around the spoon. All this is difficult or unattractive, or does not solve the problem.

After deciding to save the world, Dmitry is looking for options.

– The first idea was built on a small wooden board on which to pack a bag. It has proven to be expensive for a one-off solution. A reusable thing … They are different silicones, but they must be washed. In general, it is not a simplification of life, but of its complication.

In addition, after working with his head and scissors, the resident of Minsk invented a form that, in his opinion, meets all the challenges of our time.

Here's what he came up with:

Everything is patented. Expensive

Closely approaching the future conquest of the market, Dmitry decided to start filing a patent.

– I thought that there is a common patent recognized worldwide. It turned out that no, every country needs its own registration. But there is an international patent office that protects your invention in 136 countries for two years. Apply there – they do a search. If nothing like this is found, then they do temporary protection. During this time, you choose the countries where you will patent the invention.

To obtain a patent, there are three criteria: novelty, the possibility of industrial production and the presence of an inventive step. I did everything.

Dmitry called his idea "tea-squeeze plates" and registered the brand Sqviser.

– To register in the EU market, you need 7 000 €. Once the patent attorney has approved the documents … On average, it will be around 30,000 euros – too much.

Until now, the entrepreneur has left a patent mark in the EU, the United States and India, working on China and Canada. He spent about $ 10,000 for everything, a lot of money for him.

– Woman not against?

– It supports: try, try. But, to be honest, nobody except me believes in this project.

– Do you have enough faith?

– I think this thing has the right to life. I use it at home, I'm used to it. You just have to talk to people. This invention itself does not matter to change the world, but it is quite capable of taking its place among the pleasant little things.

No no no

The samples that Dmitry brought to Onliner's office bear the mark. But it is not an order, but an initiative of an entrepreneur. He has partnered with such advertisers so that the example can be broadcast live.

– I wanted to start with cafes and restaurants. But they are all "closed". Do you want to offer something – write a letter. In a week, I sent a hundred letters – no one even replied.

I just went to some companies without any prior agreement – I just knocked on the door. Having thus managed to meet me, I asked myself the question of knowing where he was and who was already using it. He replied that nowhere and nobody.

Dmitry begins to finish.

– Now, if it was popular, for example, in America and if it came to us, then I would have found and bought it. Why not become the first and not leave our country, our city and make it so popular that on the contrary, in America, we sought ourselves? Most of those who answered "no" agreed that the invention was useful, but at the same time said they were not ready to be first. What are they afraid of?

Buried in a wall of confusion, the resident of Minsk decided to go see the consumer. He had the idea that his squib plates can be offered in tea shops. It will be possible to take them absolutely for nothing – "banquet" at the expense of the advertiser. It's like that that he sees it.

– We went to Coca-Cola, "McDonalds" – refused (Dmitry said "laughed." – About. Onliner). I sent a proposal to tea importers – I have not received a response. Although he did not even call the price, he did not even reach that point.

Building on everything that exists, Dmitry created the site and tries to sell it. A pack of 10 disks costs 99 kopecks.

– How much does a tea bag cost? Is it possible that your files are more expensive?

– Good question. No, I have not thought so far. I am only repulsed by their expenses. Gathered on the price discussion group. She confirmed my badumptions: an interesting thing that is worth up to 1 ruble is quite affordable – many will want to try it.

After the interview, Dmitry said that with a large print order, the price could be two to three times lower.

– Six months have pbaded since the beginning of active sales. During this period, several meetings took place under perfidious appearances and no record was sold. It does not bother you?

– Not that it does not bother – sad. But I will not give up. Any invention can shoot or not. It's a 50/50 rating. But, you see, to begin with, it is at least necessary to present it to a wide audience and then draw conclusions.

Audience, you have the floor.

Tea does not occur without a kettle (here is the text).

Our channel in Telegram. Join now!

Quick contact with publishers: read the public chat Onliner and send us an email about Viber!

Reproduction of texts and photographs of Onliner without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. [email protected]