I have a moneymaking idea but need advice

supermumno1

Hi - I wonder if anyone here can advise me of the best way forward with an idea that I have had. I cant disclose it for obvious reasons, but I will do my best to explain the situation. Basically I would call it a marketing/packaging idea that I would like to sell to a supermarket chain. It is not a new product, just a new way of supplying existing products. How do I go about protecting my interest in this idea while letting them know about it. What is there to stop x y or z supermarket then picking up on it and using the same idea themselves if they see it on the shelves of a rival. The idea is such a simple one and personally I think it would be quite a seller. I cant research the demand for it though without actually telling what it is, and that would just blow my chances of any financial reward from it.
Advice would be appreciated where to look next/what I could do to protect it. Do patents apply to marketing ideas?
Thanks.

greyteam1959

Get in touch with your local Business Link they will sort you out and for free

richt71

supermumno1 wrote:

Hi - I wonder if anyone here can advise me of the best way forward with an idea that I have had. I cant disclose it for obvious reasons, but I will do my best to explain the situation. Basically I would call it a marketing/packaging idea that I would like to sell to a supermarket chain. It is not a new product, just a new way of supplying existing products. How do I go about protecting my interest in this idea while letting them know about it. What is there to stop x y or z supermarket then picking up on it and using the same idea themselves if they see it on the shelves of a rival. The idea is such a simple one and personally I think it would be quite a seller. I cant research the demand for it though without actually telling what it is, and that would just blow my chances of any financial reward from it.
Advice would be appreciated where to look next/what I could do to protect it. Do patents apply to marketing ideas?
Thanks.

You can patent a product but not an idea I'm afraid. I think you're in a catch 22 to be honest. But agree with the above answer in that your local businesslink office will provide you with free advice.

ukbill69

Write down the idea, send it to yourself registered mail, dont open it, send yourself an email with the idea and send a fax and you should be covered.