Turning my concept into a product and turning that product into a business was the best experience. It started in Chicago in 1989. I had an 8-5 job as an Unemployment Compensation Management Senior Tax Auditor for ADP. After work, I was off to DePaul University for my evening classes from 6-9pm. Because I had to make it to school in an hour during rush hour traffic I was eating on-the-go in my car ALL the time. That began my search for a food tray specifically made for automobiles. I was shocked that I could not find any type of mobile food tray – anywhere! (this was late 80’s so the internet was not yet available).
As the saying goes, “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” That began the process of filing for a provisional patent with the USPTO, waiting anxiously for approval and running into a mechanical engineer I met at an Inventor’s Audition for a local television show who would later design the AutoTray. Once approved by the USPTO, I began to manufacture the AutoTrays in Shanghai. I was lucky enough that I also became and Ocean Import & Export Agent so I had the knowledge to import the AutoTrays and mold into the U.S.
www.AutoTray.net started in 2009 when I was laid off during The Great Recession. The struggles with distribution, sales & marketing, everything that went into starting a business was very foreign and new to me. As much as I would love to continue this journey, to do so would be a waste of time and money so I must close this chapter.
I need your help and advice on how to liquidate my AutoTray inventory so I can fund my new product – the VersaVisor (USPTO trademarked and patented as of 07/2018).
To all who have supported me: the merchants, vendors, coffee shops, car washes, business advisors, confidants, acquaintances, contributors and investors (friends who wanted to see me succeed) who believed in me, gave me strength and a chance – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for contributing to this experience.