Guitar Slip No More Ready for 2021 NAMM Show Debut
Guitar Slip No More (GSNM) is the hot new product that helps keep electric and bass guitars from slipping away from the performer while playing in the seated position. This product offers a new way for guitarists of any level to prevent the slip while they sit.
We recently sat down with Don, the owner of Gregory Enterprises, the company that manufactures GSNM, to talk about the challenges related to bringing a new product to market.
How did the idea for GSNM come to you?
Guitar Slip No More (GSNM) came about because I noticed a problem when practicing electric guitar in the seated position. The slick surface of the guitar would cause the guitar to slide around while practicing. This was both annoying and limiting, as this sliding would interrupt riffs as I would have to adjust the position of my guitar while playing. Also, I have noticed other people try to deal with this problem by sitting cross-legged or contouring their bodies to adjust to the moving guitar. One of my potential customers stated, ‘I ended up with hip pain from keeping my knee elevated to prevent the sliding. Depending on how long I sit and play, the pain the next day can be excruciating.’ The guitar strap is great for playing while standing but isn’t much help with this slippery seated problem, The GSNM is the innovative solution to this problem. The GSNM works so well that I have removed the guitar straps from all of my guitars in my home studio and solely use the GSNM while playing the seated position.
How has the production process for the Guitar Slip No More evolved?
The production process began with developing rudimentary prototypes. My goal was to be able to attach and remove a part, which would cover the slippery bottom rail of my guitar and replace it with a non-slip material. My thought was that this would theoretically prevent the slip while you sit. I used plastic tubing cut lengthwise to form a channel which then connected to the bottom rail of the guitar. The exterior of this tubing was then covered with sandpaper to attain the non-slip feature. The problem was solved, however, the appearance was hideous.
After I had the concept developed, I met with representatives from a local 3D Advanced Manufacturing facility. The goal was to create a 3D version of the plastic tubing concept; however, this 3D version would be form fit to a 3D guitar. Seeing a 3D model of a guitar matched up with a 3D form fit part was amazing. The moment that I received the first 3D print of a GSNM part was when I realized this was truly a viable and realistic solution. company’s proposal was to utilize the 3D design to create a mold, which would be sent to China for injection molding, after which the finished product would then be shipped back to the U.S. For a multitude of reasons, I wanted my product to be made in the U.S. so I looked for a local manufacturer.
Eventually, I found a product design company, D.G. Engineering. Thanks to David Green, the owner, we quickly came to an agreement and began settling on a final mold design. The final mold was recently completed and we have begun test production. The test runs are going smoothly, the parts fit perfectly and we expect to be ready for production by the end of June 2020.
What has been the biggest challenge bringing an entirely new product to the market?
For sure there have been many challenges along this journey. The biggest challenge has been figuring out what all of the moving parts are and then how should they interact! In the end, it is all a work in progress. Yet here I am, actually producing a high-quality product in the U.S. that has never been produced before.
Beyond this, the biggest challenge is coming up on the horizon, as we begin to introduce the GSNM product to the market. This means that all of the cogs in the wheel of this new company including company formation, logo, business insurance, website, banking and finance, PayPal setup, patent process, Amazon listing, product design, manufacturing, product testing, Facebook and social media are beginning to turn and interact with each other, many for the first time.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who has an idea for an entirely new product?
Begin with a preliminary patent search and be certain that your idea is, in fact, in the entirely new product status. Then you should move forward chasing down your patent by starting the formal patent process and establishing the date of invention. Then, consider how you want to handle product protection and disclosure. For instance, if you are going to meet with a potential product design company, then determine if you need them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) ahead of any meeting, to ensure confidentiality in the meeting. It can be a fine line between needing people’s input and, at the same time needing to protect your idea.
Next, I would suggest strengthening your backbone as you will likely encounter some people who can name 100 reasons your idea will not work. Remain open to opinions, however, you need to be the final word when it comes to choices such as to move forward or not.
Do you predict you will exhibit at the 2021 NAMM show in Anaheim?
Absolutely. While COVID-19 may have delayed my Summer NAMM launch plans, I plan to exhibit and formally launch my company at The 2021 NAMM Show in Anaheim. In addition to my formal company launch, I am currently working on a pre-launch program, which is occurring online, beginning now and running through the formal launch in January 2021.
For more information about the Guitar Slip No More, please visit them at https://www.guitarslipnomore.com/ and be sure to stop by their booth at The 2021 NAMM Show next January.