For Subscribers

Don't Stay in the Dark!

Here's how to make sure your big invention sees the light of day.

By Don Debelak

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Dotcom companies may be shutting down left and right, but thatdoesn't mean the Internet can't be a great starting pointfor inventors. All you need is an innovative product in a hotproduct category that can generate a buzz among your targetcustomers.

Melody and Byron Swetland of Gaithersburg, Maryland, foundsuccess by taking their invention to the Net and starting a Website to launch their product, UV bubbles called Tekno Bubbles.Along with their 22-year-old son, Enoch, who now runs theircompany, BM&E LLC, they sold more than 60,000 bottles last year(at an average retail price of $3.95 per bottle) and may top half amillion units by the end of the year. "We've really had tostruggle to keep up with production," says Byron, 46. TheSwetlands attribute their overwhelming success in part to theworldwide exposure they've gained by selling Tekno Bubbles overthe Internet.

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